Talk by New York Times’ Friedman Next Tuesday

Friedman

Pulitzer-Prize winning New York Times columnist Tom Friedman will present a lecture at Berkeley Lab on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. in the Building 50 Auditorium. The talk will be simulcast in the Building 66 Auditorium as well as Perseverance Hall. Friedman will discuss his new book: “Green: The New Red, White and Blue.” Questions will be taken after the talk in the Building 50 Auditorium only. Friedman’s talk is part of a two-day visit to learn more about Lab research. His books include “The World is Flat,” “From Beirut to Jerusalem,” and “The Lexus and the Olive Tree.” Go here for more on Friedman.

LEDs Could Power
Africa and Beyond

Mills

Smoky kerosene lamps cast a dull glow across the fruit and vegetable stands of a bustling night market in a slum outside Nairobi, Kenya. Evan Mills, with Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division, watches as customers squint to examine produce in the dim light and merchants hold grubby money close to their eyes. Mills is a key player in Lighting Africa, a $13 million World Bank initiative that has steered the global race to develop a better light bulb in an even more challenging direction: Make bulbs efficient, affordable and rugged enough for use in developing countries. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) appear to be the technology that will take researchers over the finish line. Full story.

Swiss, U.S. Computing
Centers to Collaborate

Yelick

The Swiss National Computing Centre (CSCS) and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Berkeley Lab have signed a memorandum of understanding for a staff exchange program between the two centers. The agreement gives more formal structure to already existing ties between the two centers. Berkeley Lab Associate Director for Computing Sciences Horst Simon is a member of the CSCS advisory board. "While many of us at NERSC are in frequent contact with our colleagues at other supercomputing centers in the U.S., we see this agreement as a means to broaden our outreach and perspectives," said NERSC Director Kathy Yelick. Full story.

Going Back to Edison
To Power Datacenters

Tschudi

Edison's system of distributing electrical power as DC to equipment located just a short distance away from the generator was beat out by Westinghouse’s AC system over a century ago. But Edison’s concept is alive and well, particularly among people who manage data centers. These facilities are set up to operate through short power outages because they are fed by batteries, which are DC devices. And file servers normally run on AC, so a number of conversions have to take place, which cause inefficiencies. A recent study of this issue, led by Bill Tschudi of the Environmental Energy Technologies Division, found that for each watt used to process data, another 0.9 watt was required to support the upstream power conversions. And those losses generate heat, so they exacerbate the problem of trying to keep equipment cool. Full story.

Pros, Cons of Biofuels
Discussed at Meeting

Fridley

The world’s population is looking for a solution to global climate change, but the repercussions of the search may be contributing to the further deterioration of the planet. “There’s only so much you’re going to be able to get out of our environment,” said David Fridley, with Berkeley Lab’s China Energy Group. Fridley, who recently addressed the use of biofuels in Santa Cruz, pointed out the production rate and investment/return ratio of energy in various biofuels. Fridley is persuaded that dependency on oil, biofuel and other liquid energy sources is unwise. “Reduction is going to be forced on us,” he said. Full story.

Cha-Cha Dance Lessons Start in Bldg. 51 Today

Berkeley Lab’s Dance Club today begins a series of lessons on the Cha-Cha. All staff are welcome regardless of experience. The Monday classes start at noon in the Building 51 lobby.

12kV Switching
At 10 a.m. Today

Starting at approximately 10 a.m. today, 12kV switching will take place. No power interruption is expected, but the possibility exists. Staff should take precautions to protect research and property. A hill-wide announcement will proceed the switching.

Lab Public Affairs Head
Steps Down in March

Edwards

Reid Edwards, manager of the Public Affairs Department, has resigned effective Feb. 7, to pursue other opportunities. Edwards will stay on through February and March and help with the transition of some key initiatives. David McGraw, the Lab's Chief Operations Officer, would like to acknowledge and thank Edwards for his years of service and his deep commitment to the Lab's mission and future.