[Contra Costa Times] It doesn't look much different from flat roofs painted white to help ward off the sun's searing rays. But the white surface of the roof of Las Juntas Elementary School in Pacheco (near Walnut Creek), isn't paint; it's an "engineered coating" designed by Berkeley Lab scientists to better deflect solar heat and light back into the sky rather than into the building. The material was designed by scientists involved in the Lab’s Heat Island Group (EETD), which studies how cities are effectively "islands of heat" retaining more heat than do surrounding less populated and built-up areas. More>
Special Event: Learn How the Lab Operates During an Emergency at March 24 Meeting Do you know what to do during an emergency? Would you like to know what happens behind the scenes? Plan on attending an overview of the Lab’s Emergency Operations Center, the Facilities Division Operations Center, and Business Continuity Planning and Activation on Wednesday, March 24, at noon in the Building 50 Auditorium. All employees are welcome.
“The different perspectives found in a diverse team help us challenge assumptions, which can only improve the science we do. Women scientists and support staff are a fundamentally important part of Berkeley Lab’s past, present, and future," says Lab Director Paul Alivisatos. On the occasion of Women’s History Month, I would like to reaffirm Berkeley Lab’s overarching commitment to diversity, with particular attention to mentoring the next generation of leaders.”
IT: Training Available for ‘ReadyTalk’ Audio and Web ConferencingReadyTalk is the audio and web conferencing product offered by the Lab's Telephone Services. The service is very low cost and easy to use. A representative from ReadyTalk will be onsite Wednesday, March 24, from 11 a.m. to noon in the Building 50 Auditorium to present an overview of the service and share information on upcoming product enhancements. Time will be set aside for questions. Send e-mail to [email protected] by March 23 if interested in attending.
Lab employees who are members of the University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) will restart contributions to the pension plan, starting in mid-April and applying to May earnings. To assist staff with this transition, the Lab’s HR Benefits group will conduct a webinar on Monday at 9 a.m., as well as a live presentation on Thursday, March 25, in the Building 50 Auditorium at 11 a.m. Go here to view other scheduled events and webinar registration information.
The Lab’s HR Benefits group is sponsoring a workshop on “Determining Your Investment Strategy” on Tuesday, March 23, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Perseverance Hall (Bldg. 56). Participants will learn to understand asset allocations, identify appropriate target asset mix, and when to adjust this mix from a Fidelity representative. Following the presentation a help desk will be open in the cafeteria lobby from noon to 1:30 p.m.
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