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LBL Currents

May 12, 1995



Table of Contents

LBL fills key communications posts

By Mike Wooldridge, [email protected]

In a move that should help streamline communication on the Hill and bolster the Lab's visibility, LBL has filled two high-level communications posts.

Ron Kolb, formerly director of News and Public Affairs for the UC Office of the President, has been named the Lab's head for public communications.

Ruby Tebelak, formerly of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Northrop Corporation, has been appointed head of the Technical and Electronic Information Department.

Kolb, who took his position in April, will be responsible for public information programs at the Lab, including media relations, institutional publications, and internal and external communications.

"I sense a genuine desire at the Lab to promote its distinct identity and to be more widely known as one of the premier American centers of scientific excellence," Kolb says. "There are wonderful stories to tell, and my public information colleagues and I are committed to finding the most effective ways to tell them."

Kolb has served as a communications consultant to LBL for the last year and a half, during which he conducted a detailed analysis of the Lab's communications programs and assisted in the development of its first comprehensive communications plan. He also served as staff on Lab Director Charles Shank's Task Force on Communications.

Shank says he welcomes Kolb's appointment. "I am pleased to have a person of Ron's leadership abilities and communications skills to head our public communications. It is particularly important during this time when a distinct identity must be strongly asserted with regional and national audiences."

Kolb succeeds Art Tressler, who retired as head of Public Information in October 1993.

A former daily newspaper reporter and editor at the Riverside Press-Enterprise, Kolb worked from 1974 to 1984 at UC Riverside, where he was manager of Information Services. He directed all publicity efforts regarding research achievements, including 25th anniversary activities and related promotions for Riverside's respected Agricultural Experiment Station.

He moved to the UC President's Office, then in Berkeley, in 1984 as its director of News and Communications, overseeing all media relations, print, broadcast and internal communications functions for the nine-campus system's headquarters.

In 1988, Kolb was named director of News and Public Affairs at UC. His duties included community and public relations activities. He also developed and managed the communications program for the Keck Observatory in Hawaii, home of the world's largest optical telescope, and coordinated university-wide efforts to celebrate UC's 125th anniversary in 1993.

Tebelak, who took over TEID in March, says her primary goals are to grow a satisfied client base, earn a reputation for excellence, and develop a dedicated, motivated team. Reaching these goals, she says, will enhance internal communication and enable LBL to reach its digital potential--through technology such as multimedia and the World Wide Web.

"My ultimate goal is to be the model for all the national labs when it comes to professional communication and digital innovation," she says. "The digital revolution is going to have as great an impact on the way people communicate as the invention of the printing press."

Her plans include creating an electronic library system, establishing publishing standards, and developing dynamic home pages for the World Wide Web. She also plans to establish electronic publishing benchmarks in areas such as digital photography, 3-D electronic presentations and video, and the use of DOE-approved Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).

Tebelak takes over from ICSD Division Deputy Sandy Merola, who served as acting head of the department. In her first months, she has already taken steps towards her goal of an electronic workplace. She has established a Web task force to ensure that TEID sets the highest standards for LBL pages on the Web.

Most of her time to date, however, has been spent acquainting herself with the rest of TEID through one-on-one meetings with employees. Once those are finished, she plans to meet with every division and program to listen to their needs and discuss how TEID can partner with them to produce quality, cost-effective technical publications. "How we perform is just as important as what we produce," she says.

Tebelak brings a variety of communications experience to the job--as a technical writer and editor at LLNL, a technical publications manager and proposal engineer at Northrop Corp., an educator at the University of California, and as a commercial artist.

At Livermore, she worked in the Defense and Nuclear Technologies Directorate Assurance Office, writing compliance documentation and safety analysis reports, giving workshops on technical presentations, and training other writers and editors. At Northrop, she managed the publication of aerospace proposals and reports. She developed an electronic communications link between Northrop's California division and MacDonald Douglas's Missouri division, which cut publications costs in half.

Even with her new job at LBL, Tebelak continues her connection with her college alma mater, the University of Missouri. A frequent guest lecturer and a member of the school's English Advisory Board, she is currently helping the university establish a degree program in technical writing.


Ultrafast scanning microscope catches atoms in action

By Jeffery Kahn, [email protected]

Materials Sciences Division researchers have devised a breakthrough process that gives them the ability to image and stop the action of atomic-scale events in picosecond freeze-frames.

Ultrafast scanning probe microscopy promises to give researchers the ability to look at atoms in the time frames at which atomic-scale phenomena unfold. Scientists believe they will be able to image electrons as they move in their enigmatic paths across the atomic lattice of a semiconductor. Conceivably, a series of images of a plant transforming sunlight into chemical energy--in essence, a movie of photosynthesis--could be recorded.

MSD's Shimon Weiss, UC Berkeley graduate student David Botkin, and MSD Director Daniel Chemla have led the effort to develop this new family of microscopes. Other contributors include MSD's Frank Ogletree and Miquel Salmeron. The inventors say the full potential of the technique is yet to be defined.

"This dynamic technique is very exciting and very broad, but also very new," Chemla says. "At this stage, we are still exploring which approaches will be most effective."

First describing their efforts in the Nov. 1, 1993 issue of Applied Physics Letters, the researchers reported that they have obtained images with simultaneous 2-picosecond and 50-angstrom resolution.

Ultrafast scanning probe microscopy results from the wedding of two cutting-edge tools. Scanning probe microscopes--including the scanning tunneling microscope and the atomic force microscope--can image details as small as a single atom. Femtosecond lasers, developed by LBL Director Charles Shank, provide pulses of light that last a millionth of a billionth of a second. Coupling the microscope and the laser, the new ultrafast instruments use the laser pulse to optically activate a switch integrated in the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope. The technique captures images of ultrafast events, improving the time resolution attainable with the scanning tunneling microscope by nine orders of magnitude.

