New Mexico Sun

Two students from New Mexico State University, Hai Chau Le and Natalia Ochoa, both undergraduate students in NMSU’s Fashion Merchandising and Design program, have been awarded scholarships by the National Retail Federation. The scholarships include all-expense paid trips to New York City to attend the NRF’s annual conference and participate in its student program.According to Kelley Coffeen, an associate professor in the Fashion Merchandising and Design program at NMSU, "Hai and Natalie applied for these scholarships and competed against college students around the...

City Hall Hosts Employee Art Exhibition

The City of Albuquerque's Department of Arts & Culture and the Public Art Urban Enhancement Division recently celebrated the grand opening of Gallery One at City Hall, showcasing the creative works of city employees. The 2024 Employee Art Exhibit features artwork from seventy-one employees representing every City department, using a variety of methods and media such as glass, sculpture, embroidery, painting, drawing, and photography.Mayor Tim Keller expressed the significance of the exhibition, stating, "Albuquerque is a place that values its thriving artistic spirit....

Sandia Labs’ 20-year Economic Impact Reaches $140 Billion, Officials Announce

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories has announced a significant milestone in its economic impact over the past two decades. According to two studies commissioned by Sandia and the National Nuclear Security Administration, the lab's work has contributed a staggering $140 billion to the economy since the year 2000.The announcement was made during a news conference where key officials shed light on the findings. Deputy Labs Director and Chief Operating Officer David Gibson, along with Senior Manager of Business Development Mary Monson, among others, discussed...

UNM Symphony Orchestra to Perform Special Concert at Popejoy

The University of New Mexico Symphony Orchestra is set to present a special performance at Popejoy Hall on the UNM campus on Thursday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m.According to the event details, the orchestra, comprised of top music students in New Mexico, will be under the direction of U.S. Army Col. Jim Keene, a distinguished UNM alumni retiring from a 30-year career in the U.S. Army, notably leading the Grammy Award-winning U.S. Army Field Band.One of the highlights of the concert will be a performance by UNM horn professor Michael Walker of composer Dana Wilson’s Concerto...

Initiative in New Mexico Aims to Empower Indigenous Communities through Data Sovereignty

A transformative initiative led by a team at The University of New Mexico is working to ensure that the real stories of Indigenous communities in New Mexico are accurately represented. The Tribal Data Champions (TDC) Fellowship is a yearlong training program designed to empower Indigenous people in New Mexico by enhancing their skills and knowledge in data, evaluation, and research.Rebecca Rae from the UNM College of Population Health emphasized the community-driven approach of the TDC Fellowship, stating, "We're not just teaching methods; we're also fostering a...

Santa Fe County Assessor Extends Notice of Valuation Deadline and Enhances Services for Residents

Santa Fe, NM- The Office of the Santa Fe County Assessor has extended the official mail-out of Notice of Valuation (NOV) for all County residents to May 1, 2024. This extension was granted by the Property Tax Division (PTD) in response to significant improvements and changes made to the NOV process, aligning it with statewide standards and enhancing service to constituents.The Assessor's office has also implemented several key initiatives to improve services, including the valuation of short-term rentals, in-office workflows, and enhancements to its website for better...

Sleeping supermassive black holes awakened briefly by shredded stars

A team of researchers, led by Caltech, has made significant discoveries about an obscure class of galaxies known as Compact Symmetric Objects (CSOs). These active galaxies host supermassive black holes at their cores, from which two jets travel at high speeds in opposite directions. Contrary to previous beliefs that CSOs are young galaxies whose jets evolve over millions of years, the team's findings suggest that CSOs lead relatively short lives.Greg Taylor, a Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at The University of New Mexico, highlighted the unusual...

Faculty Focus: Chaitanya Mahajan Revolutionizing Additive Manufacturing at NMSU

Industrial engineering Assistant Professor Chaitanya Mahajan recently shared his enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research and collaboration at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Mahajan, who joined the NMSU faculty in April 2023, focuses on synthesizing new functional materials and designing print strategies for multi-material deposition techniques.Speaking about his experience at NMSU, Mahajan expressed his passion for interdisciplinary research, stating, “Interdisciplinary research is my favorite aspect of working at NMSU. It fosters a culture of collaboration and...

