UC hearing delegation

Chu, Nobelists Sound
Alarm on UC Funding

A California Senate subcommittee heard nearly two hours of testimony on Wednesday from University of California President Robert Dynes and five Nobel Laureates — including Berkeley Lab Director Steve Chu — about what Dynes described as a "call to arms" in the fight to maintain UC's preeminence. Citing a gradual erosion of state funding support, the group warned that the state's future economic and technological competitiveness is dependent upon having a strong research university, and they argued for long-term investments to make that happen. Read about the hearing here.

Bike-to-Work Scheduled
Thursday; Policy Posted

The 11th annual Bike-to-Work Day will take place in the Bay Area next Thursday, May 19, as part of National Bike Month, and Berkeley Lab employees are encouraged to participate. Go here for details on the celebration, including registration for prizes and location of "energizer stations" (10 in Berkeley). The Lab also reminds bicyclists that a new safety policy has been adopted for biking at Berkeley Lab, now included in the Regulations and Procedures Manual (RPM) and Pub-3000. Riders are also reminded that wearing helmets while bicycling on site is required.

Watch Your Step
To Avoid Bad Trips

Accidents can happen anywhere, at any time, as an employee recently learned while taking the stairs in Building 50A. The result was a painful fall. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips, trips and falls cause 10 percent of all accidental deaths in the U.S. Remember that many of the walkways and stairs at the Lab may have settled or worn down over the years. The hillside terrain and aging infrastructure here can present a challenging environment for walking. Staff are encouraged to walk carefully on uneven surfaces and use caution on stairs and sloping areas. Do not run or rush, use handrails if available, wear appropriate footwear, and report any needed repairs to your supervisor.

State-of-Lab Briefing,
Celebration Next Week

An all-hands meeting during which Director Chu will brief employees on the new UC management contract for Berkeley Lab takes place Monday at noon in the Building 50 Auditorium. Chu will also give his "state-of-the-Lab" assessment and look to future challenges and opportunities. A gathering to celebrate the winning of the contract will be held the following day from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. The Monday talk will also be accessible live via video streaming on the Internet. Go here and follow the instructions to get connected.

Cancer Biology Topic
Of Mini-Symposia

The Lab community is invited to attend mini-symposia hosted by the Integrative Cancer Biology Program (ICBP) on Monday and Tuesday at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. "Mathematical Modeling in Cancer" is the focus of the Monday session, while "Signaling Networks," chaired by Joe Gray, associate Lab director for Life and Environmental Sciences, is the topic for Tuesday. The ICBP is housed within the National Cancer Institute and comprised of nine centers, one of which, Systems-Based Prediction of Response to Cancer Therapy, is lead by Gray and UCSF's Frank McCormick. No registration is required for the symposia.

Employees brought their sun hats to the skin screening to have them evaluated. Those with wide brims and tight weave (at left) provide the best protection

Hats Off to Those Who Had Their Skin Screened

More than 80 Lab employees showed up for the free skin cancer screening at Health Services on Wednesday. While most who attended received an "all clear," a few suspicious moles were found. Early detection is crucial in the battle against skin cancer, and so is protection, which is why nurse Wendy Corr set up a hat competition at the event. The best hats, like those pictured on the left, are broad brimmed and have a tight weave that limits the penetration of sunlight.

Water World Tickets
On Sale Today

Employees can purchase tickets for Water World in Concord today in the cafeteria from 11:45 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.