Dear ALS Users,
After more than 10 years as ALS Director, I will be stepping down later this year to return to teaching and research on campus. Berkeley Lab will soon begin the process of searching for a new ALS Director, and my plan is to be here until new leadership is identified.
I am very proud of ALS and what we have all accomplished together. ALS staff working with ALS users enabled us to build important new beamlines and instruments, to work safely, and to grow our science and number of publications. We also launched the ALS upgrade, which will keep ALS at the forefront of research for another 25 years.
On a personal note, in January I begin a one-year term as president of the American Physical Society, representing 50,000 members. This position provides another reason for me to move on. My role will be to ensure continued success of APS publications, meetings, and outreach. It will also allow me to focus on advocacy in Washington. Uncertainties with the federal budget for future years could result in significantly reduced support for research. I want to strengthen collaborations among scientific societies, as well as with industry, labs, and universities, in reaching out to Congress, government agencies, and influential organizations, and try to maintain our nation’s strengths and leadership in science and innovation.
I want to thank all of you for your interest in making ALS the best soft x-ray facility in the world, and for all of your important science at our facility. I look forward to following the continued progress of ALS and your future accomplishments.
Roger