Dresselhaus to Speak
On Hydrogen Economy

Dresselhaus

Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Mildred Dresselhaus will give a lecture at the Lab today on “The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities for Basic Research to Address Some Grand Challenges.” The talk begins at 11 a.m. in the Building 50 Auditorium. In addition to heading the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and Technology under President Clinton, Dresselhaus received the National Medal of Science, is the past president of both the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was treasurer of the National Academy of Sciences. Her talk is sponsored by the Lab’s Nuclear Science Division.

Support Available
For Linux Clusters

There has been a growing interest in the use of Linux clusters for scientific research at Berkeley Lab. For many projects, a cluster assembled from inexpensive, off-the-shelf hardware and open-source software is a cost-effective way to obtain a high-performance system. The ITSD Scientific Cluster Support (SCS) group offers purchase consulting, system setup and configuration, ongoing systems administration, and cybersecurity for Linux clusters. Interested parties can contact Gary Jung at x4894 or go here for more information.

Reminder: May Is
Traffic Safety Month

Drivers at Berkeley Lab are reminded that traffic laws on The Hill -- regarding speed limits, pedestrians, bicycles and parking -- are the same as off-site and conform to the California Vehicle Code. Lab Deputy Director Sally Benson notes that May is Traffic Safety Month and cautions employees, "We need to be more diligent in observing speed limits at the Lab. I ask you to join me in being more vigilant and safety-conscious." This spring has been especially problematic, with an upswing in traffic violations (speeding, running stop signs, etc.) and at least one bicyclist injured at an entrance gate. Go here to read a PDF brochure on traffic safety at the Lab.

ALS Helps Scientists Simulate Titan Pollution

While the Cassini spacecraft has been flying toward Saturn, chemists on Earth have been making plastic pollution like that raining through the atmosphere of Saturn's moon, Titan. University of Arizona scientist Mark Smith creates it by bombarding an analog of Titan's atmosphere with electrons, which produces "tholins." "Our work will get much more interesting this fall, in our experiments at the Advanced Light Source of the Berkeley Lab," he added. "We'll be using a synchrotron to create tholins photochemically." Full story.

Sign Up Now For
Skin Cancer Screening

Summer is coming, and as we pull out our light summer clothes, the Lab’s Health Services unit is offering the opportunity to get your skin checked. The purpose of this health promotion effort is skin cancer screening, but all types of skin lesions can be assessed. The event is popular, and usually fills up early, so make your appointment now. The skin screening clinic will be held Wednesday, May 26, from 8 a.m. to noon in Building. 26. To make an appointment, call x6266. In addition to the health services staff, dermatologists Elizabeth Ringrose and Robert McNamara will be available to evaluate problematic skin lesions.

Inventory Scheduled
At Central Stores

As a reminder to Lab employees, the Facilities Stores will be closed for a wall-to-wall inventory starting at 11 a.m. on Friday through Wednesday May 26. Customers needing "project critical" material during this inventory may call x5087 to place an order. For information, call Don Prestella at x4224.

Softball Info Due
By End of Today

All managers of Berkeley Lab softball teams must mail their team rosters, along with team fees, to league commissioner Steve Blair by the end of today. They can be mailed to his office (MS 90K-0198). For more information, call him at x5927.