Two Engineering Division employees were recognized for their service at Berkeley Lab’s 2026 Volunteer and Mentor Appreciation Event, held on April 23, 2026. Software engineer Mary Lopez was recognized for her commitment to volunteering at community outreach events, and electronics engineer Rebecca Carney was recognized for her efforts volunteering with the Lab’s Academic Learning Internships and Faculty Training (A-LIFT) Office.  

“Volunteering is a really great way to get to know your community and your neighbors, and it’s a really good way to understand how the Lab makes a huge impact in our community,” Lopez says. “The Lab serves as a very substantial landmark for the community. A lot of people know Berkeley Lab. You get to see the impact that it has on the world. It’s nice to witness that.”

Lopez received an Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Lab’s Community Relations team for her dedication to community outreach. She volunteered on behalf of Berkeley Lab at many events in the past year, including the Cinco de Mayo Festival, Berkeley Juneteenth Festival, and SF Pride Parade. Lopez is a software engineer in the Engineering Division, matrixed to the Controls Group at the Advanced Light Source. 

“When you’re volunteering, it’s a good way to share what we do, and it reflects our stewardship values,” Lopez says. “I think more people should participate so that they can share what they do in different parts of the Lab.”

Carney has been a significant contributor to Berkeley Lab’s A-LIFT STEM outreach programs since 2020. She has contributed to a wide range of activities, including STEM Days for High School Students, SAGE, Nuclear Science Day for Scouts, and Live Science.

Electronics engineer Rebecca Carney (left) accepts an award from Jacari Scott, senior administrator, Academic Learning Internships and Faculty Training (A-LIFT), at the 2026 Volunteer and Mentor Appreciation Event. (Credit: Thor Swift, Berkeley Lab)

“I didn’t know about any of the detector physics and instrumentation that informs my current work when I was a kid,” Carney explains. “I thought scientists were either chemists or zoologists, or they were people who sat around and looked at whiteboards. I didn’t know there was another way of engaging with fundamental science until I worked my way through it. So part of the intention was to make content for kids so that they know that these roles exist.”

Carney says that participating in outreach at the Lab started, in part, as a way to build community and engage with people in the midst of the pandemic. She currently works providing design and support instrumentation for efforts within the Physical Sciences Area.

There are many ways to get involved in STEM education and outreach through Berkeley Lab.

“You shouldn’t be intimidated by the perceived time commitment or the level of involvement needed,” says Carney. “If you’re interested in staying on site to do the work, you can. If you’re interested in going out into the community, A-LIFT coordinates school visits. You can go to high schools where you live and speak to kids in your area. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t necessarily think they are going to be good at performing in front of younger people, you could work more with the A-LIFT team directly, for example, helping with organization or content creation. So it’s not like you have to be this big, outgoing personality to  get engaged.” 

Lopez and Carney were recognized at the event with staff from across the Lab. Thank you to the many employees who are dedicated to service within our community and who generously give their time to many events throughout the year. If you would like to get involved with community outreach affiliated with Berkeley Lab, visit service.lbl.gov.