Workplace & Commuting

SRI is a "Best Workplace for Commuters"

For its commitment in supporting staff members who choose public or carpool transportation, SRI was once again recognized as a "Best Workplace for Commuters" for 2010. SRI subsidizes staff's use of public transportation and has a carpool matching service.

Education

San Francisco Bay Area Science Festival
SRI helped launch a 10-day celebration of science and technology in the Bay Area. The Festival featured fun, interactive science and technology events at local venues from Santa Rosa to San Jose.

SRI hosted a "Wonder Dialogue" on the evening of Nov. 2, 2011. NPR Tech Nation host Moira Gunn moderated a conversation about nurturing today’s students to become tomorrow’s scientists. Dr. Barbara Means, director of SRI’s Center for Technology in Learning, and UCSF Prof. and Science editor-in-chief Bruce Alberts shared their insights about the current state of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in the U.S. and what educators, researchers, and others can do to improve the quality of, and access to, STEM instruction.

On Discovery Day at AT&T Park SRI showcased exciting demos in electrostatic and robotics, olfactory sensing, brain function, and microbiology. SRI and other Bay Area research organizations presented more than 100 hands-on exhibits and activities for families and kids. Watch a short video about the festival and SRI's experiments.

SRI Hosts Cafe Scientifique—A Monthly Science Forum Open to the Public
SRI is host to Café Scientifique Silicon Valley, an informal gathering that brings cutting-edge and topical science to members of the community. All meetings are free and open to the public. Events are held in SRI's International Building at 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA, on the second Tuesday of most months (driving directions).  Visit the Café website for more information and to sign up for email reminders of upcoming events. Watch videos of recent talks.

Dixon Mentoring in Engineering Program
SRI Sarnoff has been an active member of NACME (National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering) since the 1970s. SRI Sarnoff founded NACME's Mentoring in Engineering program more than 30 years ago to motivate high school students to consider careers in engineering or science. In recognition of a founders’ commitment to MEP, Frederick L. Dixon, the program was renamed the Dixon Mentoring in Engineering Program (DMEP).

Several Princeton, NJ-area high schools participate in the program every year, from November through June. Minority students with an aptitude for math and science are selected based on teacher recommendations and an interview with the DMEP instructor. Students are transported to SRI Sarnoff every other week for two-hour sessions, including hands-on/interactive activities, lectures, demonstrations, and a tour of the laboratories. The intent is to let students learn about an engineer’s multiple roles so they can make informed career choices.

ATOM Science Club Visits SRI's "Big Dish"
On July 15, 2010, SRI hosted the Adventures Through Open Minds (ATOM) Science Club of San Mateo, CA at SRI's 150-foot radio reflector antenna, known as "The Big Dish", in the hills above Stanford University. Students in this summer science camp program learned how the Dish operates and how it coordinates with their studies of rockets, spacecraft, the sun, the solar wind, electromagnetics, and related topics. SRI's goal was to inspire the students to become scientists and engineers in the future.

Tech Museum of Innovation Field Trips for Students
SRI is a sponsor of The Tech Museum's Field Trip Opportunities program for Title 1 schools, which receive federal funding to improve academic achievement. The program makes it possible for students to visit The Tech for free and to benefit from science, technology, and engineering education. SRI's sponsorship funds museum admission, viewing of an IMAX film related to the science curriculum, 90-minute hands-on engineering and science labs for 112 students, and teacher materials and coursework support.

Support of the Science Center of Pinellas County, Florida
SRI sponsors Pinellas County's Science Center, which educates more than 40,000 students and visitors every year. With a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), the Center supports programs in robotics, forensics, biosciences, NASA science and technology, a center of excellence concept, and a digital media studio.

Continuing Sponsorship of Student Roboticists
SRI sponsors student robotics teams, which learn to solve real-world engineering challenges and develop teamwork and project management skills.

We are an ongoing sponsor of the Aragon High School Robotics Team, which competes in the U.S. FIRST robotics competition. SRI has sponsored several other high school teams in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Hillsdale, Menlo-Atherton, Gunn, Palo Alto, Woodside, Castilleja, and Carlmont. The teams compete in the annual Silicon Valley Botball Robot Tournament. SRI is also a sponsor of Hopewell Valley High School - FIRST Robotics Team 293 in New Jersey.

SRI is a sponsor of the LEGO Robotic Medics team (see photo at right) from Edgewood Community Elementary School in Eugene, Oregon. In 2011 at the Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Championship Tournament, the team won second place for the Bonneville Power Administration Project Award. SRI also sponsors South Eugene (Oregon) High School's robotics team.

SRI is a 2012 sponsor of a 4-H robotics club for students between the ages of 8-12 in Reston, VA. An SRI staff member, Kevin Ham, is among the team's parent volunteer coaches. The team will participate in the Junior FIRST Lego League's 2012 Super Seniors Challenge. Watch an inspiring video of the team during the 2011 event.

