DOE Beefs Up Bandwidth
In San Francisco Area

The Department of Energy's Office of Science dedicated an innovative new network for scientific research at six DOE sites in the San Francisco Bay Area on Friday. By increasing bandwidth to these sites, DOE will help advance research in areas such as climate change, genetics, renewable energy, nanotechnology, national security, and basic science in physics and chemistry. Office of Science Director Ray Orbach launched the new network by connecting one of DOE's most powerful supercomputers to the new network, which is part of DOE's Energy Sciences Network (ESnet). Full story.

Public Information
And External Relations

Several Berkeley Lab policies bear upon interactions with the news media: (1) public information documents prepared for general audiences; (2) a specified clearance procedure for press releases; (3) Laboratory staff who are independently approached by reporters; and (4) employees who are asked to reflect the results of their Laboratory work in the media. To assist with the interview process and help Lab employees to be most effective in their experiences, the Communications Department provides classes on successful interactions with the press. The complete Lab policy on public information and external relations can be found here.

CUE, Lab Reach Accord
On Contract for 3 Years

Berkeley Lab and the Coalition of University Employees (CUE) last week both approved a local wage agreement as part of a new three-year contract, which is now in effect. The agreement provides for an average 3.0 percent salary increase for FY05 and 2.75 percent  for FY06 and FY07.  The CUE-represented employees, primarily clerical numbering around 240 at the Lab, will receive the retroactive (to Oct. 1, 2004) portion of their FY05 increase in a separate check within 90 days. In addition, the agreement establishes a local labor management committee to meet twice a year to address reported internal pay inequities and make recommendations to management regarding appropriate adjustments. Employees in CUE will also transition from the P2R to the PRD process effective next month for the performance year July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006. Go here to see a salary matrix for merit increases, and here to read the compensation agreement.

Imaging Voices of Past
Subject of Next Lecture

Haber

The Library of Congress and other archives around the world are struggling to keep their old audio discs and cylinders from past decades in playing condition. Preserving the sound of these historic gems, using a technology typically employed in particle detectors, is the subject of physicist Carl Haber's talk on Wednesday as the Berkeley Lab Summer Lecture Series continues. Haber will also demonstrate how these mechanical recordings improve in quality using the digital process. The lecture in the Building 50 Auditorium begins at noon. Go here to see a complete list of speakers and dates.