Theoretical Chemists
Win Welch Award

Miller

In recognition of their work in theoretical chemistry, William Miller, a Berkeley Lab chemical scientist, and Noel Hush, with the University of Sydney, have won the 2007 Welch Award in Chemistry. The Welch Foundation, based in Houston, grants the $300,000 award to honor achievements in basic chemical research. Miller’s research focuses on chemical reaction dynamics. His past achievements include developing a semiclassical scattering theory (the classical S-matrix theory) for chemical reactions, as well as a rigorous quantum theory of reaction rates. He is currently investigating a method for adding quantum effects to classical molecular dynamics simulations of complex chemical processes such as combustion. Full story.

Lab Bioscientist’s Paper Among Society’s ‘Top 5’

Lee

From microelectronic device processing and fabrication, to complex and biological nanoscale materials and systems, to energy and the environment, the 2007 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, held last month in San Francisco, brought together almost 3,700 attendees from all sectors of the global materials science and engineering communities. Among the recipients of the “Top 5 Hot Talks/Cool Papers” was Berkeley Lab physical bioscientist Seung-Wuk Lee. His paper explored the use of “phage display to study the local chemistry that occurs during bone formation,  and how minor changes in the acidity or pH of the environment can dramatically alter the proteins that are formed.” This knowledge has been used to form three-dimensional bone-like materials.

Lab Nanomaterial Teams
Gets DOE Solar Grant

The Department of Energy's Office of Science has announced grants to 25 universities and two national labs, including Berkeley Lab, for research on converting solar energy to electricity and chemical fuels. Paul Alivisatos is principal investigator of a project titled "nanomaterials and bio-inspired approaches to solar-derived fuels." An initial $1 million this summer is expected to increase in FY08, leading to what the Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) calls "a BES center for solar energy research." Read DOE's press release here. 

Partnership to Help
China Energy Efficiency
By Tamara Bartlett

The China Energy Group in Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division partnered with Dow Chemical Company and China’s Energy Research Institute earlier this month to find ways of improving energy efficiency in China’s industrial sector. The three groups will work to discover new ways of improving energy efficiency to help China meet its goal of reducing its energy use by 20 percent by 2010. China is currently the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world and is heavily reliant on coal-burning power plants. Full story.

Should Species-Naming
Process be Updated?

Eisen

A Wired story on the 300-year-old tradition of naming newly discovered species — and how the process, with the introduction of computers and DNA sequencing, might need to be updated — includes quotes from Berkeley Lab life scientist Michael Eisen. In the article, he says the use of molecular data obtained through sequencing “while useful, is not infallible and does often return somewhat confusing results. There still remain deep divisions and arguments about particular classifications and how things are grouped together." Full story.

Need to Catch the Bus? Then Wave at the Driver

Because the Lab’s shuttle buses share stops with other transit providers in downtown Berkeley (including UC Berkeley and AC Transit), it is difficult for drivers to determine who needs to travel to Lab destinations. Passengers are asked to wave their hands or badges when they see a shuttle approaching, so drivers can stop.

New Director Named
For Oak Ridge Lab

UT-Battelle announced last Friday the selection of Thom Mason as Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Mason's appointment as director will become effective July 1. Mason formerly served as Associate Lab Director for the Spallation Neutron Source. As head of the SNS project, Mason led a consortium of six DOE labs in the design and construction of the $1.4 billion neutron accelerator. Full story.