February 14, 2022 • Volume 108 No.1
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 From the President
Welcome to NMAS. Thanks to the support from NM EPSCoR, NMAS Board, and members, NMAS has managed to conduct its official business through the very challenging past couple of years.
The Annual Research Symposia were very successful despite our inability to meet in person. The attendance was good, and the themes were very relevant to current situation. NM Junior Academy of Science attracted many presentations and selected excellent winners. For the National Youth Science Camp, NMAS selected two excellent high school students. The Outstanding Science Teacher program received more applicants in 2021 than any other year in a decade. The NM Journal of Science published the highest number of papers since 2014, even after rigorous peer-review process involving reviewers from prominent world-class institutions.
As always, NMAS Board members work hard and have created positive impacts on K-12 science education. I appreciate their ideas, initiatives, and hard work. This new year, my wish is to extend our positive impacts to science educators and researchers at the post-secondary level. We have started this initiative with the latest volume (54) of NM Journal of Science, where about half of the authors are university- and professional researchers. Following the Journal’s model, I would like to elicit more involvement from scientists at colleges around our state. In realizing that wish this year, your ideas and involvement would be much appreciated. Please reach out to any NMAS Board member. This is the perfect opportunity to say “We believe in science.”
I am looking forward to working with current NMAS members and scientists around the state. Thank you all for supporting NMAS.
Anton Sumali, PhD
NMAS President
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 Welcome our newest board member
Diane Peebles is the new Senior Manager for Academic Programs at Sandia National Laboratories, with leadership of Sandia’s University Partnerships, Postdoc Office, and Faculty Loan Program for Joint Appointments. Diane came to Sandia in 1983, after receiving her PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin, with previous BS degrees in Chemistry and Physics from New Mexico State University. During her first 21 years as a staff member at Sandia, Diane worked in the Materials Sciences Center researching areas of interfacial cleaning, aging, and reliability. In 2004, Diane became a Manager in the Physical, Chemical, and Nanosciences Center, leading a group focused on the development and characterization of microscale and nanoscale behavior in materials for advanced applications. In 2012,
Diane moved to the Engineering Sciences Center to lead a group focused on computational mechanics of components and materials. Over this time period, Diane had multiple program management responsibilities. In 2018, Diane moved to the Chief Research Office Center, to lead the partnerships with the NM Research Universities and manage the staff supporting Sandia’s Academic Programs. In this role, Diane has helped build the Academic Programs team, supported the development of the Corporate Postdoc Office, and led the development of the new Faculty Loan Program for Joint Appointments. She has led efforts for increased research collaboration and developed programs to foster student and faculty engagement across the NM schools, many of which have now been more broadly implemented across the University Partnerships team.
Diane has strong connections with the NM research universities based on the relationships cultivated over the last 3 years. She is interested in continuing to connect with the university leadership and faculty to help develop and lead new programs of engagement. She has been involved in recruiting efforts from each of these universities and has sponsored events to enhance student engagement with Sandia, which can be expanded to engage students with other STEM employers in the state. Diane will also remain engaged with the NM EPSCoR state committee for advancing research in the state.
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 Student Competition Now Open
Registration is open for the NMAS Junior Academy of Science Paper Competition. All New Mexico students in grades 6-12 are eligible to enter. There are cash prizes and the winning papers can be published in the New Mexico Journal of Science.
See competition details at nmas.org/nmjas
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 Judges Needed
Do you have the skill and desire to help young scientists? Become a judge for the Junior Academy of Science Paper Competition.
Thanks in advance. In this era of anti-science verbiage it is important to encourage young students to do research, write reports, and give oral presentations.
In Albuquerque, student manuscripts are due on March 2, 2022. The oral PowerPoint Presentation will be held March 15-16, 2022. Manuscripts will be sent with judging forms immediately upon receipt.
Contact Malva Knoll, Albuquerque regional director. knollmalva16@gmail.com
All forms and contest information in New Mexico's 6 regions are available at https://www.nmas.org/nmjas/
Please use this link to complete the judge's registration –
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 National Youth Science Camp
The New Mexico Academy of Science is proud to sponsor two New Mexico high school seniors interested in science to attend the month-long National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) during the summer.
Applications for the 2022 camp are open! It will again be a virtual event due to the on-going pandemic. The deadline to submit applications is March 31, 2022.
For more information about the program, please visit the NMAS website.
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 Membership
Want to be a part of your local science community? Becoming a member will help support events such as the Junior Academy's paper competition, our National Youth Science Camp selection, and the Outstanding Educator awards. Our membership is our greatest asset when advocating for science education, so please renew today.
It is easy to become a member! We have a very simple way to do it via PayPal from our website. You can use any credit or debit card (you do not need a PayPal account). This also allows us to add your email directly to our mailing list. Here is the link.
Membership categories are:
- Regular Membership ($25/year)
- Student Membership ($15/year or included with NMJAS entry)
- Institutional Membership (Libraries Only; $25/year)
- Life Membership (3/4 of Amount Goes to NMAS Endowment; $400)
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 STEMYS
Nominations are open for the 2022 New Mexico Excellence in STEM Awards, also known as the STEMYS. If you know someone deserving of recognition for their work in science, technology, engineering or math education nominate them today.
The Air Force Research Lab Tech Engagement Office created the STEMYS in 2018 to celebrate those individuals and groups that are making a difference in STEM activities and education in New Mexico. Nominations for this year’s awards will be accepted through March 4, 2022.
Nominations must be submitted online at www.afrlnewmexico.com/stemys. Categories include Students (K-8 and 9-12); Educators (K-8 and 9-12); Mentors, advisors and coaches; Schools, districts and programs (K-12 and higher ed); and Businesses and non-profits.
Winners will be honored at a ceremony in June 2022. Some category winners will be eligible for scholarships and monetary awards.
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