[KGO-Channel 7] Six Bay Area kids from under-served communities are getting an experience of a lifetime — learning about science and getting paid to do it. It is summer science camp for students whose parents did not have the chance to go to college. Dejanae Holloway of Oakland never imagined she would be in a lab working with bacteria and enzymes. "I wanted to get a feel for what science really was; it's not just dissecting things, it's actually making a change in the world," Holloway said. Six high school students from Berkeley, Richmond, San Francisco and Oakland were selected for the Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology. Clem Fortman, the co-founder of the program, is a scientist at the Joint Bioenergy Institute in Emeryville. More>
Gerson Goldhaber, an award-winning physicist with Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division and UC Berkeley Professor of Physics Emeritus, passed away Monday morning (July 19) of natural causes, at home surrounded by his family. He was 86. Goldhaber played key roles in discoveries that spanned more than five decades and included both particle physics and astrophysics. He is survived by his wife, Judith, a long-time science writer for Berkeley Lab, son Nathaniel, daughters Michaela and Shaya, daughter-in-law Marilyn, and three grandsons, Ben, Charles and Sam. A detailed obituary will be posted by the Lab soon.
Research: Microbial World's Use of Metals Mostly Unmapped A new way of surveying microbes for the metals they contain reveals that biologists have been relying on the equivalent of a 15th-century map of the world. It turns out that there are many more metal-containing proteins in microbes than previously recognized. This means the microbial world boasts a broader and more diverse array of metal-driven chemical processes than scientists have imagined. In fact, most have yet to be discovered. New research will help chart a more complete understanding of the far-reaching roles of microbial metals in biology and the Earth’s climate. More>
On Monday, Aug. 9, the Molecular Foundry is hosting the 7th annual Peptoid Summit, a two-day workshop exploring the chemistry, biology and nanoscale properties of peptoids — robust, man-made polymers that behave like proteins. Sessions with speakers from industry and academia and a catered dinner and vendor showcase will provide attendees with plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle during the workshop. In addition, attendees may submit manuscripts to be published in a special issue of the journal Biopolymers. The deadline to register is Friday, July 23. More>
Special Event: Earth Sciences Talk on Floating Photobioreactors The Earth Sciences Division is hosting a talk by Jonathan Trent of the NASA Ames Research Center on OMEGA, a system of floating photobioreactors to grow oil-producing, freshwater microalgae in offshore enclosures, using municipal waste-water that is currently discharged into the ocean. The event takes place Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Building 66 Auditorium. Go here to watch a video on Trent and his research.
Special Event: Weeklong Intensive Workshop on Cloud Computing The forecast for many aspects of computing definitely calls for clouds, but cutting through the hype and getting a clear picture of the possibilities and limitations of cloud computing requires intensive hands-on sessions. To this end, Berkeley Lab’s Computational Research Division is hosting a weeklong workshop on cloud computing this week. More>
The International Researcher and Scholars Office is conducting a brown-bag Q&A session on Monday, July 26, from noon to 1 p.m. in Perseverance Hall (Bldg. 54-130). The session will allow employees, supervisors, and others to ask questions regarding visas, green card applications, work permits, and related topics. The next session will be offered on Oct. 25. Send e-mail here for more information.
The Lab’s Health Care Facilitator is available to help staff and their eligible family members to better understand and obtain the full benefits and services from their UC-sponsored health plans. They provide free, confidential one-on-one assistance in resolving issues related to health, dental and vision plans. If you or your family members need assistance, go here or call x6997.
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