In a New Map, Radon
Looks Less Risky
By Hannah Fairfield

Phillip Price

Homeowners now have a new tool to make better decisions about testing for radon, the invisible, odorless radioactive gas that seeps into homes from the earth. The Environmental Protection Agency's policy, unchanged for more than 20 years, is that all homes, regardless of location, should be tested for radon. But Phillip Price, with Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies Division, and Andrew Gelman, of Columbia University, argue that the agency's policy is outdated. "We have a great deal more information on the geographical distribution of radon than was available when the recommendations were first promulgated," said Price. Full story (registration required).

NERSC News Features
LLNL Fusion Simulations

Spheromak simulation.

The latest edition of the National Energy Resesarch Scientific Computing Center's newsletter, NERSC News, features the work done at the supercomputer to simulate fusion plasmas for the Sustained Spheromak Physics Experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This issue also discusses the latest 6.5 million hours being offered to three projects as part of DOE's "INCITE" awards. Also noted are honors received by two NERSC users at this year's American Geophysical Union meeting. Read it here.

UCSF Cancer Class
Broadcast at Lab

A class on "Breast Cancer Today and Tomorrow," sponsored by UC San Francisco's Breast Oncology Program — held every Monday and Thursday through March 28 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. — will be broadcast at the Lab via videoconference in Building 84-318. The course is intended for basic scientists (students through senior faculty) with an interest in translational breast cancer research. A schedule of lecture dates and topics is available here.

Stephen West

Stephen West, a Fellow of the Royal Society, will deliver a Biosciences Distinguished Lecture, entitled "Double Strand Break Repair in Mammalian Cells" at 4 p.m. tomorrow in the Building 66 Auditorium. West is a principal scientist with Cancer Research UK at the London Research Institute, Clare Hall Laboratories, and Honorary Professor of Biochemistry at University College, London. His research focuses on understanding how cells use recombination processes to maintain chromosome stability and how defects in these processes lead to cancer predisposition.  Go here for more information about West's research.

Valarie Espinoza-Ross of ASD kept score at last year's Science Bowl.

Volunteers Needed
For Science Bowl

The Lab is hosting one of three regional Science Bowl competitions in the Bay Area for local high school students. The winners will receive a paid trip to Washington DC and the chance to participate in the Department Of Energy's National Science Bowl Competition. Volunteers are needed as timekeepers, scorekeepers and moderators on Saturday, Jan. 29. Go here for more information, or contact Joe Crippen (x5816).

Visit the Employee self-service website to make name, address changes

Employees who moved or had a name change during last year and have not updated this information with the Lab must do so before Tuesday to ensure receipt of their 2004 W2 forms. This can be done online using the Employee Self Service website (LDAP login name and e-mail password required). Employees with an international address or without access to the web can contact their Human Resources representative to make changes. Go here to view a list of Human Resources contacts.