Radio Show on CO₂
Features Earth Scientist

Fung

A recent edition of Living on Earth, an environmental news radio program distributed by Public Radio International, featured Berkeley Lab earth scientist Inez Fung. During the program she discussed the decreased capacity of the land and sea to rapidly absorb CO₂, which means more is staying in the atmosphere and making the greenhouse effect stronger. Go here to listen to the broadcast.

Beijing is Greening
At Rapid Pace

For the past decade China has been condemned for its poor environmental record. But after years of bureaucratic inertia, local corruption, and shortsighted development initiatives, Beijing is greening at a rapid pace. Although many of China’s most notable initiatives stem from a desire to impress at the 2008 Games, the greening of Beijing marks a genuine change in the outlook of the Communist Party’s top leadership. According to research at Berkeley Lab, between 1980 and 2000, China’s GDP grew 9 percent annually, while its energy consumption grew only 3.9 percent, representing a two-thirds reduction in the energy intensity of its manufacturing-dependent economy. Full story.

Last Day for SHARES
Charity Giving Campaign

Today marks the end of the 2007 Berkeley Lab SHARES charitable giving campaign. All donations placed in the outgoing mailbox today and received next week will be accepted. Donors will also be eligible for the final prize drawing for SHARES, if they return their prize ticket to Payroll with their donor form (or, if giving electronically, with their printout of the donation). Winners will be notified by e-mail and in Today at Berkeley Lab. Go here for details on how to give.

Computing Sciences
Revamps its Website

The Lab’s Computing Sciences Division has redesigned its website, with a focus on highlighting the unit’s latest news and research. Browsers can access links to NERSC, ESnet and Computational Research on the site, or search for staff using last name or their functional group.  The “Media Center” features recent updates, a news archive, access to CS publications, and an image gallery. Go here to view the new site.

Reduced Lunch Menu; Coffee Bar Closes Early

Because of the reduced number of staff at the Lab today (due to Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow and Friday) the cafeteria is offering a reduced menu for lunch, and the coffee bar will close at 2 p.m. In other cafeteria news, the credit and ATM card machines at the checkout registers are now up and running.