Today at Berkeley Lab: September 19, 2006

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Today

7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Red Cross
Blood Drive
Cafeteria parking lot

11 a.m.
Berkeley Lab Institute
Instant Relaxation
Bldg. 6-2202

1 p.m.
EHS 260
Basic Electrical Hazards & Mitigations
Bldg. 70A-3377

Tomorrow

9 a.m.
EHS 280
Laser Safety
Bldg. 70A-3377

10:30 a.m.
Environmental Energy Technologies
Process Development: From Concept to Commercialization of Enzymatic Corn Wet Milling Process
Vijay Singh, U. of Illinois
Bldg. 90-4133

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

Noon
CITRUS
Early Experience Prototyping a Science Data Server for Environmental Data
Deb Agarwal and Catharine van Ingen
540 Cory Hall (campus)

3 p.m.
Advanced Light Source
Bone and Teeth: Structural and Functional Characterization From the Nano to the Macro-Scale
Joel Ager
Bldg. 6-2202

4 p.m.
Interdisciplinary Instrumentation
25 Years of Scanning Probe Microscopes: How Instrumental Developments Revolutionized Surface Science and Nanotechnology
Frank Ogletree
Bldg. 50 Auditorium

Morning Editions: French Toast with Apples and Raisins
Tomorrow's Breakfast: Breakfast Burrito with Hash Browns and Eggs
Market Carvery: Turkey Meatloaf with Baked Potato and Salad
The Fresh Grille: Beef Brisket Sandwich with Fries and Coleslaw
Menutainment: Fiesta Taco Salad

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

Lab's Foundry Project
Wins Energy Award

The Department of Energy and the Federal Interagency Energy Policy Committee have selected Berkeley Lab to receive a 2006 Federal Energy Showcase Award for the energy-efficient design of its new Molecular Foundry building. The award recognizes buildings that take a comprehensive approach to energy management and stand out as exceptional models of energy efficiency, innovation, and sustainable design. The Foundry is the first Lab building to be designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) "Silver" rating standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is projected to consume 30 percent less energy than the already-stringent California requirement for laboratory buildings. Go here for more about the award.

Magazine's Gender Story
Includes Lab Scientists





Shapiro

A Newsweek magazine story on "Science and the Gender Gap" features Berkeley Lab physicist and UC Berkeley Physics Department Chair Majorie Shapiro as well as graduate student Lauren Tompkins, also with the Lab's Physics Division. The piece explores the challenges women face in making progress in scientific departments at major research universities. Go here to read the story.

Information To Assist
With Financial Close

With the end of the fiscal year only a few days away, Division finance and business management staff are working hard to meet fiscal close deadlines. Go here for more information on fiscal close, or visit the OCFO fiscal close website.

Construction Limits
Fire Trail Access

UC Berkeley is replacing several culverts on the Jordan Fire Trail, with work beginning today and scheduled to be complete November 15. This trail is popular with runners and hikers. Pedestrian traffic in this area will be subject to delay. For more information, contact Project Manager Phil Cody (642-7413).

State Board Reviews
UAW Post-Doc Count

The state's Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) has ruled in an initial determination that the United Auto Workers' petition claiming to have achieved a majority of votes from University of California post-docs to join the union is insufficient to authorize certification as their exclusive representative. As a result, PERB has given the union 10 days (from Sept. 11) to offer further proof of a 50%-plus-one support for the union via signed authorization cards. Read the PERB letter here. Questions can be directed to Bill Elkins in Employee and Labor Relations.

Make Sure Step Stools
Have Correct Design

A Berkeley Lab employee recently had to retrieve a book from a shelf located above her desk. She used an available step stool to help reach this item, but in stepping down from the stool, she missed the bottom of two steps and injured her right knee. The base step was very narrow, and half of its tread was physically obstructed by the overlapping step. Therefore, it is critical that the step stool is the correct design, used on an even surface and free of clutter. A request to purchase a step stool must go through Procurement via a Boise Faxform (to x4747). Procurement will then get EH&S approval for the purchase. For more guidance on acquiring and using step stools, go to the Lessons Learned database (EH&S #28).

State Law Improves Contracting With Labs

Governor Schwarzenegger last week signed into law Senate Bill 1629, the Federal Laboratory Contracting Act, which will improve the conditions around contracting with a federal laboratory to conduct state-funded research. Berkeley Lab's Jeff Weiner, Head of the Sponsored Projects Office, and colleagues from other federal labs throughout California, the California Council on Science and Technology and the University of California worked with State Sen. Jackie Speier on drafting this legislation. In addition to other requirements, the bill requires the State Department of State and Consumer Services, or its designee, to draft a "model" contract for use by state agencies when contracting with federal laboratories for research. The bill was passed as an emergency statute and therefore goes into effect immediately. Read it here.

WEATHER

Clear.
High: 69° (21° C)

Extended Forecast

SECURITY CONDITION

SECON level 3

More Information

INFO