New Technology
To Detect Life on Mars
By Robert Sanders

Mathies

The same cutting-edge technology that speeded sequencing of the human genome could, by the end of the decade, tell us once and for all whether life ever existed on Mars, according to UC Berkeley chemist Richard Mathies, who is also a researcher in Berkeley Lab’s Physical Biosciences Division. Mathies, the developer of the first capillary electrophoresis arrays and new energy transfer fluorescent dye labels, both used in today's DNA sequencers, is at work on an instrument that would use these technologies to probe Mars dust for evidence of life-based amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. For the full story go here.

New Executive Director Chosen to Head QB3
By Jan Ambrosini

Kelly

Regis B. "Reg" Kelly, a distinguished neuroscientist and former executive vice chancellor of UC San Francisco, has been named executive director of QB3, the California Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Research, effective July 1. QB3, a partnership between the state of California, industry, and the UC campuses at San Francisco, Berkeley and Santa Cruz, was established to bring together the powerful quantitative tools of the physical sciences, engineering and mathematics to tackle complex biological problems. Graham Fleming, director of Berkeley Lab’s Physical Bioscience Division, has been serving as QB3 acting executive director. Full story here.

Berdahl

UC Berkeley’s 136th Charter Day celebration this Thursday will pay tribute to Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl, who is leaving his post in June. Berdahl will be honored for seven years of campus leadership. This is the only event at which the entire campus community will bid him farewell. A procession into Zellerbach Hall of faculty, alumni, staff and students in colorful regalia begins at 2:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. However, tickets are required for the ceremony and can be picked up at the Zellerbach Box Office.

Deadline to Patch
Computer Vulnerabilities

As part of a Lab-wide cyber security effort, all Laboratory computer users must ensure that their systems are registered and all vulnerabilities patched by this Thursday. Employees who do not verify and patch their computers by that date may have their network access blocked until the system is made compliant. Employees can go here to quickly register their computers and identify vulnerabilities. For assistance, contact the Help Desk at x4357.

Dance Your
Lunchtime Away

The Dance Club is offering a new series, Night Club Two Step, beginning tomorrow at noon and continuing every Wednesday for 4 weeks. All employees are welcome to attend. The Club will meet in building 71-146U.

Vehicle Mileage Reports Due

Fleet Operations requests that all vehicle custodians report their monthly mileage by this Friday. Please email your report to Leslie Striplin ([email protected]) or call Leslie at 5475.