Empowering High Schoolers Through Constitutional Literacy Project

High school students participating in the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project are gaining valuable insights into their constitutional rights and legal careers. Junior Areli Garcia, a participant in the project, emphasized the importance of understanding rights when dealing with law enforcement, stating, "I would say I'm sorry, officer, but I do not consent to any searches."The project, led by law students serving as Marshall-Brennan Fellows, aims to educate underserved high school students about their rights and inspire them to consider pursuing law careers....

NMSU Electrical Engineering Students’ Papers Accepted for American Control Conference

Two electrical and computer engineering students from New Mexico State University, Diego Said Chavez Arana and Omar Alejandro Garcia Alcantara, have had papers accepted for publication at the prestigious American Control Conference to be held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in July.Diego Said Chavez Arana’s paper will be featured in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers journal Communications Letters, while Omar Alejandro Garcia Alcantara’s paper will be presented at the American Control Conference. Luis Rodolfo Garcia Carrillo, assistant professor of...

UROC showcases the best of undergraduate research

The upcoming Undergraduate Research Opportunity Conference (UROC) at The University of New Mexico is set to highlight the innovative research projects of undergraduate students from various disciplines. According to the Director of URAD, Tim Schroeder, UROC provides students with a platform to present their research and interact with the academic community."Students can enter up to three times with one entry for each review/evaluation of each of the following: three poster presentations, three oral presentations, or eight UROC 180 presentations," stated the Engineering...

Possible Quorum at Citizen Police Academy Training on March 28, 2024

The Civilian Police Oversight Advisory Board has issued a notice regarding a potential quorum at the upcoming Citizen Police Academy training session. The event is scheduled to take place on March 28, 2024, at the Albuquerque Police Academy located on 5412 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107.According to the advisory board, "A quorum of the Civilian Police Oversight Advisory Board may be in attendance at the Albuquerque Police Academy, 5412 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107, regarding the Citizen Police Academy." However, they have clarified that "No Board business...

NMSU to host Fulbright Week beginning today

New Mexico State University will host Fulbright Week this week featuring four sessions on Fulbright opportunities for both students and faculty. According to Andrea Orzoff, director of the Fellowships Office at NMSU, the Fulbright Program provides students with the chance to explore opportunities beyond the United States. Orzoff emphasized, "Through Fulbright, NMSU students have won full funding for an academic year, to do amazing things outside the U.S." She added, "They have earned master’s degrees in the United Kingdom, taught English in Romania, and researched arid-land...

EL Rancho Senior Center to Temporarily Close for Facility Upgrades

Santa Fe, NM- Effective April 1, 2024, the Santa Fe County Senior Services Division will temporarily close the El Rancho Senior Center to commence Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facility upgrades. These renovations are aimed at enhancing the center's facilities to better serve the needs of our senior citizens."The indoor upgrades will be completed over a short duration of 7 weeks, after which seniors can return to the facility while outdoor improvements are finalized."To ensure the safety of our seniors and minimize disruptions to services, grab and go meals for...

2024 Personnel Board Election Announcement in Albuquerque

The City of Albuquerque has announced an upcoming electronic election to fill a vacancy on the Personnel Board. City employees have the opportunity to nominate candidates for this position by submitting a petition to the Office of the City Clerk.According to the announcement, only permanent City employees are eligible to nominate candidates for the election. The nomination process requires detailed information about the nominee, including their name, address, telephone number, email, occupation, and certification of residency in Albuquerque for at least one year....

A new look at Grand Canyon springs and possible threats from uranium mining

A new research paper published in Annual Reviews of Earth and Planetary Sciences sheds light on the significance of Grand Canyon's springs and groundwater, as well as the potential threats posed by uranium mining. The paper, titled Hydrotectonics of Grand Canyon Groundwater, emphasizes the importance of sustainable groundwater management and the need for better monitoring to address uranium mining threats.Distinguished Professor Karl Karlstrom from the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at The University of New Mexico, one of the authors of the paper, highlighted...

City Announces Key Staffing Updates

The City of Albuquerque has announced key staffing updates by filling two critical leadership roles to ensure the consistent delivery of services and citywide operations. Mariela Ruiz-Angel has been appointed as the Associate Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO), while Nathan Martinez has taken on the role of Director of the General Services Department (GSD).Mayor Tim Keller expressed his gratitude for the appointments, stating, "We are very fortunate to have both Mariela and Nathan continuing their work for the City in these new roles."Mariela Ruiz-Angel, who hails from...

Small Businesses Can Apply for Storefront Repair Grants Through New Program