People are most productive when they have some measure of physical proximity and contact with their co-workers. Our personal workspace needs to be flexible, energy efficient and pleasant to occupy, and it should encourage collaboration and dialogue. These are the basic principles driving a new strategic approach to office and lab space, as the Lab prepares to face a problem that few other employers have these days — an influx of employees, and not enough space to put everyone. In the coming 24 months, workstations must be found for up to 500 employees as well as 20,000 square feet of additional laboratory space. More>
Facilities: Space Planning Walk-Through Conducted This Week To assist the Lab with its space planning efforts, described in the story at left, a walk-through of all rooms at the Lab is taking place this week. The information gathered during the tours will be used to update Key Plans, which are layouts of every floor in each building. The plans will be the basis for all future space capacity studies. Personnel conducting the walk-through will be wearing bright construction vests and name badges, and shouldn’t take more than a couple minutes in each workspace.
Special Event: Lynbrook High School Wins Regional Science BowlQuestions flew, seconds ticked, buzzers flashed, answers were proffered, and scores tallied for 24 teams from 16 local high schools. And when all was said and done, Lynbrook High School (San Jose) emerged as the winner of the DOE Regional Science Bowl held at the Lab on Feb. 6. Actually, Lynbrook High School Team 1 won first place, and their Team 2 took third place, with Albany High School Team 1 in second place. The daylong event was sponsored by the Center for Science and Engineering Education and made possible by the assistance of many staff volunteers. The first-place team will head to Washington D.C. on April 30 to compete with other high school students from across the country at the 20th Anniversary National Science Bowl.
The next Women's Scientist & Engineering Council Luncheon Seminar takes place today in Perseverance Hall (54-130) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lab mechanical engineer Dawn Munson will discuss "Engineering as a Tool for Discovery." Munson was recently featured in the SPIE "Women in Optics" Planner for 2010. Lunch will be provided. For more information, call x7443.
To help employees adopt a healthier lifestyle, the Lab will reimburse the cost of the next onsite Weight Watchers session. Staff must attend 14 of the 17-week session, which costs $186.00 (can be paid in three installments of $62.00). The session starts Wednesday, Feb. 24, at noon in Building 26-124. Those interested in attending must send a check, credit card number or cash prior to Feb. 24. Contact Cathy Wentworth to arrange payment (x6266).
The Lab’s Payroll and International Researchers and Scholars Offices will conduct two Nonresident International Tax Workshops in March. An overview of tax forms, tax treaties, and resources for international scholars, students, and researchers will be presented. Attendees can also get answers to visa questions relating to nonresident taxation issues. The first session will be held on Wednesday, March 3, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in Perseverance Hall (Bldg. 54-130) The second workshop will be on Friday, March 19, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., same location.
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