Chen

Lab's Chen Gets Grant For NASA Radiation Study

NASA has announced grants totaling $13.5 million to fund ground-based research in space radiation biology and space radiation shielding materials. Among the recipients is Berkeley Lab Life Scientist David Chen, for a study entitled "DNA Damage Responses Induced by HZE Particles in Human Cells." In all, 19 projects will be allocated time at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (SRL) and the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at the Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory. Full story.

UC Officials Emphasize
Safety, Security at Labs

Dynes

University of California President Robert Dynes and UC Regents Chairman Gerald Parksy visited Los Alamos National Laboratory this week and conveyed a message on safety and security procedures that they say applies to employees at Berkeley and Livermore, too. "The University of California will not tolerate employees who do not follow safety and security procedures – no exceptions," Dynes writes in a letter to the labs. His comments, plus highlights of their remarks made in an all-hands meeting at Los Alamos, can be read here.

EETD's Levine Named
To Clean Energy Board

Levine

Mark Levine, director of the Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies Division, has been named to the board of the recently formed California Clean Energy Fund (CCEF). The group will make equity investments totaling at least $30 million in emerging clean energy technology companies. The fund arises from the PG&E bankruptcy settlement negotiated by the California Public Utilities Commission. CCEF is a non-profit entity but will make for-profit investments in commercially viable companies; profits will be reinvested in the fund.

The Blackberry Canyon, or "D" parking lot, will be closed tomorrow for the installation of a 40-foot mobile trailer. Vehicles should not be left there over the weekend. For information, contact Michael Apte at X4669 or Douglas Sullivan at X6367.

Weight Watchers Group
Getting Started at Lab

The Health Services Department is currently forming a new Weight Watchers group here at the Lab. The group will meet once a week, now tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. Cost for each one-hour meeting is $10.95 and must be pre-paid for at least 10 and up to 20 weeks of meetings. There is no registration fee. Those interested in joining should send an e-mail here, or call Cathy Wentworth at X5334 by next Thursday.

Relax. ASD Academy
Will Show You How

Laurie Yamamoto from the UC Berkeley Tang Center will facilitate a workshop to learn and practice a variety of useful and immediately helpful deep breathing exercises, visualizations and simple office stretches that will leave you feeling more relaxed and energized. Come to Building 2, 100-B, from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. next Thursday (Aug. 12) and prepare to stand, stretch and move around the room. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. Register here for ASD 9038.

Make $$$, Hone Skills
As a Lab Tour Guide

The Lab's Community Relations Office is offering $70 per tour to graduate students and post-doctoral staff to lead two-hour public tours of Lab facilities. About once a month, participants can benefit from the opportunity to practice public speaking skills while they see variety of scientific research programs. Community Relations will hold a training session for new tour guides in September. For more information, send an e-mail here, or call X7292. For more information about Berkeley Lab tours, go here.