By Ron Kolb
What a difference a few years makes!
It wasn't too long ago that Berkeley Lab Director Charles Shank was painting an uncertain picture of the prospects for national support for science and, thus, for the health of Laboratory programs.
That's why, during his State of the Laboratory address on June 25, his use of the words "terrific" and "spectacular" and "exciting" were so welcomed by his audience. He summed up his mood and the status report of the day with a simple phrase: "Things are going extraordinarily well."
To be sure, one can never be too comfortable. As Shank pointed out, budget trends in Washington are never very predictable. He did, however, point to the new Secretary of the Department of Energy, Federico Peña, as a "quick study" who has been speaking out in favor of science programs at the DOE. And he mentioned James Sensenbrenner, the new chair of the House Science Committee in Congress, as being positive toward increased support for science. So the signs are good.
Budget trends at Berkeley have been, according to the Director, "really spectacular." From a 1990 operating budget of $170 million, the Laboratory has increased to over $280 million in operating funds thanks to program growth--in computing sciences (the arrival of the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center and ESNet), earth sciences, biology, and materials sciences, among others.
Part of the reason, he noted, was a "truly spectacular improvement in costs. Our overhead costs have been brought down dramatically by [Deputy Director] Klaus Berkner, his operations team, and the divisions themselves. It has made us more efficient, more competitive, doing quality science that most people can afford. We are making every dollar count."
This growth has not occurred without a price. What it has meant, according to Shank, is "more people and not enough space." A central focus of management's strategic directions, space planning (both on-site and off) will be the subject of an upcoming division directors' retreat and a theme in the emerging Laboratory Strategic Plan update, due this fall.
Shank proceeded with a review of what he called "the heart and soul of what we do--the privilege to contribute high-quality science across the laboratory." Pointing to highlights of research accomplishments in each division, Shank congratulated employees "for a terrific year."
He closed, however, on a more sobering note. Referencing "disturbing" recent safety and environmental events at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the resultant cancellation of the management contract, Shank reminded everyone about the costs of being inattentive to environmental and safety issues. Brookhaven has been the focus of DOE management attention as a result of issues related to the laboratory's High Flux Beam Reactor and to community concerns over environmental contamination.
"These are lessons learned," he told the Berkeley Lab audience. "We have more responsibility than any other laboratory to do our work with sound and safe practices.
"We are creating an integrated safety and environmental management program that will build safety into every piece of the work we do. We must use good judgment in balancing scientific creativity with the discipline that respects the environment and the community."
And he added, "I say clearly, without qualifications: if the work is unsafe, or it will create an environmental problem, don't do it."
Among the outstanding research achievements noted by Shank were:
Photo: Lab Director Charles Shank (XBD9706-02718)
By Allan Chen
Two scientists in Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies Division have developed a method to measure air pollution emissions from oil storage tanks. Using a simple device fashioned from parts available at local hardware stores for less than $20, Donald Lucas and David Littlejohn have found a way to study how emissions from these tanks contribute to air pollution in the state. Berkeley Lab took on the challenge of developing this sampler at the request of a California consortium of regulators and oil companies.
Thousands of oil storage tanks dot the landscape of oil-rich counties in southern and central California. Typically 30 feet high and 40 to 50 feet across, they store the crude oil extracted by pumps scattered throughout the state's oil fields--some of them as small as a few acres. Drivers on Interstate 5, one of the state's most heavily used north-south routes, are familiar with some of these tanks, but many more lie out of view in the back country.
In an attempt to meet the goals of the Clean Air Act, regulatory agencies began to develop rules that would, for the first time, affect heavy oil storage tanks. Unfortunately, no good means were available to measure the magnitude of air pollution emissions from these tanks.
"Air quality districts have to reduce hydrocarbon emissions, and these tanks are an obvious source that they can regulate to help meet the Clean Air Act's requirements," says Donald Lucas of the EETD's Environmental Research Program. "But the standard method used to test emissions from tanks--the Reid method--was designed for lighter oil products, mainly gasoline. It doesn't work for the thicker, heavier crude oil."
Reducing storage tank emissions could cost the oil industry tens of millions of dollars.
The oil industry, represented by the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), told regulatory agencies that they would need a new method capable of determining the actual emissions levels from these tanks. WSPA offered to fund a scientific study.
Regulators and industry decided to band together to work out a solution to this problem, and HOST--the Heavy Oil Storage Tank Working Group--was born. A unique collaboration between industry and government, HOST originally consisted of the California Air Resources Board, the Monterey Unified Air Pollution Control District (MUAPCD), the San Joaquin UAPCD, the Santa Barbara UAPCD, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and WSPA.
"HOST came to Berkeley Lab first," Lucas said, "but it was not clear initially that there was a scientific problem to solve. Then HOST released a request for proposals to 17 commercial testing labs in search of one willing to develop the new procedure and test other methods. We became interested when we realized during discussions with program officers at the Department of Energy that the project offered the chance to solve a scientific problem underlying environmental regulations with a wide impact on the oil industry."
WSPA granted $50,000 for the project and DOE came up with an additional $75,000. DOE and Berkeley Lab became HOST members. "The group has an unusual way of operating," Lucas said. "HOST makes decisions by consensus. We meet once a month to discuss our results. No one in the group has veto power. Berkeley Lab takes a leadership role in conducting the research, but we don't mandate any approaches. A trained mediator helps make sure that our meetings are productive."
