UC Device Seeks
Life Signs on Mars
By David Perlman

Mathies

Scientists and engineers at UC San Diego and UC Berkeley — including Berkeley Lab physical bioscientist Richard Mathies — are developing a pocket-sized instrument that will travel to Mars aboard a European spacecraft and prove whether life exists, or ever did, on the planet's red sands. The instrument, so small it can fit in the palm of a hand, will fly on the European Space Agency's ExoMars spacecraft that will land in the planet's frosty north polar region, drill 6 feet below the surface and dig up tiny samples of dirt for analysis. The mission is to be launched in 2013. Full story.

Women Scientists Group Holds Meeting Next Week

Berkeley Lab life scientist Mara Jeffress is vice president of the East Bay Association for Women in Science. She invites all members of the Lab community to attend the group's next meeting on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m. at 4560 Horton St., Emeryville (room 4-104). The meeting will focus on networking skills. The gathering includes a light supper. For more information, contact Jeffress.

Next Weight Watchers Session Starts Jan. 24

The Lab's onsite Weight Watchers meetings will begin Wednesday, Jan. 24, in Building 26 (Health Services). Weigh-in starts at 1:15 p.m., with the meeting running from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Attendees will get tips on losing weight, creating low-calorie recipes, and exercise. For questions, call Cathy Wentworth (x5334).

EH&S Training Program
Policies Are Revised

The EH&S Division would like to inform all Lab staff of the revised EH&S training program policies. Revisions were necessary to ensure more timely completion of training and to improve the delivery and relevancy of EH&S training. Recent changes or additions to these policies include: reducing the grace period to 90 days to complete required EH&S training; enhanced on-the-job (OJT) requirements, including documentation; incorporation of a training course approval process in collaboration with the institutional Safety Review Committee (SRC); and enhanced standards for instructor competency. These changes were reviewed and approved by the SRC. The new policies are in Chapter 24 of PUB-3000, and can be accessed here. For questions, contact Jack Salazar (x6571).

Cafeteria, Z Parking Lots Impacted Tomorrow

To accommodate a special meeting, spaces in the cafeteria and Z parking lots will be reserved, limiting those available for Lab employees. Staff are encouraged to use other lots or mass transit to reach the Lab.

Learn Tips on How
To Liven Up Meetings

Lab employees are invited to attend a workshop where they can learn techniques and tips to conduct and participate in effective, interesting and productive meetings. Sponsored by the Berkeley Lab Institute, the course is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Building 62-203. Go here to register for this free class.