Universe Quest, an online game now in its pilot stage, is providing an immersive 3-D environment that allows youngsters to explore the cosmos and learn about astronomy using remote telescopes in Australia. The game is being used by about a dozen girls from 6th through 12th grade at the ASA Academy and Community Science Center in Oakland. Developed under the leadership of Berkeley Lab guest scientist Carl Pennypacker, in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Northern California and UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Lab, through a grant from the National Science Foundation, Universe Quest is specifically aimed at introducing girls, especially those in the African-American community, to possible careers in science and technology. UQ, as the game is known, was recently featured on ABC 7 News. 
Mark your calendars. The 2009 Berkeley Lab summer lecture series kicks off July 7 with a talk by Bob Schoenlein on new directions in photon science. The talks take place Tuesdays at noon in the Building 66 auditorium. Here’s the rest of the lineup, which underscores the Lab's leading role in cutting-edge research: Curtis Oldenburg discusses geologic carbon sequestration on July 21, Alexie Leauthaud and Reiko Nakajima talk about gravitational lensing on July 28, and Joe Gray explores personalized cancer treatment on August 4.
In Memoriam: Aloke Chatterjee (1940-2009)Aloke Chatterjee, a theoretical radiation biophysicist and former deputy director of the Life Sciences Division who gave this laboratory 36 years of exemplary service before retiring in 2006, passed away on Saturday, June 20, at his home in Clayton. He was 68. The cause was heart failure. More>
The Berkeley Lab Learning Institute is hosting two workshops for supervisors and work leads. Both are relevant for scientist and operations supervisors. The "Fundamentals of Leading and Motivating" course will be held on July 15 and 16. The new "Supervisor Scenario Workshop: HR Issues" workshop will be on August 12 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Both will take place in Perseverance Hall. Go here to enroll.
Berkeley Lab is proposing to revise RPM Section 2.26 (Catastrophic Leave Sharing). The policy is being revised to (1) redefine the meaning of catastrophic illness or injury and (2) add catastrophic casualty loss and catastrophic bereavement loss as eligible criteria for leave donation requests. This policy applies to nonrepresented employees only. Represented employees should contact their union representative or consult their collective bargaining agreement. Go here to see the proposed changes. To comment on this proposed change, contact [email protected] by July 24.
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