SF Magazine Takes Look
At Biofuels, Other Options

Berkeley Lab, Steve Chu, Jay Keasling and Chris Somerville are all prominently featured in an article in the December issue of San Francisco magazine. The article, “Are We Backing the Right Fix for Global Warming?” by Jaimal Yogis, takes a look at biofuels research and the funding and politics behind it. Much of the discussion focuses on the Energy Biosciences Institute, a partnership in which Berkeley Lab plays a major role, and its funding grant from BP. Full story.

LA Times: Small
Steps, Big Savings

On Monday’s editorial page of the Los Angeles Times, the publication endorsed the making of appliances and buildings more efficient as an inexpensive way to fight global warming. The evidence included comments from Berkeley Lab researcher Hashem Akbari, who estimates the savings from a simple fix like requiring white roofs, which would reflect sunlight and therefore lower cooling costs, at more than $1 billion a year nationwide. It also cites a 2005 Lab study of 16 major industries, which found enough waste heat to generate 96,000 megawatts of power, which is nearly a fifth of nationwide electricity demand. Go here to read the full editorial.

UC Open Enrollment
Ends at Midnight Tonight

Employees who have not yet changed their University of California health and welfare benefits information during the November Open Enrollment period only have until tonight at midnight to do so. There will be no extensions or exceptions. Go here to make changes to your personal portfolio. Staff who are not making changes to their 2008 benefit plans do not need to take action. However, employees must enroll or re-enroll in a Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DepCare). Employees currently enrolled in the PacifiCare health insurance option, which will be eliminated in 2008, must choose another option. For questions, call x6403 or e-mail [email protected].

Public Engagement with science and technology is increasingly being viewed as a vitally important activity for practicing scientists and researchers. Nevertheless, it is still regarded by many within the scientific community as either an optional extra or a waste of valuable time that could be better spent pursuing research goals. This is despite strong statements from governments, learned societies, and research-funding organizations about the importance of dialogue with the public. Full story.