On occasion, Carr said he has dived into the odd storage shed or basement to find historical treasure. After all, the Lab and its work were once top secret.
“For 15 years I’ve been reading about the achievements of the past and present, and yet there is always something new and exciting to learn,” Carr said.īut, as one might imagine, not everything is easily discoverable. What might be useful for the technical staff five, 10 or 50 years into the future?” “When we identify records for preservation, we’re thinking ahead. “Many people assume we continually dwell on the past in the archives, but that’s far from true,” he said. Such supercomputing has since helped enable things like vaccine development and climate modeling.Īlan Carr studies records in the Lab's archives. With that in mind, Carr said he often finds it remarkable how, historically and today, Lab programs seem to perpetually generate new insights and spinoffs into other scientific areas, creating a sort of natural forward trajectory.įor example, Carr pointed out that the cessation of underground nuclear testing in 1992 propelled the Lab’s computer simulation program - which started in 1952 with the invention of MANIAC I - onward in new and exciting ways in the pursuit of science-based stockpile stewardship. Interestingly, learning the Lab’s past in those early days established a keen interest in its present and future - a driving force behind Carr’s continued dedication to his work. History in the makingĪrmed with a background in Russian history and a self-proclaimed soft spot for World War II-era books, movies and memorabilia, Carr’s career in Los Alamos started in earnest in a small office overlooking a loading dock in the Lab’s old records center.
“From my perspective, there’s just nothing better than watching motivated students develop into young professionals,” he said in a recent interview for the Lab’s Innovation Insider newsletter. He recently began mentoring interns at the Lab something he says has become one of the great joys of his career. Our work has changed the world and Alan’s accounting of that work has done a lot to solidify the Laboratory’s prominence on the world stage.”Īlan Carr said he has a soft spot for WW II-era books, movies and memorabilia, which fill his office at the Lab.įor Carr, one important segment that broader community is its future leaders. “Alan is an invaluable resource in helping the broader community better understand how Los Alamos has fundamentally impacted science and national security. “The role of the Lab historian is so important because it helps set the path for the future by showing us where we’ve been,” said Laboratory Director Terry Wallace. He also fields informational requests from the media, filmmakers and students. Over the years, Carr’s job has evolved from behind-the-scenes documentarian to Lab spokesman, in which he regularly (and enthusiastically) doles out historical factoids and guided tours for visiting international dignitaries, Academy Award winners, Nobel laureates and U.S. “The reason we at Los Alamos are perennially in the spotlight is because of our history.” Solidifying the Lab's prominence on the world stage “Our world-changing institution has captured the imagination of people around the world since our existence became publicly known,” Carr said. In a self-written article in the latest edition of 1663, Carr - the Lab’s official historian - talked about his 15 years of experience tracking down and preserving all the remarkable stories created in the Atomic City. For some, the sheer breadth of that timetable can be difficult to digest, but for Alan Carr it’s the perfect challenge - one that bears new discoveries every day. From Manhattan to Mars, more than seven decades of innovation on “the Hill” have literally carried mankind to new heights.
Historically speaking, the Laboratory is a behemoth.
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