Research Experience for Undergraduates
Outstanding undergraduate students join SRI's Molecular Physics Laboratory each summer through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program of the National Science Foundation. The Lab has hosted students for more than 15 years. Students come from physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, and engineering programs in schools across the country.

Menlo-Atherton High School Outreach Fund
SRI has contributed to Menlo-Atherton High School's Outreach Fund to help make a difference in the lives of local students. School officials use the Fund to help students meet basic needs.

Menlo Park Library Foundation
SRI donated to the Menlo Park Library Foundation children's library renovation project. SRI provided two online public access catalog stations, in recognition of SRI's pioneering contributions to computing and the Internet.

SRI Supports the Computer History Museum
SRI is a corporate supporter and member of the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California and has donated several artifacts to the Museum, including Shakey the robot, a prototype of an early computer mouse, and a one-of-a-kind all-magnetic logic computer. SRI is an ongoing sponsor of the Museum's Fellows Awards program, which in 2005 honored SRI alumnus Doug Engelbart, inventor of the computer mouse and other foundations of personal computing.

Project READ Trivia Bee
Each year since the early 1990s, a team of SRI trivia buffs participates in Redwood City, California's Project READ Trivia Bee to help raise funds and awareness of adult and adolescent literacy needs.

Connecting with Local Teachers
SRI contributes to local education through a partnership with Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME). The goal is to provide teachers with hands-on, practical experiences to broaden their perspectives, while SRI gains valuable assistance from a knowledgeable, seasoned educator.

Volunteer Opportunities

Bay Area Twins Needed for the Twin Research Registry™ at SRI International
Are you a twin, or do you know any twins? You can help researchers advance science! The Twin Research Registry™ at SRI International is recruiting twin volunteers for a study on flu vaccination.

By joining the Twin Research Registry at SRI International you will also have the opportunity to participate in other studies and receive periodic newsletters. Call 1-800-SRI-TWIN, e-mail us at twin@sri.com or register via the website.

Community Teaming Day
SRI staff members volunteer for community programs and activities such as YES Reading, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Acterra: Action for a Sustainable Earth, and Stanford Blood Center. At an annual springtime SRI event, staff at large learn about volunteer opportunities from their co-workers and from leaders of community organizations to numerous charitable organizations.

Stanford University Blood Drives
Acknowledging the great demand for blood and the short supply of donations, SRI encourages staff to donate blood to Stanford Blood Drives.  Blood drives are held onsite every two months.

Support for Public Broadcasting
In support of KQED public broadcasting in the San Francisco Bay Area, SRI volunteers help with fund raising every year by answering incoming pledge calls. SRI has also underwritten programming on KQED 88.5 FM radio and at other NPR affiliate stations.

Health & Human Services

SRI Supports Relief Efforts in Japan
SRI joined the many organizations and individuals helping Japan by contributing to the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund.

SRI Japan staff donated food supplies and money to the city of Iwaki, which is near the heavily damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. SRI also donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund following the disastrous 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Aquathon
Teams from all over the San Francisco Bay Area, including SRI, compete annually in the Corporate Challenge Aquathon, sponsored by Abilities United, an organization that assists infants, children, and adults with developmental disabilities. At the 2011 Aquathon two SRI teams swam a total of 197 laps. SRI also marked 21 years of support to the Abilities United Aquathon in 2011.

Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society

Every year SRI International sponsors the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Menlo Park. At the 2011 Relay SRI was the top fundraising team.

The Relay helps the American Cancer Society fund programs that provide cancer patients with transportation and logistics assistance, such as Road to Recovery, as well as emotional support such as Reach to Recovery® for women and Man to Man®.

The Children's Health Council
SRI is a corporate sponsor of the Annual Summer Symphony for the Palo Alto, CA-based Children's Health Council. The Council provides mental health, developmental, and special education services.

SRI Supports Wounded Warrior Project
In 2010, Marc Reed, a research engineer at SRI St. Petersburg and a serious runner, ran the Gasparilla Marathon in team with disabled Marine veteran Patrick Webster. Marc, along with 2009 Ms. Florida, Juli Goldstein, ran the 26.2 miles while pushing Patrick's wheelchair. WFLA-TV NewsChannel 8 Tampa interviewed Patrick.

This is the second year Marc participated in the Tampa Marathon to raise funds and awareness for the Armed Forces Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), as part of the Wheelchairs for Warriors initiative. 

Winter Season Giving
Every Winter, SRI participates in One Warm Coat, a national effort to provide any person in need with a warm coat, free of charge.

Every holiday season, SRI staff members donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank. SRI has also supported the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula and Peninsula Volunteers, which provides services to senior citizens. Staff help make wishes come true by donating gifts for the Family Giving Tree.

Environment

Planting Trees in Menlo Park
SRI supports Trees for Menlo, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to planting trees in the city of Menlo Park, CA.