Accompanied by safety personnel from HOST member companies and by a CARB representative, Lucas and Littlejohn visited several tanks in southern California. Using parts bought at a local home improvement store, they devised a rugged sampler capable of transferring a little of the crude oil from the tank to a standard analytical laboratory without exposing the oil to the atmosphere or losing any emissions from the sample. The old Reid method required a $500 canister.
"The sampler's design is not radically new," explains Lucas, "but we had to prove that it could work here. The Reid method only measures the total pressure of the vapors above the gasoline. We measure the total vapor pressure, as well as how much water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, and the heavier components of the crude oil-- the so-called reactive organic compounds--are in the sample. This is important because only the reactive organic compounds are covered by emission standards and contribute to urban air pollution."
In addition to the sampler, the researchers also tested and developed other procedures for testing the crude, both in the lab and on-site at the oil field. Using a mobile laboratory facility, it is possible to run continuous emissions tests on a tank 24 hours a day.
With oil companies providing logistical cooperation, such as running power lines, and by renting trailers and lifts, Lucas and Littlejohn made measurements at six tanks. Their published results show that the measured tanks emit less than a pound of reactive organics per day, much less than was expected.
Thanks to an additional year of funding by DOE's National Petroleum Technology Office and WSPA, the scientists are now testing more tanks over a wider area of southern California in order to get a better idea of the magnitude of emissions. "Also, we are moving toward certifying the test procedure with the American Society of Testing and Materials," says Lucas. ASTM certification would give air quality districts and regulated entities throughout the U.S. a standard test for the tanks.
"This is an example of how industry and the government can work cooperatively to solve problems with both scientific and political issues," concludes Lucas. "Berkeley Lab's contribution was to bring independent, scientific credibility to the project."
The researchers presented their work at the Society of Petroleum Engineers/Environmental Protection Agency Exploration and Production Environmental Conference, and have published their account in SPE's Proceedings.
Photo: Berkeley Lab scientists conducted measurements of air pollution emissions from oil storage tanks at locations such as this one at Cat Canyon in California's Santa Barbara County. The tanks are owned by Gato Oil. (XBD9707-02807)
Photo: The oil sampler developed at Berkeley Lab consists of $20's worth of home plumbing equipment bought at Home Depot: two valves, a gage and copper tubing. (XBD9707-02806)
By Ron Kolb
"A World of Great Science" will be the theme of the second Berkeley Lab Open House, scheduled for Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A colorful poster featuring the symbolic Advanced Light Source building looming above a global landscape will promote Open House '97 and will begin to appear throughout the Bay Area over the next couple of months. Its design elements are reminiscent of the 1995 logo, which helped attract more than 5,000 visitors to Laboratory exhibits, displays, tours and entertainment.
This year's theme is appropriate on several levels. It reflects the international scope of the Laboratory's research programs, as well as the multicultural nature of the community that makes up the Lab. Its scientific explorations extend from the most distant objects in the universe to the particles inside the atom--from the infinite to the infinitesimal.
Division coordinators who are developing programs for Open House are encouraged to reflect the theme in their materials whenever possible. Food and entertainment will similarly echo the international flavor of the day.
Much like 1995, this fall's celebration will include a rich choice of activities for families who visit: major lectures, facility tours, hands-on children's science programs, stand-alone exhibits and displays--all oriented toward explaining Berkeley Lab's special contributions to science and society. A huge canopy welcome tent will greet and inform visitors when they arrive by bus at the cafeteria upper parking lot. From there, shuttles will carry guests to destinations throughout the site.
In the central area, a family science tent will be erected in the Bldg. 70 parking lot. A special event stage will be constructed in the lot in front of Bldg. 50. And around the cafeteria, food booths and a music stage will provide continuous service and entertainment.
As program specifics become available, additional details will be offered in Currents and on a website now under construction. In the meantime, a call for volunteers has been issued. Employees who wish to serve as information hosts, tour guides, monitors and program assistants during Open House are urged to contact Rich Wilson at X7391.
Photo: A World of Great Science (OH97_B_W)
Photo: Gary Koehler of the Engineering Division installs the multiple wire proportional chambers into the STAR Time Projection Chamber. This detector will play a key role in an upcoming effort to recreate and study what scientists believe was the dominant state of matter a few microseconds after the Big Bang. Later this year the detector will be shipped to Brookhaven National Laboratory, where it will become part of the STAR collider experiment aimed at studying quark-gluon plasmas. (XBD9706-02666-04) Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt
By Jon Bashor
The information age has not only spawned a never-ending torrent of data flooding our lives, it has also led to huge libraries of electronic information stored in computers everywhere.
Although such information represents a valuable resource, the sheer volume of data stacking up is making it increasingly difficult for anyone to retrieve needle-sized files of useful information from these virtual haystacks. Today, experts in the field will wrap up a four-day workshop organized by the Lab's Computer Sciences Division and held at UC Berkeley's Clark Kerr Campus. Participants will make recommendations for standards and practices to improve access to the data and make it easier for various organizations to share electronic information.
The issue is so large, it has generated its own terminology. The data created to describe large piles of information is known as "metadata," and one of the techniques used to find valuable nuggets is called "data mining."
"There are not only mountains of data to be conquered, but those mountains come in different varieties," said workshop chairman John McCarthy of the Lab's Computing Sciences Division. "The problem common to all of these vast libraries is that it is very difficult to find exactly what you're looking for and to relate one data set to another. Many organizations still haven't come to grips with the extent of the problem." McCarthy is one of the first researchers to coin the term metadata based on work at Berkeley Lab 25 years ago.