Weiss says that when a series of successive, time lapse images is combined, the result is a movie of surface dynamics. Each image involves two pulses of light. The first pulse excites the surface being investigated. This excitation can be electronic or vibronic, generating either a pulse of electrons or an acoustic wave (phonon).

The second light pulse activates the switch, turning on the microscope for the duration of the pulse, and allowing it to image the surface just for that instant. The Auston switch used in the instrument, which has subpicosecond speed, was invented by David Auston, a former colleague of Chemla and Shank's at AT&T Bell Laboratories and a UC Berkeley graduate.

Chemla said the motivation underlying the development of ultrafast microscopy can be found in the growing interest in nanoscale features and phenomena by both chemists and physicists. Chemla himself is particularly interested in semiconductors.

"Each time we create a new generation of chips," he says, "we reduce their dimensions. Up until now, making it smaller has meant that everything runs faster. But at a certain scale--and we are now approaching that--the standard design rules begin to break down. Electronic, magnetic, and optical properties are altered. They become dependent on size and shape."

To guide the design of future generations of semiconductors, researchers would like to be able to zoom in and stop the action, exploring just what happens in the nanoscale world. For example, launching a very fast packet of electrons and then recording their whereabouts as they cross a semiconductor device would reveal the processes governing their motions. Due to quantum effects, electrons "tunnel" across gaps, but exactly when and where tunneling will take place is unknown. Chemla says the ultrafast microscope now makes it feasible for researchers to observe the dynamics of tunneling.

Before movies can be made of surface dynamics, the researchers first must understand the physics of the instrument. "The first thing we have to do," says Weiss, "is understand what we are observing when we measure a single point. Right now, we are investigating and characterizing the physics of tunneling--in particular, the quantum capacitance effect--at a single point. This is really the first science to be done with this new technique."


Ultrafast, stop-action "movies" long in coming

The ability to stop the action and take an image of what happens in a given instant has a relatively short history.

Although the camera began to emerge in the 1500s, the first true photograph was not made until 1826. It was not until 1877 that the first successful photographs of motion--of a running horse--were captured. Working in California, British photographer Eadweard Muybridge set up a row of cameras with strings attached to their shutters. As a horse ran by, it broke the strings, tripped the shutters, and created a series of photos that amazed the world.

Since then, faster and faster cameras have been developed. Consumers can now buy models with shutter speeds as fast as 1/2000th of a second.

Science has developed a number of imaging techniques other than photography. Scanning probe microscopes, invented in the early 1980s, can zoom in and image individual atoms, but essentially, they have been unable to record motion.

LBL's new ultrafast scanning probe microscopes change that. Events evolving at an atomic level often occur in lightning-like time frames. The new microscopes finally give science the ability to observe these ephemeral events. They will capture moments that are measured in picoseconds, or trillionths of a second.
-- Jeffery Kahn


Lab to ship Bevatron blocks to BNL

By Lynn Yarris, [email protected]

An LBL plan to transport approximately 1,500 concrete shielding blocks from the Bevatron to Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) for re-use with the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) was unveiled last week to officials with the city of Berkeley. The plan, which will save taxpayers millions of dollars and spare needless use of precious waste burial space, was well received by the officials.

Rick Gough of the Accelerator and Fusion Research Division made the presentation on behalf of the Laboratory. He was accompanied by community relations specialist Shaun Fennessey, NEPA/CEQA coordinator Carol Kielusiak, health physicist Roger Kloepping, and project manager Bob Stevenson.

Gough described a plan under which the blocks would be moved through Berkeley by truck during the summer months over a period of four years, starting this year and ending in 1998. The blocks will be taken to the freight yards in Richmond and transported by rail to New York.

"The closure of the Bevatron has made available a large amount of surplus concrete that can be re-used," Gough told the officials. He called the re-use of the Bevatron shielding blocks an "extraordinary opportunity for waste minimization and taxpayer savings."

Since the closure of the Bevatron in 1993, the question has been how to dismantle the facility, which occupies approximately 7,200 square meters of valuable research space. Of particular concern was the disposal of the concrete blocks that served as protection from incidental radiation produced during the accelerator's operation. The blocks average about 10 tons in weight, with the largest weighing 30 tons. Though some blocks contain low-levels of residual radiation, these levels are several hundred times below Department of Transportation requirements for shipment as non-radioactive materials.

All of the alternative disposal options would be more costly in terms of money and environmental impact than shipment to BNL. At present, the only approved disposal site for these blocks is the DOE waste repository at Hanford, Wash. Transporting the blocks to Hanford for burial would cost about $41 million--about 10 times the cost of shipping them to BNL. The blocks would take up approximately 4,500 cubic meters of burial space.

The shipment schedule Gough presented to the Berkeley city officials calls for about 20 truckloads of blocks to be moved over a two-day period each week between the business hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The trucks would follow a prescribed route down Hearst Avenue, across Oxford Street, and down University Avenue to Interstate 80. It is expected that 115 truckloads will be hauled away this summer, followed by 400 in 1996, 215 in 1997 and 55 in 1998. This schedule was arranged to coordinate with the construction needs of RHIC.

Attending the presentation for the city of Berkeley were traffic engineer Chuck De Leuw, hazards specialist Jennifer Krebs, senior transportation planner Susie Sanderson, and fire marshall Lucky Thomas.


Currents survey draws varied views

In a first-ever assessment of reader opinions last winter, Currents received 325 responses to a questionnaire sent to a random sample of scientists and engineers, administrative and technical staff, and students at LBL. It was conducted to evaluate Currents' effectiveness and to ensure that it reflects the needs and interests of its audience.

