inEay. Agst 10 1998 T e itgannLDaiya"3 uclear eactor losed for weeks Rachel Groman ily St Rne orer In early September, the niversity's Ford Nuclear Reactor, cated on North Campus, will sus, nd its operations to ensure the cility's most efficient compliance ith the specifications of the United tates Nuclear Regulatory mtssion. During the four-week break, the aff will hold a retreat to review and alyze operation techniques, facility aintenance, administrative organi- tion and staff training. "I have called for the staff retreat September because it has become ear to me that the staff cannot tch up on a number of chores Ie they are simultaneously run- g the reactor," said Frederick eidhardt, University vice president r research. "It is my hope that a four-week reather will allow the staff to ccomplish several tasks, such as preparing updated manuals that interpret health physics regulations and NRC reporting requirements, preparing the building for anticipat- ed renovations by the University, viding refresher and continuing ucation workshops (and) review- g the mission and goals of the reac- r and the Michigan Memorial 'hoenix Project," Neidhardt added. The MMPP, which operates the eactor, was founded in 1948 as a emorial to alumni, students and staff ho lost their lives in World War II. rough the years, it has served as a mbol of the peaceful, useful and eficial applications of nuclear sci- nec and technology. The Nuclear Reactor Lab provides niversity students and faculty with he facilities necessary for nuclear nergy research and testing. The lab s used by other schools, industries, lectric utilities and hospitals as ell. In June of last year, recommenda- ions were iade by the FNR Review ommittee, a group consisting of acad- c and governmental officials from utside and within the University. "The report called for improvements n the business management of the facility, and better record keeping about ts educational snd research functions' eidhardi sad. But the comrmttee strongly recent- ended that operations continue The facility wa also cted fot two hticat vtolattons in April by the s _ The violations were not safety issues, Neidnardt said, but violations of echnical specifications of the license; and the University was not fined, "In general, the NRC considers our safety record to be excellent," Psych. prof. receives an award for research By Amit Pandya Daily Staff Reporter University Prof. Carol Mowbray, a researcher in the field of mental health, recently received a presti- gious international award for her work in psychosocial research. The 1998 Armin Loeb Award, an annual honor bestowed by the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services, is presented to a researcher who has conducted influential work in the field of psychosocial rehabili- tation in the past year. When considering candidates for the award, individual research pro- jects are assessed based on their intrinsic importance to the future of the field. Mowbray, also an associate dean for research at the School of Social Work, is "currently working on a project regarding mothers with men- tal illness, and how their children and other community factors affect their parenting and community adjustment," said Paula Allen- Meares, dean of the University's School of Social Work. Allen-Meares, a colleague of Mowbray, said she strongly supports Mowbray in her work and readily agrees with the decision of the IAP- SRS. Allen-Meares described Mowbray as "an outstanding researcher and teacher. "She has had a number of projects focused on mental health and has always had a commitment to mental health services," Allen-Meares added. Dr. Mowbray is scry active in state and national orgattizations, is ini tie advocacy for the mentally ill, is a con- sultant for many research projects, and is most deserving for this awed," Allen-Meares said, adding what an honor it is to receive an award. The IAPSRS is not the only group that has found importance in Mowbray's work. The National Institute of Mental Health recently presented Mowbray and her team with a grant for her study regarding mentally ill moth- ers. "We have received funding from the NIMH for this study," Mowbray said. "The majority of the data comes from interviews with the women themselves, all of whom are recruit- ed through public mental health ser- vices in southeast Michigan." Mowbray has also explored meth- ods to help individuals with psychi- atric disabilities pursue higher edu- cation. Mowbray said the psychiatric dis- abilities which are examined include "major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and some individuals with traumatic brain injuries, if there is also psychiatric involve- ment, "The service we have is called 'supported education,"' Mowbray said."There are other such programs all over the U.S. and Canada." The Armin Loeb Award is present- ed in honor of the long-time director of research at the Horizon House, a center for psychiatric support in Philadelphia. GERARDcOHEN-VRIGNAUD/Daly The Phoenix Memorial Laboratory is home to the University's Ford Nuclear Reactor on North Campus. The reactor will be closed for three weeks. Neidhardt said. Review of the FNR takes place about once every three years with scheduled and non-scheduled inspections taking place two or three times a year by FNR personnel. Every month, for three or four days, the reactor is shut down for routine maintenance. There is also a regular shutdown every year over the Labor Day holiday. This year, the reactor will be started four weeks later due to the staff retreat. "Since there are fixed expenses .. the shutdown costs money," Neidhardt said. "For this reason, if we judge that the goals of the retreat have been satisfied before the four weeks have elapsed, we shall resume operation." The operation of the Cobalt-60 Irradiator will also be suspended during the period beginning Sept. 8. The Irradiator is used for sterilization of medical devices and materials and is located within the MMPP The shutdown will not affect the operation of the other laboratories run by the MMPP. University faculty and students can still use such facilities dur- ing the break. "It takes constant review and updat- ing to keep the staff current about regu- lations," Neidhardt said. "And the retreat provides an opportunity to do just that." Announcing the Michigan Daily's 1997- 1998 n available now at The Michigan Daily. 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