Laboratory Director's Award
2007 Fitzner-Eberhardt Award winners are George Last, James A. Campbell and Shuttha Shutthanandan.
James A. Campbell
James A. Campbell
Jim Campbell is a Laboratory Fellow in the National Security Directorate. During his career at the Laboratory, he has been an important contributor to PNNL's overall efforts in science, technology, engineering and math education.
From the elementary school level to graduate studies, Jim's keen interest in working with and mentoring students and instructors has led to many positive outcomes. He has hosted students from Columbia Basin College, taught courses at Washington State University-Tri-Cities, and has shared his chemistry insights with middle school and high school students. He received the DOE mentoring award not just once—but twice—in 2002 and 2004.
While chairman of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Jim established a program that placed members of the ACS chapter in local middle school and high school classrooms to discuss careers in chemistry with students and faculty.
One of the students Jim mentored said, "Jim challenged me to think of things in new and innovative ways. He listened to and respected all of my ideas for the project and provided feedback. He always treated me as a colleague, never as his inferior."
George Last
George Last
George Last, a scientist in the Environmental Technology Directorate, is always first when it comes to supporting science literacy and developing the workforce of the future.
Over the years, George has made significant contributions to a number of workforce development and diversity programs for students, and to professional development programs for teachers and faculty, helping them to improve their understanding of earth science concepts.
George has hosted numerous tours at PNNL and in the field for university students and faculty. He has served as a judge at many local science fairs. He also has shared his knowledge with the community. He's talked on topics such as the geology of Eastern Washington, the Ice Age floods, and the Columbian Mammoth. Through his presidency of the local Lake Lewis Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute, George imparts his expertise with a wide range of groups.
A student George mentored—and who now works at PNNL—summed George up nicely, describing him as a "living and breathing instrument of science."
Shuttha Shutthanandan
Shuttha Shutthanandan
Over the past several years, Shuttha Shutthanandan, a scientist in the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), has proven himself as an outstanding mentor. He has mentored students at all levels. Additionally, he has mentored faculty members and post-doctoral fellows, as well as junior staff in EMSL.
For the past couple of years, he has hosted visits to EMSL by a professor and physics students from Walla Walla Community College. He has also has been one of the instructors of an intensive three-week nanoscience course jointly offered by PNNL and the University of Washington.
Shuttha's enthusiasm for his work and science are evident in his involvement in the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the American Vacuum Society, where he champions student-related activities. He participates in the Department of Energy's Science Bowl, has served as a volunteer judge at the Mid-Columbia Science Fair, and has volunteered his time to review DOE's undergraduate journal.
Interns say that Shuttha goes above and beyond the role of mentor and becomes a friend. One student said, "Because of Shuttha's mentoring, I learned about new topics in physics, how to give good presentations, and when to shoot the jump shot."
For more information, please contact: blake.wright@pnl.gov.