Almost 90 percent of respondents said they consider Currents to be a valuable communications tool that they find either very important to their laboratory experience or interesting to read. Only six said they never read the paper, while 79 percent said they read almost every issue. About half said they read virtually everything in the publication. The comments sections, however, showed a variety of opinions regarding what people want from their employee newspaper (see sidebar, page 3).

Of the article or feature categories listed for comment, the cafeteria menu drew the least interest--68 percent of those surveyed rarely or never read the menu. On the other hand, the flea market attracted 80 percent of the readers and, after the front page, was the second most popular section.

Other well-read categories included science and engineering research articles (88 percent read them "often" or "sometimes"), feature articles (91 percent), and announcements and coverage of events (85 percent).

The majority of respondents also said they considered the overall appearance of Currents to be attractive (24 percent) or adequate (71 percent).

Strong reader interest was expressed for audience participation features such as letters to the editor and a readers' questions section. Respondents also encouraged the publication of short science highlights from divisions, in addition to the longer science pieces.

Individual comments solicited from survey participants focused on a wide range of suggestions and concerns (see accompanying article). These included calls for more feature stories on the non-scientific support staff, "how-to" articles, employee opinion forums, and more stories on issues from the Department of Energy and the University of California.

Numerous responses cited Currents' value as a unifying laboratory vehicle that promotes a sense of community.

The editor wishes to thank everyone who took the time to express their views. Other comments from Currents readers are encouraged and should be forwarded to the Public Information Department. The responses will be considered as part of an ongoing evaluation process of design and content and will contribute to future changes.


Sampling of survey comments

Last winter, a number of Currents readers participated in a survey in which they were asked to comment on various aspects of the newspaper (see accompanying article). The following is a selection of comments and suggestions retrieved from the survey, some of which have been acted on, some of which are being considered, and all of which are greatly appreciated. To those who did not participate in the survey, we hope to hear from you next time. You are also welcome to send comments to us at any time via e-mail ([email protected]), fax (X6641), or phone (X4014).

Content:

"It's not very employee-centered; tends to be a top-down kind of information channel."

"It's an important source of information on administrative issues or changes which might not be shared otherwise."

"Please include more articles on scientific happenings at the Lab."

"Paper is too scientific."

"More about the people who are not scientists or engineers."

"Add a funnies section, maybe Dear Abby (or Dear Labby)."

"I think Currents has the right balance between informative articles and `need to know' articles."

"More reportage, less science writing."

"I'm a fan so you can improve or not improve and I"ll still read it."

"Too many photos and too self-serving to the bureaucracy."

What's missing from Currents:

"What's really going on around here. It's more of a propaganda instrument at present."

"Can't think of anything that's missing. I enjoy it as is. Good job!"

"Union issues, payscale, administrative, etc."

"Personal articles about employees."

"Job listings."

"Currents used to have recognition of service awards. What happened to that?"

"Important developments at DOE Washington and other federal agencies."

"An open forum of what people think--letters, questions, complaints."

"It seems that a few departments/divisions publish their own newsletters. A larger format for Currents with this information would be interesting to me."

"Activities at other national labs."

"Weekly crossword puzzles."

"Bad news--layoffs, loss of funding, shrinking budgets, etc."

"More updates on successful tech transfer and CRADAs."

"Desk-top computer user info columns."

"Gossip."

"After reflection, nothing has struck me as missing."

Circulation and format:

"Please consider increasing the frequency of publication."

"Once a week is sufficient."

"Happy to see six-page editions. We seem to have plenty of things to read about."

"The LBL Currents is already great as is."

"The look of Currents is too choppy and visually cluttered."

"Color photos! (Just kidding.) You're doing a fine job and I do appreciate it."

"Electronic access to Currents would definitely make it easier for me to read it more promptly."

"I hate reading from computer screens. I prefer hard copy."

Other comments:

"Thanks for the opportunity to voice my opinion."

"Keep up the good work."

"Since I am located off the Hill, Currents helps me keep in touch with what is happening at the Lab."


In memoriam: Gary S. Wagman

Gary S. Wagman, a computer scientist in the Physics Division's Particle Data Group (PDG), died on April 21 after a long illness. He was 41.

In addition to his courage and meticulousness, Wagman will be best remembered for his technical contributions to PDG's Review of Particle Properties, a biennial compilation of particle data considered by many high-energy physicists as the "Bible" of their field.

When he began at the Lab in 1985, each issue of the Review was assembled by hand from 40,000 card images. Wagman used his relational-database expertise to electronically integrate the Review, streamlining the publication process and virtually eliminating paste-up.

"Gary was instrumental in bringing the Review from its backward state in 1984 to the valuable document it is today," said Physics Division Director Bob Cahn. "His contributions to the division, the Lab, and the entire high-energy physics community were great."

Last fall, Wagman was recognized for his service to the Lab with an Outstanding Performance Award. In accepting the honor he replied, "I was only doing my job."

When his health began to fail, Wagman insisted that PDG hire his replacement immediately, so he could train him. "Gary saw what he did for the Lab as more than a job," said PDG's Charles Wohl. "It was a legacy."

Outside of his work at the Lab, Wagman was an avid traveler. As a teenager, he spent time at an Israeli kibbutz, and later visited Europe, Egypt, India, and Mexico. He also enjoyed woodworking, and spent much of his spare time remodeling his Victorian home in San Francisco.

Wagman is survived by his mother, Freda, and brother, Adam, both of Houston, Texas. His friends and co-workers in PDG request that donations in his name be made to Project Open Hand in San Francisco.


