LANL committed to reducing gender barriers

LOS ALAMOS — Los Alamos National Laboratory says it’s committed to breaking down gender barriers and making equality a reality when it comes to nuclear policy.

The northern New Mexico lab made the announcement last week, saying it’s the first national laboratory to make an official pledge.

The lab joined the national Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy group, a leadership network that brings together heads of organizations working in nuclear policy.

Lab Director Thom Mason says nuclear policy, like many technological fields, has

long been a male-dominated space and as a result, woman in the field have too often been marginalized.

With the commitment, Mason says the lab will work to bring more women into the field and foster a culture of respect.

About one-third of the lab’s 12,000 employs are women.

NMSU lands grant for sustainable ranching

LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State University is getting a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study how to make cattle ranching more sustainable.

The $8.9 million grant has been awarded to NMSU’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

The work is geared toward improving the sustainability of beef production in the southwestern U.S., where environmental conditions are driving up the cost of raising cattle.

The researchers will be looking at cattle genetics, the use of sensors and technology to more accurately understand what’s occurring on the range and options for marketing Southwest beef.

The grant will support research for the next five years and involve as many as 50 people from 12 institutions. It includes five ranches in New Mexico, Utah, California and South Dakota.