ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories President and Labs Director Paul Hommert will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science’s executive director Charles Walter and foundation executive director Jotina Trussell at the museum’s Start Up exhibit Friday, Nov. 21, at 11:45 a.m. The museum is located at 1801 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque.

“Sandia and the museum hold a common interest in exposing young learners to science, technology, engineering and math,” said Hommert. “Sandia has been a longtime partner of the museum, and this MOU provides a vehicle to strengthen that relationship.”

In the MOU, Sandia agrees to serve as a technical resource in identifying and developing programs, exhibits and speakers that will help extend the education of the community in the fields of space and space exploration, energy and alternative energy, water, and micro- and nanotechnology. The museum will help evaluate technological and educational initiatives of possible interest to Albuquerque and the region.

In the past year, Sandia gave $70,000 for the museum to purchase technical equipment to help provide its young visitors with state-of-the-art learning in science, technology, engineering and math. The technology also supports lifelong learning.

Sandia began supporting the museum in 1999 and has supported the museum’s Naturalist Center, which provides educational opportunities for children of all ages to handle specimens and explore the natural world; an annual gala fundraiser; and the Junior Docent program, which not only provides students with natural history and science content but also builds their confidence by having them offer exhibit explanations to enhance the experience of museum visitors.

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies and economic competitiveness.

Sandia news media contact: Neal Singer, nsinger@sandia.gov, (505) 845-7078