According to program committee chairman Frank Olken of Berkeley Lab, metadata can facilitate access, use and sharing of data across cyberspace and time by systematically describing the content, structure and semantics of data residing in information systems, databases or files.
The main sponsor of the workshop is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has amassed volumes of environmental data, usually collected on one specific component--such as air, water or solid waste--making it difficult to draw together the full picture of environmental conditions for any specific place. To make and defend policies today, the EPA needs to access data from many sources, ensure its validity, and integrate many perspectives, such as air quality, land use, water quality and chemical toxicity.
The workshop is being held under the auspices of the International Organization for Standardization's Joint Technical Committee on Information Standards. The wide range of organizations participating in the workshop illustrates the scope and importance of this issue: the U.S. Census Bureau, Boeing, Xerox, AT&T Laboratories, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, University of Michigan, Rutgers University, the University of Maryland, and Lawrence Berkeley and Los Alamos national laboratories.
To learn more about the workshop, visit its website at http://www.lbl.gov/ ~olken/EPA/Workshop/ or contact Jon Bashor at X5849.
Andre Anders (AFRD), Michael Dickinson (Engineering), and Michael Rubin (Environmental Energy Technologies) have won an R&D 100 award for creating a device that produces a "cold" plasma suitable for the synthesis of various materials, including optoelectronic materials, such as gallium nitride, and materials for energy conservation and solar control films, such as transparent conductors and electrochromic films. More information will be included in a longer article in a future issue of Currents.
The Office of Science and Technology of the French Embassy in the U.S. is offering a fellowship program for American doctoral and post-doctoral students to conduct research in French laboratories. The Chateaubriand Fellowship covers round-trip ticket and allowances of $1800 a month for doctoral fellows and $2200 a month for post doctoral fellows to work in various scientific areas, including engineering, biology, agricultural science, and medicine. To be eligible, applicants must be American citizens, be enrolled in an American university or working in a public laboratory, and have earned their Ph.D. no more than three years ago. Applications are accepted until December 1, 1997, and registration is available through the program's website (http://www.chateaubriand.amb-wash.fr). For more information, contact the Embassy of France, Office of Science and Technology, at (202) 944-6246 or send e-mail to [email protected]
DOE's ER Laboratory Technology Research program is calling for proposals for new multi-year partnership projects to begin in FY98. Each project is targeted for up to $750,000 in DOE funds over a three-year period, with up to $125,000 for FY98. Partnership funding is expected to be at least 50 percent. Pre-proposals are due to the Lab's Technology Transfer Department by Friday, August 15. This is the start of a selection process which will conclude with the funding of about 15 projects at the five ER labs. For instructions and other information, contact Tech Transfer's Chris Kniel at X5566 or [email protected].
Carol Laramore, a travel auditor with the Laboratory for the past 20 years, died of cancer on June 28 at her home in El Sobrante. She was 53.
Two years ago Mrs. Laramore was recognized, along with a co-worker, for instituting cost effective audit policies for the Lab. In 1995 she received a certificate of appreciation from the American Red Cross for assisting victims of the fire in the Oakland hills.
"Carol was a wonderful person to work with," said Julie Blickle, chief financial officer for Operations. "She approached her job the same way she approached life--with sensitivity, humor, and the highest sense of integrity."
A native of Oakland, Laramore was a member of the Sierra Club and marked her 50th birthday by climbing Half Dome in Yosemite Park. She was also an avid gardener.
During the 1960s Laramore worked as a flight attendant and made multiple trips to Vietnam to deliver U.S. troops to the war zone.
She is survived by her sons, Troy and Kurt Laramore, parents Ed and Lois Hutchings, brothers Lawrence and Kenneth Hutchings, sister Claudia Sturges, and one grandchild.
Photo: Carol Laramore (XBD9707-02776)
By Denise Rogers, Student Intern
Many high school science classes were changed drastically a few years ago with the launching of Hands On Universe (HOU), a physics project which originated at Berkeley Lab. No longer were students having to depend on lectures and textbooks to find answers to their questions about the universe. Instead, they could download astronomical images from telescopes around the world directly to their classroom computers, study them, and even hope to become the first to discover a new supernova or asteroid.
Carl Pennypacker, an astrophysicist and educator at the Lab, started the program back in the early 1990s. "Working in the Lab taught me that hands-on is the way to go," he said. "I felt that high school students should experience it too."
Today, Hands On Universe is being implemented in more than 200 high schools around the United States and is slowly going global. The program recently gained the attention of President Clinton, who mentioned HOU in an April press release to the heads of the executive departments and agencies, in which he challenged federal agencies to continue to "make a significant contribution to expanding this universe of knowledge."
To help spread the word about HOU, a Teacher Resource Agent (TRA) process was developed in which 12 trained pilot teachers give one-week summer workshops to new HOU teachers. The new trainees will use the program in their own classrooms, and some of them will go on to become TRAs themselves. The first summer focuses on learning the tools and the astrophysics, while the second summer is used for research projects.
After receiving initial funding in 1992 from the Department of Energy and a subsequent grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the program is now funded by the Department of Defense, the Department of Education and the Lab's Center for Science and Engineering Education.
About nine months ago, HOU received an NSF grant which enables the program to train an additional 500 to 700 teachers and allows for more teacher enhancement and support. "We want to be able to get HOU out to more people," Pennypacker said, "and it is the teachers that carry the skills over to the kids. Our goal is to get 1,000 teachers trained in three years and then keep doubling it. Someday, Hands On Universe will be available to every teacher in America."