N e w s W i r e

CAPITOL HILL REACTS TO DOE DOWNSIZING:

As was expected, last week's announcement by Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary regarding DOE's "Strategic Realignment and Downsizing Initiative" (see Currents, May 5) played to mixed reviews in Congress. Supporters hailed the changes as a reasoned approach to reducing the size of government, while critics protested that the cuts did nothing to dissuade them from seeking to abolish the Department. Some Republicans even applauded O'Leary for her proposals, calling her "courageous" and saying she'd taken a "business approach" to making changes. Other found her proposals "disappointing" and said there were not enough specifics." The latest issue of Inside Energy, a weekly report on DOE published by McGraw-Hill, states that "few in Congress believe (O'Leary's) plan will do much to blunt efforts in both the House and the Senate to move a bill this year that would abolish the Department and disperse many of its functions to other agencies."

MORE WOMEN LEADERS NEEDED IN SCIENCE:

A report released this week by the Women's Leadership Institute at Mills College said that despite recent gains, the number of women leaders in science is far too low and more aggressive policies are needed to break the "glass ceiling." Among Americans holding doctorates in physics, math, chemistry, engineering, and computer sciences, fewer than 15 percent are women. About 40 percent of new medical doctors are women but the top ranks at medical schools remain overwhelmingly male. There are some encouraging signs, however. According to the report, women are now receiving nearly 40 percent of the doctorates in biology and 35 percent in chemistry. At the undergraduate level, women are near parity. For example, in 1991, women earned 44 percent of all bachelor's degrees awarded in science and engineering. However, women are still missing from the top roles. The study shows that the number of women on the tenure track at universities in the science and engineering fields has not significantly changed in decades. The report's prescription for change is to hire more women for top spots, invite more to be keynote speakers at major conventions and meetings, nominate more women for prestigious prizes, and put more women on committees in charge of hiring, promotions, and awards.

NAS SAYS STAY THE COURSE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION:

A panel of the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy has rejected the call for modifying Ph.D. training to abbreviate research requirements for scientists not planning academic careers, and the idea of imposing controls on graduate enrollments. The issue of whether scientific doctorates are overeducated has been debated since the 1970s. Soliciting opinions from industry as well as academia, the NAS committee found solid support for not changing the essence of the scientific Ph.D., despite changes in employment and funding opportunities for researchers. The report, however, did advocate de-emphasizing research assistantships in favor of training grants, and giving students a much broader range of skills--"especially the ability to communicate complex ideas to non-specialists and the ability to work well in teams." The panel also called for "a national database on employment options and trends" that would include up-to-the-minute information on graduate programs, financial aid, and placement rates. Copies of the report, "Reshaping the Graduate Education of Scientists and Engineers" are available from the National Academy Press. Call 1-800-624-6242.


Element 106 name change being reconsidered

By Lynn Yarris, [email protected]

Responding to an international wave of criticism surrounding the decision to remove the name "seaborgium" from element 106 and impose name changes on other transuranium elements as well, the executive committee of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has recommended that the organization's decision be reconsidered.

This week's issue of Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN) reports that IUPAC's executive committee is urging that the organization reopen public discussion of the names proposed for all the transuranium elements from 101 to 109. A final decision on the matter will be made in August.

Last fall, the IUPAC nomenclature committee stunned the scientific community by rejecting the names proposed for elements 104 to 108 by their discoverers and submitting their own names instead (see Currents, Oct. 14, 1994). These new names were published as "definitive" in IUPAC's official journal, Pure and Applied Chemistry.

IUPAC's decision met immediate opposition from leading scientists and scientific organizations throughout the world. The strongest criticism was directed towards the removal of the name seaborgium from element 106. This element was discovered in 1974 at LBL by a team of researchers led by LBL physicist Albert Ghiorso and LLNL chemist Kenneth Hulet, who named it in honor of Glenn T. Seaborg, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, and associate director-at-large of LBL.

Reaction to the IUPAC decision was typified by the response of LBL Director Charles Shank, who said, "There has never been any debate about the right of acknowledged discoverers to name an element." Shank said the Laboratory would "strongly defend this privilege." Many others joined the fight and in November, the nomenclature committee of the American Chemical Society (ACS) rejected the IUPAC names and unanimously endorsed the names given elements 104 to 108 by their American and German discoverers.

According to the C&EN report, the IUPAC executive committee has bowed to the pressure and is now recommending that the IUPAC names be reverted back to a "provisional" status. Such a reversion of names already published in the IUPAC journal as "definitive" would be unprecedented. However, it would allow for the standard IUPAC process of public debate on the proposed names to take place--a process IUPAC previously by-passed.

If the names of 106 and the other transuranium elements in question are submitted for public debate, chemists will have five months to submit their comments through one of 19 centers around the world. The U.S. center is located at the ACS Journals Department in Columbus, Ohio. Final recommendations on the names would then be submitted for ratification by IUPAC at its 1997 council meeting.


Emergency drill on Tuesday

The laboratory will conduct its annual earthquake drill at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16. The public address system will be used to announce a simulated earthquake, followed by instructions on how to take refuge by ducking under a desk, table or workbench and "holding on" until the shaking stops.

Following the "duck, cover and hold" drill, all employees will be asked to evacuate their building and proceed to their designated assembly area. The duration of this phase of the drill should not exceed 10 minutes. EVERYONE SHOULD RETURN TO WORK BY 10:10 A.M.

Phase II of the drill includes activation of the Lab's Emergency Command Center and includes participation of emergency response groups only. Questions should be directed to Don Bell or Mark Turner at X6016 or X6554.


Patent Department

From time to time, the attorneys and patent agents in LBL's Patent Department receive questions from individual researchers, the answers to which may be of general interest to others in the Laboratory. The following is one such example. If you have questions for the Patent Department, call X7058.

