Lab to Host Scientists
Impacted By Hurricane

Deputy Director Graham Fleming has announced that Berkeley Lab will make its facilities and resources available for researchers whose work has been impacted by the Gulf Coast hurricane. The Lab has created a website through which scientists from institutions that were either shut down or damaged by hurricane Katrina can apply for research assistance in one of the Lab's 14 scientific divisions. "Many investigators may not be able to return to their laboratories for several weeks to months," Fleming said. "Several of our divisions have received inquiries from impacted scientists and are now making plans to receive these guest scientists." Among the early hosts: Bo Bodvarsson of Earth Sciences. Go here to find out more about the program, or contact Mike Chartock for details on how to host a scientist.

Ethanol Fueling Station
Now Up and Running

The only ethanol fuel dispensing station in Northern California is back up and running at Berkeley Lab. All government-leased vehicles that are designated "Flex-Fuel" are required to use ethanol (E85) when filling up at the Building 76 fueling station. Those vehicles requiring Flex-Fuel are identified with a sticker on the gas-cap door. Gas cards associated with these vehicles are programmed to only allow fueling from the ethanol pump. The use of ethanol fuel and associated Flex-Fuel vehicles allows the Lab to meet stringent DOE emissions and fossil fuel reduction goals and requirements. For more information, contact Don Prestella (x4224).

Acting HR Head Hanson:
30+ Years Experience

Hanson

Since former Human Resources manager Randy Scott left Berkeley Lab in July for a position in the University of California's Office of the President, the HR office has been directed by someone with broad labor relations and employee management experience. Acting Manager Larry Hanson, the former HR deputy here, has worked for more than 30 years in higher education, government and private industry. Among his assignments was Berkeley Lab manager of labor and employee relations from 1999 to 2002; UC San Francisco's labor relations advocate from 1986 to 1999; and group leader for staff relations at Los Alamos from 2002 until he returned to Berkeley Lab last year. Associate Laboratory Director David McGraw is conducting a nationwide search for a permanent HR manager, who will be selected with the review and concurrence of Director Steve Chu and Deputy Director Graham Fleming.

JGI Director Comments
On Chimp Sequencing

Eddy Rubin, director of the Joint Genome Institute and Berkeley Lab's Genomics Division, was recently quoted in a Nature article on the sequencing of the chimpanzee genome. The story discusses how primate sequencing can help understand more recent, human-specific traits, but is not so helpful when looking back on how the human genome evolved. Full story.