NSF also gave HOU an informal science education grant, which is being used to develop educational materials and activities for science camps, museums and community centers. These programs use astronomy to reach out to different cultures, age groups and academic levels--including students, senior citizens, and others who cannot access HOU in the regular classroom environment. For example, a number of senior citizens are currently using HOU at the Drake Planetarium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Pennypacker attributes the popularity of HOU to the fact that everyone involved has a chance to make a real discovery and to work with the tools and methods of inquiry used by real scientists.
Students from around the Bay Area and from Mt. Hermon School in Massachusetts have used the Physics Division's Supernova Cosmology Project--led by LBNL's Saul Perlmutter--to download images from Cerro Tololo in Chile over the Internet. Asteroids and supernovas have been discovered by students such as Heather Tartara and Melody Spence of Oil City High School, who captured the first light of SN1994I, the ninth supernova of 1994.
"The most important part to me is to see the students' excitement and the gleam in their eye when they are doing science," said Pennypacker. "We now know that the best way to teach science is to do science. Kids like to feel like they're doing something genuine, as do adults. Doing research makes them feel like collaborators and members of an important global community."
The 1997 summer training sessions for HOU's Teacher Enhancement Workshop for Northern California are held July 7-11 at Albany High School, Aug. 4-8 at Sacramento State University, and Aug. 11-15 at Sonoma State University. For more information, contact Carl Pennypacker at X7429 or visit the HOU website at http://hou.lbl.gov
Photo: Rich Lohman, a physics teacher and Hands On Universe Teacher Resource Agent, demonstrates the wonders of astrophysics during a Teacher Enhancement Workshop held last week at Albany High School. (XBC9707-02808) Photo by Joe Moore
By Denise Rogers, Student Intern
Fighting your way through Bay Area traffic to get to the Lab could be your biggest adventure of the day unless you have searched the award-winning website "The Particle Adventure," produced by the Lab's Particle Data Group and the Contemporary Physics Education Project (CPEP).
The website takes visitors on an easy to follow, hands-on exploration through the theory of fundamental particles and forces known as the "Standard Model."
With the help of descriptive yet simple graphics and animation, visitors to the site can learn about the building blocks of matter--what our world is made up of, how it is held together and more.
The site presents information about topics such as particle decay, the history of particle physics, ancient theories about the nature of matter, and the latest in particle theory. Visitors to the site can test their knowledge and understanding with quizzes and questions that have easily accessible answers.
"The purpose of The Particle Adventure is to introduce students and the public to the excitement of particle physics and show them what physicists are doing now," says physicist Michael Barnett of the Particle Data Group. "This is not a closed field. The door is open for students to go after this themselves."
Site outgrowth of CPEP
Barnett said the idea for the website has been 10 years in the making. It started in Pennsylvania with the inception of CPEP, which was formed by high school teachers from around the country who deplored the lack of modern materials for students interested in physics. Physicists were asked to participate by working with teachers to explain what they do.
The first activity of CPEP was to design a wall chart of the Standard Model. Later, with the help of students, CPEP teachers developed a Mac-based hypercard program that combined physics with graphics and humor.
"We took the hypercard program and used it as a starting point," Barnett said. "It was an interchange of ideas between CPEP and the Particle Data Group."
Student input essential
Students have played a key role in the development of the website, Barnett said. Carolyn Mockett, a college intern hired by the Particle Data Group, built the web version two years ago, calling it The Particle Adventure. Another intern, Charles Groom, greatly enhanced the site last summer. Betty Armstrong of the Particle Data Group has provided much input and technical support.
Since then, the website has won 18 awards from Internet catalogers and educational groups, including the Net Guide Gold Award, Coolest Science Site, Web Crawler Select, USA Today Hot Site, and Education World. The Discovery Channel called it "the site that takes your students into the future."
The site has recently been translated into Spanish, and work is beginning on a related site called "The Universe Adventure," which will focus on cosmology.
Barnett said the next step may be to adapt The Particle Adventure into a shorter version for presentation in museums and at the Lab's Open House in October. This year's intern, Hugh Manini, will help with this project. Until then, you can visit The Particle Adventure at http://pdg.lbl.gov/ cpep/adventure.html on the world wide web.
Photo: The Particle Adventure. (mainatom)
Editor's Note: This summer we begin an occasional series of articles featuring the UC Berkeley campus, with which the Laboratory is closely allied.
By Liqa Alazzawy, student intern
Looking for a Tyrannosaurus rex? Try UC Berkeley's Museum of Paleontology and you'll be greeted by a 20-ft tall and 40-ft long skeleton towering over the first floor of the Valley Life Sciences Building. The T-rex replica may be the most awe inspiring display, but visitors to UCB's museums can find everything from 19th century Mexican trousers to a native Californian bee.
The university's museums house some of the most comprehensive collections of artifacts, fossils, plants and insects in America. Many of the museums on campus serve primarily as storehouses and research centers and do not have display galleries for the public, although they are all open to students and in most cases, to outside visitors as well.
Museum of Paleontology
Now in its 75th year, the Museum of Paleontology is one of the most popular museums on campus, drawing hundreds of visitors each week. The replica of the T-rex discovered in Eastern Montana is clearly the main attraction.
"Kids love dinosaurs," said Judy Scotchmoor, director of public programs. "They're big, and kids can't believe that they existed."
The museum houses the fourth largest collection of fossils in the United States, including organisms from every continent, and offers occasional tours, courses, exhibits and programs. The next short course, entitled "Biodiversity: Past and Present," will be offered in November. For more information, call 642-4877.
