It takes special software to map the universe from noisy data. Berkeley Lab scientists developed a code called MADmap to do just that for the cosmic microwave background then posted it on the web for other interested sky mappers. Scientists probing the sky with the PACS instrument aboard the Herschel satellite have adapted MADmap to make spectacular images of the infrared universe. More>
[Physics Today] With the use of accelerators on the rise, the mobile US Particle Accelerator School (USPAS) aims to fill in where universities fall short. A recent session in San Francisco offered courses in the fundamentals of accelerator physics, synchrotron radiation, and related topics. The USPAS "makes a 15-week semester course into an intensive two-week course. For two weeks, you see nothing of the rest of the world," says teacher Fernando Sannibale (pictured at right) of the Lab's Accelerator and Fusion Research Division (AFRD). Bill Barletta, formerly AFRD director, is now the USPAS director. More>
Tech Transfer: C2M Classes Start at UC BerkeleyThe Cleantech to Market (C2M) program started its first class at UC Berkeley, led by two new co-directors, Beverly Alexander and Lab employee Cyrus Wadia, on Jan. 19. The C2M class is a three-credit course offered through the Energy Institute at the Haas School of Business. C2M was run as a pilot in 2008-2009 through collaboration between Berkeley Lab, Berkeley Energy Resources Collaborative (BERC), and Haas. This semester, nine teams of MBAs, science, engineering, policy, and law school students will be working to assess and further the business case of Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley technology inventions in solar energy, smart grids, energy storage, and biofuels. More>
During the holiday food drive conducted at the Lab last November and December, employees donated 916 pounds of food and raised over $500 for the Alameda County Community Food Bank. In thanking the Lab for their contributions, the Food Bank said the food donation provided 716 meals this holiday season and enabled them to distribute $7 worth of groceries for every dollar donated. Staff can donate food or money at any time of the year.
Employee Activity: Runaround T-Shirts for SaleThe Employee Activities Association has extra t-shirts from last year's Runaround and is selling them for $5 each. Sizes include small, medium, 2X and 3X (no large). If interested, contact Helen Jefferson. Cash only is accepted for payment.
Clayton Bagwell, the employee who won the Public Affairs contest to create a plot for the show Eureka involving the Lab, works for the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), not NCEM, as stated in Wednesday's edition of TABL.
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