Lab Solar Research Basis
For Business Plan Win

Using breakthrough solar cell technology developed and patented by Berkeley Lab and the University of California, a team of UC Berkeley students, dubbed Helios, snagged third place in the campus's recent business plan competition. The technology was developed Wladyslaw Walukiewicz, Kin Man Yu, both with Materials Sciences, and former Lab employee Junqiao Wu. The competition is organized by the Haas School of Business. The Helios team also took home the competition's Technology Award. Go here for more on the competition. A View story on Yu and Walukiewicz's solar cell research is available here.

Zoloth

Synthetic Biology Talks
Archived on the Web

Video of two talks from a lecture series sponsored by the Synthetic Biology Department, within the Physical Biosciences Division, are now available for viewing on the web. The lectures include Peter Schultz discussing "New Opportunities at the Interface of Chemistry and Biology," as well as Laurie Zoloth's talk on "May We Make the World: Ethical Issues in Synthetic Biology." Go here to view the lectures and for information on future talks.

Director to Host Briefing, Contract Celebration

Chu

Berkeley Lab Director Steve Chu welcomes all lab employees to two special events that recognize and celebrate the future under a new management contract with the University of California. The first, on May 16 at noon in the Building 50 Auditorium, will be an "all-hands" meeting at which the Director will brief employees on the new contract, budget-related issues, and challenges for the future. The next day, on May 17 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the cafeteria, he will host a reception to honor UC, DOE and the Contract Acquisition Team for their contributions to the winning contract bid.

Sushi Specialist Visits
Cafeteria Next Week

A professional chef from Miyaki Foods will prepare made-to-order sushi in the cafeteria next Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prices will range, depending on selections made. Sushi dates back nearly 1,000 years in Japan as a pickling process meant to preserve fish. At one time, the Itamae-San, or expert chef, had to train for 10 years in order to practice the art form. But growing demand has now shortened that period to a few years.

Former Communications
Employee Passes Away

Charles Hurley, a member of the Lab's Public Information Department from 1977 to 1988, died Monday at the age of 82. Prior to working at the Lab, Hurley worked as a reporter with several California newspapers and as an aide to Congressman George Miller. A memorial service will be held tomorrow at 3 p.m. at St. Paul's Church, 114 Montecito Ave., in Oakland. Full story.