University and Jepson Herbaria
Across from the Tyrannosaurus rex visitors will find the oldest museum on campus, the University Herbarium, established in 1890. The herbarium contributes to research into the diversity of the world's plant life. Its collection of preserved plant specimens are pressed, dried and mounted on heavy paper, or preserved in fluids.
In contrast, the Jepson Herbarium is devoted exclusively to the study of California's native plants, making it the only museum of its kind. The Herbarium, which contains around 300,000 plants, was established in 1950 by an endowment from Willis Linn Jepson, California's most eminent early botanist.
With a combined collection of 1,800,000 specimens, the University and Jepson herbaria account for the largest collection of plants at an American public university.
Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum
Formerly known as the Lowie Museum of Anthropology, the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum has a rich collection of anthropological and archaeological artifacts collected over the past century. The museum was founded in 1901 and is famous for its "Ishi" exhibit, honoring a Yahi Indian who spent the last years of his life (1911 to 1916) in the museum's building (then located in San Francisco) under study by Berkeley anthropologists. The permanent Ishi display includes arrow heads, knives, cultural tools, fish hooks and pictures of Ishi.
With its four million objects, the museum boasts the third largest collection of artifacts among American universities. "Less than one percent of our objects can be installed in the gallery at any time," said Museum Director Rosemary Joyce. "I once figured it would take us 300 years to put everything on exhibit."
The museum houses the world's best collection of California Indian artifacts, totaling 300,000 items, and is currently featuring a collection of Pueblo pottery from the late 1800s.
Essig Museum of Entomology
Fans of crawlers and critters will find 4.5 million insects, spiders, mites and centipedes at the Essig Museum of Entomology, located in 211 Wellman Hall. Entomologists working to name and identify the life cycles, behavior, food and habitat preferences of insects use the museum as a valuable resource. In North America, only 65 percent of all insects are named or described, leaving a tremendous amount of work to researchers. The museum's collection, which was started in the late 1800s, is used as a teaching tool and is loaned out for research.
The museum displays some of its collection during Cal Day, when students get to preview the university. Tours are available for academic groups on request.
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Tapping into evolutionary history, researchers at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology study the biology of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals as well as their ecology and geographic distribution. The museum was founded in 1908 and is home to one of the largest and most important collections of vertebrates in the world.
Although the museum does not keep its collection on display, its staff offers weekly lunch-time seminars on various research topics. These presentations are held every Wednesday during the regular school year and are open to the public.
The Blackhawk Auto Museum
One of the foremost automobile museums in the world, the Blackhawk Auto Museum in Danville is affiliated with the UC Berkeley campus and has 120 automobiles on display at all times.
The museum preserves and displays historically significant and artistically distinctive automobiles and related art and artifacts from the industry's earliest models up through contemporary automobiles. Guided tours are offered with regular admission on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Photo: Pueblo pottery. (ZBD9707-02758)
Photo: T-rex replica greets visitors at UC Berkeley's Museum of Paleontology. (XBD9707-02756)
Museum of Paleontology
Free, open during building hours
http://ucmp1.berkeley.edu
642-1821
University and Jepson Herbaria
8 a.m.-12 noon and 1-5 p.m., Monday. through Friday
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/
642-2465
Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
Admission: $2 for adults, $1 for seniors and $.50 for children 16 and under
http://www.qal.berkeley.edu/~hearst/
642-3682
Essig Museum of Entomology
Visits by appointment only
http://shanana.berkeley.edu/essig/index.html
643-0804
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/mvz/index.html
642-3567
Blackhawk Auto Museum
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
Admission: $8.00 for adults and $5 for seniors, students and children
http://www.blackhawkauto.org
736-2277
Starting on Monday, July 14, the cafeteria will increase its prices slightly on most food items. The change, says cafeteria manager Mark Blum, is due to increases in the cost of labor, food products and paper goods.
For most items--including sandwiches, grills, Bistro Fare entrees, south of the border, coffee and sodas--the increase will be five or 10 cents per item. The salad bar will become $.30 per ounce, up from $.25. Occasional "Chef's specials" (every third Friday) will be around $4.95. Prices for breakfast items will not change.
Food portions will remain the same, but variety will increase in the near future, Blum said. Among the new items to keep an eye on: creative "panini" type sandwiches, wrappers, and new pasta salads, reflecting the cafeteria management's emphasis on healthy eating.
Blum would also like to encourage lab employees to take advantage of the full two hours that the dining center is open--11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.--in order to avoid the congestion and long lines between 12 noon and 1 p.m.
The cafeteria is planning to develop a web site in the near future, which will contain menus, prices, staff, and other relevant information. Meanwhile, comments or questions can be e-mailed to [email protected].
All employees and their families, as well as former employees and retirees, are invited to participate in the second Berkeley Lab Craft Fair, to be held on Friday, Nov. 21 (the Friday before Thanksgiving) in the cafeteria. About 40 booths are already reserved from 4 to 7 p.m. Items for sale will include holiday ornaments, handmade clothing (hats, jackets, scarves), jewelry, pottery, porcelain, and baked goods. Each crafter will donate an item for a free drawing. Santa is also scheduled to stop by and join in the fun. Event organizers are still looking for woodworkers and stained glass artists. To reserve a space, contact Kathy Ellington (X4931, [email protected], fax: X4089).
