No mystery is bigger than dark energy — the elusive force that makes up three-quarters of the Universe and is causing it to expand at an accelerating rate. KTVU Channel 2 health and science editor John Fowler will moderate a panel of Lab scientists who use phenomena like exploding stars and gravitational lenses to explore the dark cosmos. Panelists include Saul Perlmutter, David Schlegel, and Alexie Leauthaud. This free event takes place Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre (2015 Addison). More>
The annual benefits Open Enrollment period begins Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Any changes in coverage will become effective on Jan. 1. Lab employees will receive the Benefits Open Enrollment booklet at their home addresses this week from the UC Office of the President. Go here for full details of health insurance choices for 2010, including health plan rates. Some plans will have significant rate increases. Those satisfied with their current coverage do not need to take any action, however, those wishing to participate in a flexible-spending account must enroll or re-enroll during Benefits Open Enrollment for 2010. For questions contact the HR Benefits Group (x6403).
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation has named 16 promising researchers as the 2009 recipients of Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering. Each fellow will receive an unrestricted research grant of $875,000 over five years. Among the winners is Holger Müeller, with Berkeley Lab’s Chemical Sciences Division. He was recognized for introducing new tools, such as atom interferometers, to the experimental study of gravity and the standard model of particle physics. More>
Social Networking: Follow Lab News on Twitter and FacebookYour e-mail inbox isn't the only way to receive news from Berkeley Lab. The Communications Department (Public Affairs) also uses social media sites to share information on the latest innovations in science, public lectures, special events, and other activities. You can track Berkeley Lab news on Twitter and Facebook, watch videos on the Lab’s YouTube site, and view Lab images on Flickr. But if you really want that e-mail, we can still send you our press releases. Subscribe here.
Special Event: Campus Hosts Talk on 40 Years of Moore’s LawThe Haas School of Business hosts a Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum on "Moore’s Law: 40 Years Later" tomorrow from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Andersen Auditorium (on campus). Panelists will discuss the groundbreaking theory developed by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore (pictured) in 1965 that predicted the doubling of transistor density every two years, and look at what the future holds for entrepreneurs in the computer industry. More>
Special Event: UC Berkeley Warehouse Give-Away on FridayFor more than 20 years, the Marchant Building has been a de facto warehouse for UC Berkeley. With the building's recent sale, however, the day of reckoning has come. All the stuff must go. On Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a give-away day at 6701 San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley. Freebies include office supplies, tables, chairs, and desks. More>
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