First, Cure Malaria;
Next, Global Warming
By Peter DaSilva

Switchgrass is among options for biofuels production

Amyris Biotechnologies has almost finished developing a cheap cure for malaria that could save the lives of millions of the poor. Now, using the same technology, this start-up in Emeryville, Calif., wants to create new biofuels that may help save the planet. Amyris’s technology derives from the research of Jay Keasling, a professor of chemical engineering at UC Berkeley and the director of the synthetic biology department at Berkeley Lab. Keasling’s lab is widely credited with making commercially practical an emerging technology called metabolic engineering. Full story.

Cutting Fume Hoods Use Saves Energy and Money
By Deborah Halber

A device that sucks up noxious fumes also devours almost $1.4 billion worth of potential energy savings each year. Fume hoods, widely used by high-tech industries, hospitals and universities, help keep workers from breathing harmful chemical vapors but can use a lot of energy. A single fume hood running 24 hours uses as much energy as a single-family home. Possible energy savings for the more than 750,000 hoods across the United States is $1.39 billion annually, according researchers in Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division. Full story.

Comments on Bus
Service Encouraged

Berkeley Lab’s Transportation Department invites employees to share their thoughts and suggestions on the shuttle bus service by filling out a brief survey. The password to answer this anonymous questionnaire is “Bus Survey.” Go here to take the survey, and here to view maps of the current bus routes.

Retirement Readiness
Workshop Thursday

A representative from Fidelity Investments Tax-Exempt Services Company (FITSCo) will be on hand Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. in Building 2-100B to lead a workshop on retirement readiness. Participants will learn more about investing and the steps that need to be taken to prepare for retirement. No registration required.

Inspect CALSTAR
Helicopter Today

If Berkeley Lab employees ever experience acute personal wounds or injuries while on the job, chances are they would be airlifted by medical helicopter to the nearest emergency-care facility. As part of Emergency Preparedness Week at Berkeley Lab, safety officials are letting the Lab inspect, first-hand, the type of service they would receive in the event of a disaster. A California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) service helicopter will be touching down around noon today in the Building 51 (Bevatron) parking lot. Employees are invited to visit the flying medical center until around 1:30 p.m. For more on CALSTAR service, go here.

Healthy Living Tips
At Wellness Fair

The third annual Summer Wellness Fair takes place on the cafeteria lawn on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Lab’s Benefits and the Health Care Facilitator offices. Representatives will be on hand from the health providers, financial institutions, local health clubs, Employee Activities Association clubs, and the UC Retirement Center, among others. Free chair massages and blood pressure/BMI checks will be offered.  The cafeteria will offer an outdoor barbecue for a small fee.  Health Services is sponsoring a Farmer’s Market, where employees can get free fruits and vegetables.

First Part of New
Network Launched

The Department of Energy’s Office of Science and Internet2 recently announced that the first segment of a next-generation, nationwide network has gone live, marking a key step in significantly upgrading networking services to thousands of scientific researchers across the country and around the world. The first complete national ring of DOE’s Energy Sciences Network (ESnet4) will be rolled out segment by segment from the east coast to the west coast and is expected to be fully operational by September. Full story. 

Computer, Info Security Guidelines Revised

As part of Berkeley Lab's commitment to computer and information security, RPM Section 9.01 has been revised. Two important updates include: 1) Section E, which includes requirements on the storage of private identifiable information (social security numbers, bank account numbers, etc.), and 2) Section C, which formalizes the responsibility of each individual to provide appropriate stewardship for the IT resources they use or manage, including integrating security into the lifecycle of systems. For details on protecting information, go here. For more information, e-mail [email protected].