Q: Photocopying--how much is too much?

A: Almost everyone photocopies scientific journal articles, and almost everyone knows that the articles are copyrighted. This does not mean, however, that almost everyone is breaking the law. Photocopying an article is not a copyright violation so long as the photocopying is "fair use" of the work.

So what is fair use? It depends on three major things: the purpose of the use; the nature of the copyrighted work; and the market effect.

No one wants to stifle scientific research, so use for research purposes is generally okay, particularly if the copyrighted materials are being used to produce new works. The nature of scientific articles also favors a liberal approach to fair use. Facts cannot be copyrighted, only expression. Since science is heavily fact-based (compared, say, to poetry or short stories), use of scientific articles is usually appropriate.

The most important factor in the context of scientific articles, though, is market effect. No one expects every scientist to have his or her own subscriptions to every journal in existence. At the same time, if you photocopy material from a journal so regularly that you are effectively photocopying instead of subscribing, that is a problem.

The bottom line is that fair use is a judgment call. Don't worry too much about photocopying library copies of an article you need as background for your work. Do worry about making copies from Science every week for every member of your lab.


Skin cancer screening

Appointments are being taken at Health Services (X6266) for the Skin Cancer Screening Clinic scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, May 19, at Bldg. 26. Patients will be seen by one of the department's primary physicians, with all questionable findings being examined by Berkeley dermatologists Elizabeth Ringrose. Remember to take the LBL shuttle to your appointment as parking is very limited.


Tech transfer booklet available

An updated version of "LBL Business Opportunities," a 40-page booklet describing more than 50 patented, patent-pending, and copyrighted scientific technologies at LBL, is now available through the Technology Transfer Department.

Distributed at scientific conferences and trade shows, the booklet provides a good overview of marketable research--from aerogels to pozone--being conducted at the Lab. To receive a copy, contact Susan Weintraub at X5947.

Information on technology transfer is also available via the World Wide Web at:
http://www.lbl.gov/Tech-Transfer/Business-Opportunities.html


Calling all green thumbs

The Green Team Community Garden Committee is planning to meet at noon on Thursday, May 25, in the Bldg. 70A conference room. All employees interested in participating in the community garden project are invited to attend. The planting of flowers and herbs will begin June 1, and preparations for the vegetable garden are under way. For additional information, contact Catherine Pinkas at X7249.


Calendar of Events -- May 15 to 26

15 m o n d a y

OPEN CALENDAR

16 t u e s d a y

EH&S CLASSES

Chemical Hygiene Safety Training (EHS 348), 8:30 a.m.-Noon, Bldg. 51-201; pre-registration required, X6612.

Introduction to Environment, Health & Safety at LBL (EHS 10), 9-11:30 a.m., 66 Auditorium.

LAB-WIDE EMERGENCY EXERCISE

10 a.m.-noon

LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL ASSOCIATION MEETING

Noon, Bldg. 90-2063

ASTRONOMY DEPARTMENT SPECIAL LECTURE

"Stellar Explosions: Celestial Fireworks!" will be presented by Alex Filippenko of UCB at 5 p.m. in the Alumni House; refreshments following.

17 w e d n e s d a y

EH&S CLASSES

Crane/Hoist (Level I) Training for Incidental Operators (EHS 211), 8 a.m.-Noon, Bldg. 70A-3377; pre-registration required, X6612.

EH&S Roles & Responsibilities for Supervisors in Office Setting (EHS 25), 8 a.m.-Noon, Bldg. 51-201; pre-registration required, X6612.

OPEN HOUSE COORDINATORS MEETING

10-11:30 a.m. in the Building 70A Conference Room.

LIFE SCIENCES DIVISION SEMINAR

"Cyclin D1, p16 and Rb - A Common Route to Tumorigenesis" will be presented by Gordon Peters of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories, London, England, at noon in the Bldg. 66 Auditorium.

18 t h u r s d a y

EH&S CLASS

Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (EHS 123), 9 a.m.-Noon, Bldg. 48-109; pre-registration required, X6554.

SURFACE/CATALYSIS SCIENCE SEMINAR

"Synthesis of Amorphous and Crystalline Carbon Nitride Superhard Coatings" will be presented by Y.W. Chung of Northwestern University at 1:30 p.m. in the Building 66 Auditorium.

SPECIAL MATERIALS SCIENCES DIVISION SEMINAR

"Diamond-Like Carbon" will be presented by John Robertson of Cambridge University, UK, at 3:30 p.m. in the Bldg. 66 Auditorium.

PHYSICS DIVISION RESEARCH PROGRESS MEETING

"Recent Results from HERA" will be presented by Johnny Ng of DESY at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 50A-5132; refreshments at 3:40 p.m.

19 f r i d a y

CENTER FOR BEAM PHYSICS SEMINAR

"Radiative Corrections to the Dynamics of an Electron in a Classical

Electromagnetic Field" will be presented by Fred Hartemann of UCD/LLNL at 10:30 a.m. in the Bldg. 71 Conference Room.

EARTH SCIENCES DIVISION SEMINAR

"A Finite Element Method for Jointed, Fractured or Faulted Geomaterial" will be presented by Brun Hilbert of LBL at 11 a.m. in Bldg. 50A-1116.

22 m o n d a y

OPEN CALENDAR

23 t u e s d a y

PHYSICS DIVISION RESEARCH PROGRESS MEETING

"What We Have and Can Learn from the Cosmic Microwave Background" will be presented by George Smoot of LBL/UCB at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 50A-5132; refreshments at 3:40 p.m.

