Heat-to-Electricity
Story on ABC News

Cell phones might one day be recharged using body heat

A story on Berkeley Lab scientists who have found a way to use ordinary silicon to convert heat to electricity — which may eliminate the need for batteries — was recently featured on ABC News national website. The technique, developed in part by Arun Majumdar, director of the Environmental Energy Technologies Division, and materials scientist Peidong Yang, could someday allow cell phones to be recharged with electricity produced by one's own body heat, and enormous amounts of energy that is now wasted could be recycled. Full story.

Public Forum on Climate
Change on Campus Jan. 31

"Focus the Nation: Global Warming Solutions for America” is an educational and interactive forum at the UC Berkeley campus to spotlight institutional, community and individual action on climate change. The public is invited to attend the event on Jan. 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at International House. Among the scheduled activities is a presentation by Berkeley Lab Director Steve Chu (3:30 p.m.) and remarks from Assemblyman Fabian Nunez, speaker of the California Assembly. The event is free.  Go here for more information.

Ice Cream Social, Science
Education Event Tomorrow

Making ice cream with liquid nitrogen

The Lab’s Center for Science and Engineering Education is hosting a fair tomorrow for employees who are interested in learning more about CSEE and volunteering for the Lab’s outreach programs. Those who stop by can get a taste of ice cream prepared and cooled with liquid nitrogen. The event takes place in Perseverance Hall between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call x5511 for more information.

Energy Expert Lauded
For Environment Efforts

Levine

Traffic Safety Ideas
Pour In; Three Win $50

More than 60 employees responded to Berkeley Lab’s recent request for ideas and suggestions about improving traffic safety at the Lab ([email protected]). The Traffic Safety Subcommittee of the Safety Review Committee (SRC) is grouping and reviewing all the input and will forward its recommendations to the SRC and Lab management. Rich Bloemhard (Advanced Light Source), Rick Inada (Office of the Chief Financial Officer), and Brett Singer (Environmental Energy Technologies) were randomly selected from those who contributed ideas and won $50 awards.

New Vice President
Chosen for SLAC

William Madia, a former director of Oak Ridge and Pacific Northwest national labs, and senior executive with Battelle, has been appointed to the position of vice president for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). The vice presidency is a new position created to provide direct linkage between the university and the laboratory, enhance collaboration and ensure coordination between the laboratory, Stanford and the Department of Energy. Full story.