BIO 2004 Includes
Several from Lab

Several Berkeley Lab employees will be speaking at the BIO 2004 annual international meeting, June 6-9 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. An expected 20,000 biotechnology and life sciences professionals from all aspects of the industry and from all parts of the globe will participate. Included on the agenda are Eddy Rubin, Genomics Division Director; Paul Alivisatos, Materials Sciences Division Director; Cheryl Fragiadakis, Technology Transfer Department head; and Terry Hazen, head of Microbial Ecology and Environmental Engineering. Berkeley Lab will also have a booth in the exhibition hall, and Pam Seidenman, Marketing Manager, will represent the Lab in one-on-one meetings with companies in the BIO Business Forum. For more on the conference, go here.

DOE NanoSummit '04
June 23-24 in D.C.

The Department of Energy is hosting a NanoSummit in Washington, D.C. June 23-24 to bring together policymakers and the scientific community to share information on emerging research opportunities and priorities in nanoscale science and technology for the energy future. DOE's Office of Science is planning, designing and managing the construction of five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs) that will operate as national user facilities, a $400 million investment that includes Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry. Go here to read about the conference.

Contacts with State
And Federal Officials

Employees may not act or give the appearance of acting on behalf of the Laboratory or the University when communicating with state or federal officials unless they are authorized to do so. To act or give the appearance of acting on behalf of the Laboratory or the University in such instances without authorization may be construed as a conflict of interest. The complete text of the Laboratory's lobbying policy, as well as guidance on appropriate contact with state and federal officials, may be found here.

Slack

Torok

Nearly two years after Congress tightened the laws for "select agents," the laws have led to unprecedented scrutiny of scientists. At best, this has caused inconvenience. At worst, it has caused enough cost increases, delays, fear and concerns over privacy issues that some scientists and institutions have abandoned select-agent work at a time when the nation needs their knowledge to counter the threat of bioterrorism. Tamas Torok, a lead researcher at Berkeley Lab, submitted his paperwork in February 2003, but did not get clearance until that fall. Full story.

Car Show- Barbecue Moves Back a Week

The "First Day of Summer" Classic Car Show and Barbecue is now set for June 25, rather than the originally announced June 18. Employees are invited to exhibit their classic and vintage vehicles, or just check out the wheels while listening to the Lab's Rhythm and Blues Band on the cafeteria lawn. Eurest Dining Services will offer a low-cost outdoor barbecue package. Festivities will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. To find out more about the car display, send e-mail to Kevin Bradley.