The Lab's Badging Office has changed the procedure employees need to follow to obtain on-site reserved parking and gate passes for their guests. The requests must be submitted through e-mail, by fax (X6169), or through a web form--not over the phone. Please note that the e-mail addresses have changed. For site access, the e-mail is [email protected]; for parking, it's [email protected]. If you use QuickMail you can click on "To", then "Find" and under first name type "gate" for site access or "reserved" for parking. The web form can be found on the Lab's web page. Click on "Index" and then "Gate Pass Request Form." If at all possible, requests should be submitted no later than 3 p.m. the day prior to the arrival of your guest.
The Badging Office is also undergoing a face lift and will be repainted and recarpeted over the next week or so. Unfortunately, this will require the office to be closed for a day or two. Please watch for Monday's "Headlines" for more specific information.
Currents is printed on recycled and recyclable paper, using soy-based inks. You can recycle your copy by placing it in one of the "white paper" receptacles provided by Richmond Sanitary.
The full text of each edition of Currents is published on the Lab's home page on the World Wide Web. View it at http://www.lbl.gov/ under "Research News and Publications." To set up your computer to access the World Wide Web, call the Mac and PC Support Group at X6858.
IDS Couriers is the Lab's contract courier service, operating 24 hours a day with pick-up and delivery service anywhere in the Bay Area. For service, call 548-3263 with pick-up/delivery locations, time requirements (rush, two-hour, four-hour, and same-day), and a valid Lab account number.
Organized by the members of the African American Employees Association, the picnic is held to thank all students and mentors for their contributions to the Laboratory and to welcome all those who recently arrived here for the summer. The Laboratory-sponsored event is made possible through contributions from the African American Employee Association, the Employees Recreation Association, and a number of employees who volunteer their time and cooking skills. For more information, contact Bette Muhammad at X7602.
The Laboratory welcomed the following new career employees during the month of June:
William A. Bates, ENG
Douglas Brenner, ENG
Ian M. Craig, CSD
Tristi De Blander, OPER
Carol Harr Earls, OPER
Susan Gisser, LSD
Efren N. Gosuico, ENG
Clifford H. Gregory,ICSD
Kevin T. Haugh , OPER
Wendell Hom, LSD
Barry Hotchkies, OPER
Victoria A. Krysiak, EH&S
Cathy Leonard, OPER
Arunava Mjumdar, EET
Tihomir Novakov, EET
Soo Park, LSD
Peggy P. Patterson, OPER
Cheri D. Piscia, LSD
Sharon K. Reineman, OPER
Sreela Sen, OPER
Jennifer Slatten, OPER
Andreas R. Stonas, MSD
Bonnie J. Wertman, EH&S
Sharran Zeleke, OPER
Scores from the fourth week and standings are listed below. Games are played Wednesdays at Kleeberger Field on campus. For more information, contact Steve Blair at X5927.
SHOEMOBILE
7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., in Bldg. 54 parking lot.
BODYWORKS AEROBICS CLASS
Noon-1 p.m. in Bldg. 90-4133.
EETD Building Energy Seminar
"Cool Sense Integrated Chiller Retrofit Program" will be presented by
Lisa Gartland of the EETD Building Energy Analysis Group at noon in Bldg.
90-3148.
Surface Science and Catalysis Science Seminar
"Real-Space and Real-Time Studies of Diffusion of Pt on Pt(110): Long
Jumps and Influence of H and O Adsorbates" will be presented by Flemming
Besenbacher of the University of Aarhus, Denmark, at 1:30 p.m. in the Bldg. 66
auditorium.
Physics Division Research Progress Meeting
"NLO Analysis of SLAC E154 Data" will be presented by Piotr Zyla of
Temple University at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 50A-5132; refreshments, 3:40 p.m.
Earth Sciences Division Seminar
"The SCHEME Programming Language for Earth Sciences Applications" will
be presented by Allen Htay of the Earth Sciences Division at 11 a.m. in Bldg.
90-2063.
Items for the calendars may be sent via e-mail to [email protected], faxed to X6641 or mailed to Bldg. 65B. The deadline for the July 25 issue is 5 p.m. Monday, July 21.
'79 BUICK, perfect cond., sunroof, a/c, 160K, $1700/b.o. Matteo, X4401, 524-9829 (eve.)
'85 GMC S15 pickup, manual trans., camper shell, 163K mi, gd cond., runs well, $2K. Corina, 549-1505 (eve.)
