The Hill was alive with the sound of excited children, curious adults, helpful volunteers, and talented performers on Saturday as the Lab hosted its first community Open House in eight years. Nearly 3,500 visitors shuttled up to the Lab to peruse science exhibits, ask researchers about their work, and participate in hands-on activities. Director Paul Alivisatos addressed the guests, thanking them for taking the time to learn more about the Lab. While touring the exhibits, Alivisatos (pictured) stuck his hand inside “Big Betty,” a paper-mache cow that the Joint Genome Institute created to help explain how their sequencing of cow-rumen microbes, which break down plant material, can aid the development of biofuels.
The University of California Open Enrollment period will run from Monday, Oct. 25, at 8 .m. to Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 5 p.m. During Open Enrollment, UC staff can make changes to their health and welfare benefits for 2011. Berkeley Lab’s HR Benefits group will be hosting a number of presentations for employees to learn more about Open Enrollment changes, including a meeting on Oct. 25 in the Building 50 Auditorium, several webinars, a help desk in the cafeteria lobby, and two gatherings for facilities employees. UC is will be mailing information to all employees around mid-October. Additional details will be posted in Today at Berkeley Lab over the coming weeks.
People: Ian Hinchliffe Receives APS Award for TeV Scale Physics Work Ian Hinchliffe of the Physics Division is the recipient of the 2011 J. J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics, awarded by the American Physical Society. The prize was established to recognize outstanding achievement in particle theory. Hinchliffe shares this prize with Estia Eichten and Chris Quigg of Fermilab and Kenneth Lane of Boston University. The $10,000 award recognizes their work to chart a course for the exploration of TeV scale physics using multi-TeV hadron colliders.
EH&S: Drive Safe to Work Week Did you know…
• The most dangerous part of an employee's day is the drive to/from work.
• Driver distraction is a leading factor in crashes in California, accounting for at least 25 percent of all accidents annually.
• In 2008, it became illegal in California for drivers to read or compose texts and e-mails or access the Web on wireless devices while the vehicle is in motion.
• Using a cell phone behind the wheel reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent.
• While driving just one mile, you make approximately 200 decisions.
Lab staff are reminded to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Drive now, talk and text later.
The Lab’s migration to Gmail is nearly complete, Google Calendar is now the official calendaring system, and many employees are using Google Docs and Sites for collaboration and sharing. The IT Division would like to hear feedback on Google Apps so they can improve service and evaluate the effectiveness of their training efforts. Go here to take the survey, which will close on Friday, Oct. 15.
Employees who stack park their cars are reminded that they must place an official stack-parking card on their dashboard. This card shows the name of the car owner, employee number, normal building location, phone extension, and other required information. Business cards or slips of paper showing a name and telephone number are not a substitute for these cards. Stack Parking Display Cards can be obtained at the Badge Office (x4551) in the Building 65A trailer from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.
Nina Ray Hazelton, a former employee of the Lab’s travel office, passed away on Sept. 27. She was 82 years old. Hazelton worked at Berkeley Lab for 21 years. A memorial will be held tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at St. Lukes United Methodist Church in Richmond. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Lukes.
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