24 w e d n e s d a y

LBL TOASTMASTERS

Build Confidence and Develop the Ability to Effectively Organize and Present Your Ideas in a Friendly and Supportive Atmosphere, 12:10 - 1 p.m. in Bldg. 2-100.

LIFE SCIENCES DIVISION SEMINAR

"K+ Channels in T Cells: Probing Its Structure to Guide the Design of Novel Immunosuppressants" will be presented by K. George Chandy of UCI at 4 p.m. in the Bldg. 66 Auditorium.

25 t h u r s d a y

GARDEN MEETING

The Green Team Community Garden Committee will meet at noon in the Bldg. 70A conference room. All employees are invited to attend.

PHYSICS DIVISION RESEARCH PROGRESS MEETING

"CKM Elements and Semileptonic Decays of B Mesons" will be presented by Jeffrey Richman of UCSB at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 50A-5132; refreshments at 3:40 p.m.

26 f r i d a y

EARTH SCIENCES DIVISION SEMINAR

"Effects of Sorption on Metal Ion Contaminant Transport" will be presented by Kim Hayes of LBL at 11 a.m. in Bldg. 50A-1116.


DOE "whistle blower" to speak

"Atomic Harvest: Plutonium Production Waste Disposal," will be the subject of a talk by Casey Rudd--who has been called DOE's chief "whistle blower"--at noon on Thursday, May 18, in the Bldg. 50 Auditorium. Rudd, environmental program manager for DOE Tank Farm Operations at Hanford, Wash., is a former nuclear auditor for Rockwell International. All employees are invited to attend.


Currents ONLINE edition

The full text of each edition of Currents is published electronically on the World Wide Web at the following URL: http://www.lbl.gov/Publications/Currents/Currents.html.. To set up your computer to access the World Wide Web, call the Mac and PC Support Group at X6858.


Dining Center Menu for May 15-19

monday

Sadie's Early Bird: Fresh banana pancakes w/coffee $2.05

Soup of the Day: Minestrone(TM) reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Barbecue chicken w/corn on the cob & baked beans $3.95

Passports: South of the Border a la carte

Sadie's Grill: Jumbo chili dog & fries $2.95

tuesday

Sadie's Early Bird: Biscuit and gravy w/eggs $2.60

Soup of the Day: Cream of broccoli reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Beef stroganoff served over noodles w/peas & onions $3.95

Passports: South of the Border a la carte

Sadie's Grill: Fishwich & fries $3.25

wednesday

Sadie's Early Bird: Breakfast sandwich & coffee $2.60

Soup of the Day: Hearty vegetable beef reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Chicken Adobo stir fry over choice of rice(TM) $3.95

Passports: South of the Border a la carte

Sadie's Grill: Zesty meatball sub $3.25

thursday

Sadie's Early Bird: Blueberry pancakes w/coffee $2.05

Soup of the Day: Vegetarian split pea(TM) reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Grilled salmon served w/rice & squash medley(TM) $3.95

Passports: South of the Border

Sadie's Grill: Steakburger & fries $3.75

friday

Sadie's Early Bird: Ham scramble $2.60

Soup of the Day: Creamy clam chowder reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Pasta Piatti(TM) $3.95

Sadie's Grill: Chicken Santa Fe & spicy fries(TM) $3.75

(TM) Denotes recipe lower in fat calories & cholesterol


F l e a M a r k e t

Flea Market ads may be sent via e-mail to [email protected], Fax to X6641, or Lab mail to Bldg. 65B. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.

AUTOS/SUPPLIES

'85 SAAB 900, great running cond., rebuilt eng., 167K mi., manual shift, needs some cosmetic work, $2200/b.o. Cari, 339-6876 (after 7:30 p.m.)

'88 DODGE Dakota p.u., 5-spd, camper shell, clean body, everything OK but needs transmission repair, $3900 minus $1200 (repair allowance) $2700. John, X4631, 245-8334

'89 TOYOTA Corolla-DX, 4-dr sedan, 5-spd, a/c, cass., exc. cond., 57K mi., avail. 5/28, new brakes, $6K/b.o. Ranjith, X4552, 841-9326

'90 VW JETTA Carat, dark brn, 5-spd, 4-dr, sunroof, AM/FM cass., p/s, pwr lock, 2nd owner, maint. records avail., exc. cond., $7K/b.o. Rene, X7538, 215-6822

'93 MIATA, white, 23K mi., a/c, stereo, p/s, golf/bike attachment, cover, $15K/b.o. Tom K., X4590, (707)447-1310

TICKETS

S.F. OPERA, 1 ticket for "Porgy and Bess", balcony (G1), Sat., 5/27, $18.75. Jon Aymon, X6507, 704-0530

WANTED

BUTTONS, odd & antique, from the early 1900s & from other countries. Valerie Razor, 642-4077

CARD TABLE or similar, reasonably gd cond. Auben, X4613

CHILD CARE in Moraga or Orinda, Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., beginning late Aug. for then-year-old daughter, stay-at-home mom w/toddler ideal. Charla, 536-9310

FUTON FRAME, queen or dbl, single fold, clam-type frame, any cond. Steve, X5166

MISCELLANEOUS

AMPLIFIED ANTENNA, VHF-UHF television/FM stereo, Recoton AWACS +800, bought $59, new, in a box, $20. X4051

ANSWERING MACHINE, Panasonic, 2 line, $15; RCA VCR remote, not working, $15; sm. table fan, $5; dining rm light fixture, $10; phone, $5; Panasonic printer, $25. 831-9172

CALCULATOR, HP-41CX, exc. cond., w/2 xmem modules, math/stat module, magnetic card reader, optical wand, manuals, $150 for all or make offer on pieces. Matty, X4167

