Facilities: Subcontracting of Bus Service Explored 

In an effort to provide better, more efficient and safer bus service for employees, the Lab is exploring the possibility of subcontracting bus services to an outside vendor. This potential move is not a cost-saving measure, and the current level of service will be maintained, and likely, in some areas, enhanced. As part of the subcontracting process, the Lab will be requiring that vendors provide a plan for hiring all current Lab-career bus drivers. The AFSCME union and the Lab drivers were informed of the pending Request for Proposals (RFP) on Friday and Monday, respectively.  The RFP is expected to be sent within the next few weeks.

People: Postdoc Mateusz Ploskon Wins Young Scientist Award

At the recent Quark Matter 2009 conference in Knoxville, TN, Nuclear Science Division postdoc Mateusz Ploskon won the "Young Scientist Award" for the best talk. Mateusz reported on his work with the Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory). He was recognized for his analysis of heavy-ion collisions and the collection of the many particles that are produced by a single high-energy quark or gluon as it evolves in nuclear matter, which thereby determines the energy of that initial particle. The award, sponsored by the journal Nuclear Physics, included a check for $750.

Tech Transfer: Enter the Clean Tech Open; Deadline is May 30

The Clean Tech Open is the largest business competition in the country dedicated to helping clean-tech entrepreneurs bring their inventions to the market. Winners receive a “startup in a box” package, including cash, expert advising services, mentoring and guidance, office space and much more. Launched in 2006, the competition has helped start 125 companies. Early bird registration is due May 20 and the final deadline to enter is May 30. More>

EH&S: Laser Safety Training Now Requires Two Courses

Employees required to take laser safety training will now have to complete two courses. The first, EHS 302 “Laser Safety Training,” is an online course that teaches the fundamentals for working safely with Class 3B and 4 lasers. The second, EHS 303 “Laser Lessons Learned,” is classroom-based (go here to register). The courses can be taken in any order. Employees who have already completed Laser Safety Training will not be affected by this change. Contact Ken Barat or James Basore for more information.

Library: Submit Papers to Lab’s Report Coordination Office

Scientific papers and technical reports must be submitted to the Report Coordination Office so it can be archived in the Lab’s database, as well as with DOE’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information and the University of California’s eScholarship database. Not only is this a requirement of the Lab contract, but it also makes it easier for researchers at the Lab and elsewhere to find your work. Go here to log in to the Reports Database, and here for more information about the submissions process.

Employee Activity: Art Council to Tour Fabergé Exhibit on May 31

The Employee Activities’ Arts Council is offering a tour of the Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique exhibit at the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 31. The exhibit is the first comparative study of the work of the three greatest jewelry and decorative arts designers at the turn of the 20th century: Peter Carl Fabergé, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and René Lalique. The cost is $16 ($26 will pay for tour as well as admission to the DeYoung Museum on the same day). Mail name, phone number and e-mail address along with check to Helen Jefferson (x5746) MS Donner 474 by May 1.

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