Today at Berkeley Lab: November 28, 2006

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Today

8:30 to 10:15 a.m.
Human Resources
New Employee Orientation
Bldg. 50 Auditorium

10:15 a.m.
EHS
Intro to EH&S at LBNL
Bldg. 50 Auditorium

11 a.m.
Environmental Energy Technologies
Global Warming and Extreme Weather
Michael Wehner
Bldg. 90-3122

4 p.m.
Life Sciences & Genomics
Biological Large Scale Integration
Stephen Quake, Stanford U.
JGI, Room 149B

Tomorrow

9 a.m.
Berkeley Lab Institute
Writing Advantage
Bldg. 62-203

9:30 a.m.
EHS 604
Hazardous Waster Generator
Bldg. 70A-3377

11 a.m.
EHS 622
Radioactive and Mixed Waste Generator
Bldg. 70A-3377

11 a.m.
Berkeley Lab Institute
Tips for Stress Relief
Bldg. 2-100B

Noon
CITRIS
Discovering Design Principles in Bacteria and Using Them to Design Tumor-Killing Bacterium
Adam Arkin
290 Hearst Mining Bldg. (campus)

Noon
Yoga Club
Class with Naomi Hartwig
Bldg. 937-302

Noon
Dance Club
Waltz Practice
Bldg. 51 (Bevatron) Lobby

12:15 p.m.
Yoga Club
Class with Chris Hoskins
Bldg. 70-191

4 p.m.
Interdisciplinary Instrumentation
Towards an Autonomous Ocean Carbon Observatory
James Bishop
Bldg. 50 Auditorium

Morning Editions: Swiss and Avocado Omelet with Hash Browns and Toast
Tomorrow's Breakfast: Polish Sausage and Eggs with Toast and Hash Browns
Market Carvery: Sliced Roast Pork with Potatoes and Vegetables
The Fresh Grille: Chicken Melt with Onion Rings
Menutainment: Fiesta Taco Salad

B'fast:	6:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Lunch:	11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Full menu

City of Berkeley Weighs
Need for Nano Safety
By Rick DelVecchio





Alper

UC Berkeley and Berkeley Lab are engaged in extensive research and development of nanomaterials in tiny amounts that researchers say pose no danger and are too small to study. But members of the Berkeley's Community Environmental Advisory Commission believe reporting at the local level is essential because so little is understood about the possible impact of the materials on human health. Berkeley Lab's yearly output of nanomaterials totals less than a pound, said Mark Alper, deputy director of the Foundry. He said health and safety guidelines for promising compounds should be set at the national or international level because the complexity of the issue requires expertise from many fields. Full story.

Measuring Diversity
Not an Easy Task





Reed

An analysis in this week's issue of The Scientist explores how organizations can know whether their diversity programs are having any affect. Companies are increasingly testing strategies for measuring whether their diversity efforts are helping employees work together more effectively and even contributing to the bottom line, and fixing them if they're not. Berkeley Lab's Head of the Office of Workforce Diversity, Harry Reed, contributed to the discussion, indicating that when it comes to academia, programs that measure and demonstrate the success of diversity initiatives are roughly 10 years behind those in industry. Full story.

Input on New Process
Sought From Travelers

Employees who travel on behalf of Berkeley Lab are asked to share their thoughts on a new travel process and expense reimbursement system. Feedback from the survey will help the Lab develop a business model that minimizes time spent on non-scientific activities and results in timely reimbursement. Those wishing to provide input can take a short survey here (the survey can be accessed through Friday). For more information, contact Carla Garbis.

Route Changes Planned
For Shuttle Bus Service

In an effort to improve service and maximize efficiency, the Lab's Transportation Advisory Committee and senior management have approved a proposed change in the shuttle bus routes, effective Monday, Dec. 11. Changes include the combination of on- and off-site routes, and the addition of a third on-site route. Before the plan is implemented, input is being sought from employees who use the shuttle bus service, which will provide the Lab's committee members and senior management with the feedback needed to make final decisions about the route changes. Go here for more details on the proposed changes and to submit comments.

Course for Supervisors
Offered Next Week

Supervisors who would like to better understand what their responsibilities are can attend a course offered by the Berkeley Lab Institute (BLI). "Roles and Accountabilities for Supervisors" — held Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Building 2-100 — is specifically designed to assist new supervisors, current supervisors wanting a refresher, or employees who are interested in learning more about being a supervisor. Go here to sign up (see "Mgr/Supervisor Skills" section).

WEATHER

Partly cloudy.
High: 52° (11° C)

Extended Forecast

SECURITY CONDITION

SECON level 3

More Information

INFO