Bush Signs On to Help
Clean Air in China

President Bush, in one of the least-noticed gestures of his European visit, has pledged to help developing nations such as China and India cut back on their fast-growing output of the greenhouse gases linked to global warming. Bush signed a pact with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to help poorer countries adopt more energy-efficient technologies in power generation, transportation and industry. China's efficiency programs are getting a boost from European and Bay Area experts. Berkeley Lab is working with the Energy Foundation on a host of programs, ranging from consumer appliance standards to building codes. Full story. For more on the Lab's China Energy Group go here.

Three Bacterial Genomes
In Fruit Fly Sequence

Eisen

When scientists finished sequencing the genomes of seven species of fruit fly last year, little did they know that they had also sequenced the genes of several bacteria that dwell undetected inside fruit fly embryos. The genes of these bacteria, from a genus Wolbachia that infects many insects, have been sitting in the fruit fly gene database since then, unnoticed, according to Berkeley Lab genomics researcher and UC Berkeley professor Michael Eisen. Full story.

Somorjai

Berkeley Lab Materials Scientist Gabor Somorjai is hosting a two-day symposium on "Surface Science and Its Applications" this Thursday and Friday in the Building 66 Auditorium. The gathering brings together scientists from University of California campuses, neighboring universities, industry, and state agencies to exchange ideas and share research findings. It will include both oral and poster presentations. Go here for more information.

Revision to Pay, Time Reporting Policy

The Lab has revised RPM Section 3.05 (Pay Periods, Computations, and Deductions) to correct inaccurate formulas and to clarify how pay for individuals in exempt titles is calculated when the position is non-exempt under the new Fair Labor Standards Act regulations. In addition, Jeffrey Fernandez has been named the new responsible manager for sections 3.02 (Time Reporting), 3.05 (Pay Periods, Computations, and Deductions), and 3.06 (Paydays and Check Distribution).