NIH celebrated the reopening of the Bldg. 64 NIH East Child Care Center playground during a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this fall. 

“Today marks the exciting unveiling of a vibrant new space that will soon be filled with children’s laughter and energy,” said NIH Office of Research Services (ORS) Director Colleen McGowan at the ceremony. “We hope this new play yard will inspire creativity for the children who might work here tomorrow.” 

How do lemurs navigate at night?

If your child asks this question, you might find yourself turning to Baby Senses: A Sensory Neuroscience Primer for All Ages, a children’s neuroscience book written and illustrated by Dr. Jayalakshmi Viswanathan.

As it turns out, lemurs use their well-developed sense of smell to map their environment to help them get around in the dark. Viswanathan, a scientific research program specialist in NIH’s National Institute on Aging, featured the iconic primates as well as several other animals and insects in her book.

The National Symphony Orchestra returned to the Clinical Center atrium on Sept. 3 for its annual full orchestra concert. The carefully curated selections from contemporary and classic composers evoked a range of emotions—from the soulful and reflective to the rousing finale of Rossini’s William Tell overture.

The concert was part of Sound Health, an ongoing partnership between NIH, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts that studies how music affects mood, brain function and overall health.

The Children’s Inn at NIH brought a dose of holiday cheer in the heat of summer by welcoming Santa Claus and his motorcycle elves for its annual Christmas in July celebration.

On July 16, the NIH Police Department joined the Montgomery County Police Department to escort Santa’s motorcade through the county to the Inn. Once there, they picked up families and departed for a fun afternoon at the Rio Lakefront shopping center.

On July 16, 1798, President John Adams signed into law the Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen, which established the Marine Hospital Service and paved the way for the founding of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) and—almost a century later—NIH.

In a few days, the annual Camp Fantastic will be underway in Front Royal, VA. 

Founded by the non-profit Special Love, Inc. in 1983, this week-long summer camp hosts children undergoing treatment for cancer or who are in recovery. NIH’s Pediatric Oncology Branch coordinates all aspects of care at the camp, with an onsite medical facility staffed by NIH physicians, nurses and volunteers.

In June, Safety, Health and Wellness Day returned to the Clinical Center’s south lobby. The annual fair raises awareness about safety and wellness concerns to help prevent and reduce work-related injuries and illnesses. 

This year’s fair featured posters, demonstrations, a stretch class and healthy treats. Exhibits included lab safety, radiation safety, energy conservation, fire prevention and Occupational Medical Services as well as a range of resources for when employees need advice and assistance—from child and family care to the Employee Assistance Program. 

On a sunny day in June, hundreds of NIH’ers stopped by the Bldg. 10 south lawn for the annual Camp Fantastic BBQ to help raise money for a worthy cause. The event, which featured food trucks, games, a mini vendor fair and the weekly community market, supports Camp Fantastic— the week-long summer getaway in Virginia for children with cancer.

The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences, Inc. (FAES) is nearing completion on seven additional residences for NIH trainees near NIH’s Bethesda campus.

On May 15, after two rainy days, the skies cleared and local roads filled with cyclists. That day, some NIH’ers commuted into work on their bicycles as part of the Washington area’s Bike to Work Day and dropped by the NIH pitstop behind the Natcher Bldg.