CANOE, Clipper, exc. shape,
17-1/2 ft., $300. (707)427-1155

CORDLESS TELEPHONE, Sony SPP-170, incl. 2 batteries, exc. cond., $80. Brad, (415)615-9551

CROSS COUNTRY SKIS, Epoke Eleesmere, 192 cm. & bindings, like new, $40; push lawn mower, $15; summer sleeping bag, fiberfill, $20. Linda, X4817, 236-6331

DARKROOM EQUIPMENT, Beseler 23CII enlarger w/Nikkor lens, like new cond., easels, trays, tongs, print dryer, etc., $400 firm. Drew Kemp, X5789, 524-7165

MANOR CHEST,1860s, $450; OG mirror, $100; Arts & Crafts rocker, $400; oak armoire, $300; 3 piece antique wicker set, $650; East Lake bed w/mattress, $450; (5) Thonet chairs, $300; 1940s short wave, $75; dbl futon w/frame, $100. Ellen, X5062, 559-8340

MOVING SALE, Sat., 5/13, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., 2431 Grant St., Berkeley (between Dwight & Channing), TV, dressers, dinning table, bed & more. Ranjith, 841-9326

MSR WhisperLite, used once, $35. Peter, 531-7837

PC, Everex 386 25Mhz, 4 Meg RAM, VRAM VGA card, 120 Meg HDD, 3.5" FD, keyboard, mouse, dual speed CD ROM, software, very fast for 386, $675; VGA monitor, $195. Jim, X7093

PIANO, Everett spinet, gd cond., $500; silver flute, DeForde, exc. cond., $400. Londie, 642-8718

ROLL TOP DESK, antique, turn-of-the-century, oak stained dark (walnut), lg., 6' x 3', gd shape, needs some TLC, make offer. Bill, X7271, 376-3419

SKI BOAT, 16-1/2 ft. Caravelle, blue, incl. 115HP outboard Mercury motor, trailer, top, canvas cover, ski & play equip., exc. cond., $7500/b.o. Jim Severns, X6058, 284-2353

SLEEPING PAD, Foam, folding, 75" x 31" x 4", fabric covered, used once, $75 new, $50. Jon Aymon, X6507, 704-0530

SOFA, 6 ft., new, teal velour, $600. Joyce Whitney, X5016

SOFA, 6-1/2 ft., 3 cushions, immac. cond., $200. F. Durantini, 843-8560 (4-8 p.m.)

WIND SURFING GEAR, 3.1, 3.5, 4.0, 4.6 sq. m 1990 Windwing Convertibles & Chinook boom to fit, $300/b.o. Eric, X6435, 849-2129

HOUSING

ALAMEDA, share sunny 2-bdrm house, frpl, backyd, basement, garage, non-smoker, male or female, $450/mo.+utils. Mary, 865-9949

ALBANY, 2-bdrm, 2-bth condo, bay view, gym, avail. 6/1$975/ mo. incl. water & garbage. 631-0510

ALBANY, furn. 1-bdrm apt., washer/dryer, nr UC Village & bus to LBL/UCB, quiet family dist., no more than 3 persons, visiting professor with spouse preferred, nonsmokers, avail. after 6/1, $675/mo. Donald Mangold, X6459

ALBANY, furn. rm in pvt home, sep. ent., pvt bth, kitchen privs., share washer/dryer, nr trans. & shops, non-smoker, avail. 5/13, $450/mo. incl. utils. 526-2355

BERKELEY, nr Oxford/Cedar, 1, 2 & 3 bdrms, furn. & unfurn., $700 - $1250/mo. 524-8122

BERKELEY, Elmwood, Woolsey & Dana, summer sublet, sunny, upstairs bdrm in 4-bdrm, 2-bth, 2-story house, balcony, pvt. entrance, nr shops, 3 min. bike to Rockridge BART/LBL shuttle, share w/1 grad student, 2 grad alumni, int'l household, wash/dry, microwave, avail. ~5/20-8/16, $350/mo.+utils.+$50 dep. 841-1668

BERKELEY, furn. 1-bdrm+ apt, sunny, residential area, easy walk to UCB & public trans., lg. garden terrace, split level, lg. windows, linen, dishes, TV, HiFi, VCR, microwave, prefer 1 responsible, neat, mature, nonsmoking visiting postgraduate researcher, easygoing but structured, incl. visiting accommodations near Harvard & MIT in Cambridge, MA, avail. 7/1 or earlier, $760/mo. 843-6325 (msg. w/best time to call back)

BERKELEY, nr Walnut/Rose, furn rm in 5-bdrm, 2-bth house, no pets, no smoking, avail. 6/1, $384/mo. 841-3579

BERKELEY, 1/2 blk no. of UCB/LBL shuttle, 2-bdrm, 2-bth condo, share w/UC grad student, $550/mo. + utils. + dep. 245-7816

BERKELEY, pvt, furn. bdrm & pvt bth available in house to share w/UC employee, 5 min. walk to UC/LBL shuttle, seeking quiet, mature individual who needs a place less than 6 mos., $465/mo. 548-9869

BERKELEY HILLS, furn. 2-bdrm+, 2-bth, architect-designed home, study, dining rm, darkrm, sec. system, on edge of Tilden park, sweeping views, gardens, decks, hiking/jogging trails, Lake Anza nearby, nr bus, Sun. NY Times., no smokers no pets, $1900/mo. incl. utils. X6784

BERKELEY HILLS, furn. 1-bdrm, 1-bth apt, remodeled, nr shops & trans., non-smoker, avail. June, $850+utils. 524-9039