'85 HONDA Accord SEi, 4-dr sedan, a/t, dk gray, sunroof, runs well, 150K mi., $2800/b.o. Rachel X4439, 525-0139
'86 PONTIAC Fiero, gd commute car, smog checked, 124K mi., $1500. Eric, 842-1911, 932-2855
'88 MITSUBISHI Precis, 3-dr, manual trans., rebuilt eng., $1790. Mikhail, 528-3652
'90 ACURA Integra GS, red 4-dr, 5-spd manual, cruise, pwr window/locks, $4900. Mary, X5832, (415) 492-1204
'91 BUICK Regal Custom, runs great, smog checked, 94K mi., $7000. Eric, 842-911, 932-2855
'94 GEO Tracker, 32K mi., exc. cond., 2X4, convertible, a/c, anti-thieve stereo cass., new tires, $8.5K/b.o. (415) 973-3939, (415) 253-7262 (pager)
CAMPER VAN, pop-top, '93 Ford E250, self-contained, slps 4, a/c, AM/FM cass., exc. cond., $23K. Don, 233-5846
MOTORCYCLE, Honda, '85, Rebel model, blue, gd cond., always garaged, 6700 mi, $750/b.o. Bob, 376-2211
AUTO STEREO, Kenwood 604 pull-out cassette receiver complete w/mounting box, exc. cond. $150. David, X6937
BIKE RACK, new, fits on rear tire, $75. 215-1009
EMPLOYEES & RETIREES, to sign up for the craft fair to be held Fri. 11/21, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. in the Cafeteria. There will be holiday ornaments, handmade clothing incl. hats & scarves, jewelry, pottery & porcelain, candy, etc., Santa is scheduled to stop by & join in the fun, over 30 prizes given away in a free drawing. Kathy, X4931
NIGHT ATTENDANT for Owen Chamberlain who has Parkinson's disease, responsible, caring, night "presence", light duties, in exchange for rm w/bay view, Oakland Hills, extras negot., CDL, refs. 524-4654
VIOLIN, adult sz., for beginner student but should be reasonable quality. Joe, X7631
VOLUNTEERS to be counselors-in-training for summer science camp based at Berkeley Lab, camp runs 7/21 thru 8/29, volunteers may sign up for one or more wks, but must be able to participate full-time, prefer that volunteers have some experience working with children & are at least 15 yr. old. X6566
BACKPACK, navy blue, REI, external frame, adult sz., gd cond. $60. Denise, X2785, 938-5100
BIKE, black Schwinn Woodlands Mountain Bike, fits avg. woman, 5 yr. old, gd cond., w/rear-mount bike rack, $100/b.o. Chelsea, 845-1224
CANOPY, aluminum frame expandable, 12 X 12, cost $385, asking $110. Barbara, X7840, 939-7754
COMIC BOOK collection, 1K comic books, featuring Hulk, Batman, Superman, The Flash, X-Men, The Avengers, & more, ranging from recent to 20+ years old, most in good to mint condition, $200/b.o. Peter, X4157, 525-3290
COMPUTER, 486 DX 33MHz, 4MB RAM, 170MB IDE hard drive, 14" SVGA monitor, 5.25" & 3.5" floppy, modem, $450/b.o. Jateen, X7160, 649-9068
COMPUTER, external 4X backpack CD-ROM drive, compatible Windows, MS-DOS, easy plug-in on printer port, brand new, under warranty, $160. Laurent, X6108
CRIB, white, Simmons, wood, w/mattress, gd cond. $200. Richard, X6221, 938-5100
EXERCISER, Lifestyler Cardiofit plus, pd $260, take $80.00; fold up Director's chair w/ grn seat & back, $18; 4 MB 72 pin 8 element 70 ns PC RAM $10; road gear bike carrier, hold 3 bikes, adj. & mounts on trunk, $45.00/b.o. Kris, X5571
EXERCISE EQUIP., CardioGlide (Health Rider clone), mint cond., w/adjustable resistance & timer/computer, $75; treadmill (non-motorized) w/timer/computer $75. Steve X7256, 481-8315
EXERCISE EQUIP., Stepper aerobic (stair stepper) w/battery computer, Model 730, very gd shape, $75/b.o. Paul, X6220
FUTON + frame, queen sz., mattress w/ cover, $100. Marion, 527-2524
GRAND PIANO, Kawai KG-2E series, walnut polish finish w/red velvet cover, 5 yr. old, beautiful sound, grt condition, height 39- 7/8 in., width 59-1/2 in., depth 69-13/16 in., best offer. Kay or Serena, 377-5211
"LITTLE TIKES "BEAUTY SALON," new in box, $50. Teresa X6246, 594-1439
MOVING SALE, mountain bike, Schwinn '97 frontier, 15" frame, 18- spd., blue, exc. cond. $150, w/lock $160; telephone, $5; hairdryer, $5; desklamp, $5; all avail. after 7/20. Susi, X4616
MOVING SALE, new Sunbeam intermediate mixer, 10-spd, sits on base, self-rotating, incl. bread blades & bowl, $79.99, asking $32.50; toaster, used, exc. cond., $6; Interplak elec. toothbrush, exc. cond., $17.50. Reney, 653-6964
YARD SALE, multi-family, Sat., 7/19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 2325 McKinley & Channing), Berkeley. Melissa, X5021
MULTIMEDIA COMPUTER, Pentium 200mhz. 1.7GB HD 16mb EDO RAM, 33.6 modem 8xCD-ROM Logitech mouse, no monitor or software, $998. Rachel, 525-0139
PC CLONE, Intel P133 w/32 MB RAM, 1.62 GB HD, 3-1/2 floppy, 64 bit video card w/2 MB VRAM, local PCI bus w/256K internal cache, brand new 15" Mag Innovision monitor, 6x CD ROM, 16-bit SoundBlaster-comp. sound card, Comp. speakers, & Win `95 software, $2K. Roger, X6630, (415) 285-4850
SAILBOAT, Cal 20, 6HP Chrysler outboard, berthed Berkeley Marina, B-22, $950. Dave, X4024, 526-0552 (eve.)
