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Friday, March 27, 2009

ACS Annual Meeting


Reports on Lab Talks and Award Lectures


Applying nanocrystals to solar energy, borrowing from nature to direct the construction of nanostructures, and the study of nanoparticles in action with bursts of light almost too fast for comprehension were among the Berkeley Lab highlights at the American Chemical Society meeting in Salt Lake City this week. Talks featured Interim Director Paul Alivisatos (top left) and scientists Peidong Yang (top center) and James De Yoreo (top right). More>

Awards symposia were in the spotlight at the ACS meeting, and Berkeley Lab was well represented by a trio of scientists — Graham Fleming (bottom left), Darleane Hoffman (bottom center), and Richard Saykally (bottom right) — who know more than a little something about award-winning research. More>

hubbardPeople: Earth Scientist to be Geological Society Distinguished Lecturer

Susan Hubbard, a staff scientist in the Earth Sciences Division, has been chosen to serve as the 2010 Geological Society of America's (GSA) Birdsall-Dreiss Lecturer. The endowed lectureship is made to one person annually by the GSA Hydrogeology Division based on two criteria: the nominee must be a renowned scientist whose publication record and research have had national and international impact in the field of hydrogeology, and the nominee must be an outstanding speaker. Hubbard is the 32nd GSA Birdsall-Dreiss Lecturer, and the first from a national laboratory. More>

uncle samIn The News: Columnist Says Innovation Needs Our Government

[Contra Costa Times] Many of us think that innovation is strictly the province of business and requires little help from government. This hands-off view of government's role in innovation may have been true decades ago, but, in today's highly technological and hyper-competitive global economy, this view is obsolete. A recent study about the sources of major innovations found that in the period between 1970 and 2006, the government played a substantial role in the development of the top 100 technological innovations, assisted by its network of science laboratories, like Berkeley Lab. More>

sequestrationIn The News: EPA Issues Permits for Carbon Sequestration Project

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have issued permits authorizing the West Coast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (WESTCARB) to inject 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide into an underground saline formation in Joseph City, west of Holbrook. The WESTCARB injection project is sponsored by the APS power plant in Joseph City and Berkeley Lab, with funding from the Department of Energy. More>

harrisIn Memoriam: Life Scientist Shyamala Harris

Berkeley Lab researcher Shyamala Harris passed away on Feb. 11 after a battle with cancer. She started her career with the Lab in 1989 as a Biologist Staff Scientist in the Life Sciences Division's Cancer and DNA Damage Responses Department. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. tomorrow at the Bellevue Club (525 Bellevue Ave., Oakland). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Breast Cancer Action. Go here to read a San Francisco Chronicle obituary of Harris.

open signCafeteria: New Operating Hours Take Effect Starting Monday

To improve operational efficiency, the Lab Café is changing its hours of operation starting Monday. The new hours of service will be 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. In April, the Lab Café will also introduce several new menu offerings and products. Slight price increases have affected some menu items, due to the industry’s rising food costs. Send questions or concerns here.

Travel: Presentation on New Travel Policy Offered on Tuesday at 1 p.m., 66 Auditorium

planeThe Lab's Travel Department has announced an additional presentation introducing the Lab's new travel policy on Tuesday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Building 66 Auditorium. This presentation will provide Lab travelers training on the travel policy and an opportunity to ask general questions regarding Lab travel. Go here to register (CFO0100 in the Policy and Procedures course type section). Registered participants will receive copies of all presentation materials and a special color-coded copy of the travel policy highlighting new and revised sections. Contact Phil Weiss (x7873) for more information.

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