NO. BERKELEY, furn. 1-bdrm apt/penthouse, full kitchen, TV, dbl bed w/linens/towels incl., ofc. space w/computer desk. leather sofa, garden, patio, laundry rm, elec. entrance, 1-1/2 blks from UCB, LBL shuttle, public trans. & shopping, st. parking or sec. parking w/fee, 1 or 2 people max., no pets, no smoking, avail. 5/21, $1200 + dep. 548-8658, 548-6528 (FAX)

NO. BERKELEY, furn. 3-bdrm, 2-bth home, study, yd, nr Solano shops & buses, hot tub, deck, bay view, car/bikes avail., avail. 7/1 or 8/20 - 12/28, $1500/mo. X7127, 524-0305

CASTRO VALLEY, 1 lg. bdrm w/bth in pvt. home, kitchen & laundry privs., possibly carpool, non-smoker, avail. 6/1, $425/mo.+dep.+utils. Marek, X5029, 582-5867

EL CERRITO, furn. 3-bdrm, 2-bth house, hot tub, no smokers, avail. 6/6 - 8/27, $1250/mo. utils. incl. except for long-distance calls, use of auto negot. 237-4654

El CERRITO, 1 unit of duplex, 3-bdrm 2-bth, lg. backyd, attached 1-car garage, across from Del Norte BART, nr shops, $1050/mo.+sec. dep. 235-3983

EL CERRITO, 1 person, furn. 1-bdrm, 1-bth apt, living rm, no kitchen but has microwave & refrig., wkly cleaning service, lg. garden, own entrance, bay view, no smoking, nr bus/BART, $450/mo.525-8761

EL CERRITO,1-bdrm,1-bth split-level apt in duplex, 8 min. walk to BART/E.C. Plaza,1/2 blk to bus, avail. 6/1, $620/mo. 525-7596

EL CERRITO HILLS, 1-bdrm, 1-bth apt, lower unit of a house, nr bus & BART, $750/mo., dep. req'd. 524-1824

KENSINGTON, furn. in-law studio, pvt entrance, patio, non-smokers, short term OK, $475/mo. incl. utils. 559-8021

KENSINGTON, lg. furn. bdrm in 4-bdrm house, bay view, nr Tilden Park, bus stop, carport, frpl, washer/dryer, avail. 6/1, $425/mo. 528-6953

OAKLAND, furn. 2-bdrm, 1-bth house, nr bus line, Glenview, 1 mi. from Montclair, washer/dryer, piano, garage, at end of cul-de-sac, garden, patio, trees, sublet July '95 - July '96, $950/mo.+utils, dep. req'd. 531-1541

OAKLAND, Trestle Glen Area, nr Piedmont, in-law studio/1-bdrm, w/deck, pvt. entrance, $525/mo. incl. util. & cable. Jeanine, 451-5258

OAKLAND, 2-bdrm apt, hardwd flr, laundry, courtyd, can be furn., non-smoker, cats OK, nr bus/BART, $650/mo.+dep+utils., $50/mo. garage (opt.) Shelley, X6123, 836-3852

RICHMOND HTS, rm w/pine tree view in art home, share lg.
bth, kitchen, laundry, nr Arlington Ave. & Mc Bryde, nr parks, 6 mi.
of LBL, no pets, smokers, $360+utils. 232-7612

EXCHANGE: 1-bdrm, 1-bth apt in Paris, 1-car garage, avail. Aug. or Sept. for approx. 10 mos., for 1-2 bdrm apt in East Bay area (nr UCB/LBL if possible). Corinne, X6174, 848-0098

WANTED: 2-bdrm apt/house w/washer/dryer hookup, dishwasher & garbage disposal for LBL employee/UCB student w/Sec. 8 voucher. Yvette Broadus, 758-6947

WANTED: Furn. 2-bdrm apt/house for Hungarian visiting scholar w/family between 7/11 - 8/3. X4978

WANTED: 2 bedroom house/apt for visitor to Lab, 7/13 - 9/9, little or no stairs. Henry Stapp, X4488

WANTED: Furn. 2-bdrm house for family from Japan, 8/1-31, prefer Berkeley or nearby & nr trans. (415)331-6742

WANTED: Anything from 2-bdrm apt to house for responsible, non-smoking, middle-aged couple, 8/15-1/1 (flex.). Luanne, X5853

WANTED: Summer sublets, 6/4 - 8/13, for LBL Summer Research Program students. Mari Shine, X5437

WANTED: Quiet, furn. house for professional non-smoking couple visiting UCB-LBL, 6/15-8/15. Andre, X4564

REAL ESTATE

EL CERRITO, 13 yrs. old, 3-bdrm, 2-bth house, ofc/4th bdrm, family rm, frpl, deck, laundry rm, alarmed, 2-car garage, appliances if needed, carpeted, on cul-de-sac, $165K. Marcel Callaham, 235-3538

VACATION

TAHOE KEYS, 3-bdrm, 2.5-bth house w/boat dock, mountain view, wk/wkend rates, June & July dates avail. Bob, 376-2211

FOR FREE

'86 FORD Escort, salvaged, but runs & passes smog test, needs work (brakes, tires, exhaust leak). Bill Benson, X5703

JUNIPER HEDGE, 3' X 3' X 20'. X7067

currents

Published weekly by the Public Information Department for the employees and retirees of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory

EDITOR:
Mary Bodvarsson, X4014

[email protected]

STAFF WRITERS:

Jeffery Kahn, X4019

Diane LaMacchia, X4015

Mike Wooldridge, X6249

Lynn Yarris, X5375

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT:

Brennan Kreller, X6566

PRODUCTION:

Alice Ramirez

FLEA MARKET/CALENDAR:

Mary Padilla, X5771

[email protected]

[email protected]

Public Information Department

LBL, MS 65 (Bldg. 65B)

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Tel: (510) 486-5771
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