SHOES, Nike Air, Max. sz 8, woman's shoes, barely used (& only w/athletic socks), pd $140, sell for $80. Diana, 234-4142
SOFA & LOVESEAT, brown velveteen, $200; TV, Hitachi 20" remote, $150; Sharp microwave, $75; home entertainment center, black ash, stores 27" TV, HIFI & more, $250; stereo cabinet, 44"H walnut w/glass doors, $60; bicycle, Schwinn 10-speed, $100. Dave, X4506
SUNDANCE SPA, '96, seats 6 adults w/lounge, towel rack, easy lift cover, portable step/storage, & dual controls, new cond. $8K value, asking $5700 (balance owed). Barbara, X7840, 939-7754
TAPE DRIVE for PC, brand new HP T3000 3.2GB, 2MB/s accelerator card, Win '95 software, Win NT compatible, 18 MB/min. backup for Win '95, reads all old Colorado minicartridges, pd $290, $240. Alexandre, X5445
UTILITY MIXER, 2 cu. ft. cap., portable, $150. Bob, X5221, Paul, 233-9017
BERKELEY, (Elmood area), furn. 1-bdrm + flat, sunny, walk to UC, split level, hill view from lg. terrace, linen, dishes, HiFi, VCR, microwave, garage, avail- flexible Aug.-early Sept. for 1 yr. + $885/mo. Prefer 1 resp., mature, neat & nonsmoking visiting scholar. Andre, 843-6325
BERKELEY HILLS, 5-bdrm house, walk to UCB & LBNL, avail. 7/29-8/28, $1450. Mona, 704-0538, 845-7929 (fax)
NO. BERKELEY, furn. 3-bdrm duplex, exc. loc., linens, dishes, laundry fac., enclosed garden, exc. schools, shopping & UCB within walking distance, min. 6 mo. lease, avail. 8/1, $1470/mo. 527-3856
KENSINGTON, 2-3 bdrm house shared with visiting scholar, avail. 7/23 -8/20 (while his family on vacation), $1K. Peter, X5021, 524-8873
LAFAYETTE, 2-bdrm, 1-bth upper unit, down woodsy lane, frpl, balcony, AEK gallery kitchen, laundry on premises, pvt parking, 3 blks from BART, avail. immed., $950/mo. + util. Mari, X5932, Helmut, 284-2092
WANTED: 12/1/97 to 12/1/98, single, resp., non-smoking Swiss researcher needs a 1-bedroom or studio (w/kitchen) nr LBNL. [email protected], Kathy, X4931, [email protected]
WANTED: furn. apt or house-share for visiting scientist, from 8/23 to approx. Dec., w/spouse until 9/12, nr LBNL. Alexey, X6081, [email protected]
WANTED: 2-3 bdrm house/apt for UCB grad student & family, beginning in Aug., prefer family-friendly location nr park, grocery, public transit. Rebecca or Patrick, (206) 528-0977, [email protected]
WANTED: Visiting scientist at the ALS seeks short term housing (7/26 - 8/12). +49 6221 516 326, +49 6221 516-540 (fax), [email protected]
WANTED: visiting professor & his family seek furn. apt for the entire mo. of Aug. Manuel or Barbara, 527-0640
WANTED: long term rental of 2-3 bdrm house/apt in Berkeley or surrounding area for LBNL postdoc & spouse starting anywhere between 7/15-9/1, no smoking, no kids. Karen or Clem, (801) 581-4793 (work), (801) 463-6796 (home), [email protected]
WANTED: rm w/double bed or sm. apt for 2, w/kitchen, for Italian visiting scientist, in the Berkeley area, from 8/13 - 9/15, not necessarily within walking distance from the lab, rent around $800 or below. Gautier, 495-2983, [email protected], Marcella, X6304
WANTED: furn. 1 bdrm in apt/house in LBNL area for female visiting researcher from Germany, shared housing OK, arriving 7/20, for 2 yr. postdoc position. [email protected]
WANTED: 3-4 bdrm house in No. Berkeley, Lab family w/mature children, no pets, long-term rental. Carol, X4812, [email protected]
WANTED 2-3 bdrm apt/house for visiting scientist from Israel, 2 high-school aged children, from Sept. '97 to Aug. '98, for $1K/mo. or less (or housesitting), non-smoker, Albany, Orinda/Moraga, or Marin County. Write to Varda Soskolne, Ph.D, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health, e-mail: [email protected], 972-2-643-9730 (fax)
NO. OAKLAND/ROCKRIDGE area, 5 units, 2 lots, owner occupied and/or rent. 1 duplex, 1 house, 2 flats. Paul, X6220, 682-8872
BAHAMAS, Taino Beach Resort, 1-bdrm condo, slps 4, every amenity, pool/tennis, on beach, maid service, min. 60 days adv. notice, $500/wk. X6005
HAWAII, 20 mi. below Hilo on rainy side of Big Island, convenient to Univ. of Hawaii & orchid plantation, 2-bdrm, 2-bth house, nrschools, shopping & rec. center, 1 mi. to ocean bluff, $450/mo., possible lease-option to buy for $60K. X6005
MEXICO, El Morc Tower at El Cid Resort, 1 bdrm condo, slps 6, every amenity, golf/tennis, on beach, avail. 2 wks 3/9 &16, $600/wk. 215-1009
SO. LAKE TAHOE, Tahoe Keys, 3-bdrm, 2.5-bth house, upstairs living, on the water, boat dock, fenced yd, quiet area but nr attractions, views of water & mountains. Bob, 376-2211
FISH TANK, 20 gal, w/lights, filter, aerator & 6 fish, to gd home. Lynn, 548-7102
EDITOR: Mary Bodvarsson, X4014, [email protected]
STAFF WRITERS: Jeffery Kahn, X4019; Lynn Yarris, X5375
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Allan Chen, X6249; Monica Friedlander, X5122
PRODUCTION: Alice Ramirez
FLEA MARKET / CALENDAR: Mary Padilla, X5771
[email protected] / [email protected]
Public Information Department, Berkeley Lab, MS 65A
One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley CA 94720
Tel: 510/486-5771 Fax: 510/486-6641
Berkeley Lab is managed by the University of California
for the U.S. Department of Energy
Please note also: