Chu to Address State
Of the Lab Monday

Berkeley Lab Director Steve Chu will present a “State of the Laboratory” address on Monday at noon in the Building 50 Auditorium. In his address, Chu will discuss the impacts of the FY ‘08 Omnibus Appropriations bill on the Lab, the Bush Administration's FY ‘09 budget request and provide updates on major scientific initiatives, among other topics. His address will be simulcast to the Building 66 Auditorium.

A Guggenheim Goes
To Dark Energy Author

Last year author Richard Panek published "Out There," an article about dark matter and dark energy for the New York Times Magazine featuring George Smoot, Saul Perlmutter, and other researchers across the country. Panek has just been awarded a 2008 Guggenheim Foundation fellowship to aid his own research on the subject, which he's turning into a book from Houghton Mifflin with the working title Let There Be Dark. It examines the implications of humans learning that we don't know what 96 percent of our universe is made of, a realization with what Panek calls "philosophical consequences of the civilization-altering variety." Read the magazine story here.

Class to Improve Skills Needed To Lead Others

There are still a few spaces available in next week's onsite course, "Fundamentals of Leading and Motivating People." The Berkeley Lab Institute is coordinating this two-day professional skill-building opportunity for managers, supervisors and work leads to be held March 11-12 in Perseverance Hall from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go here for more information, and here to register.

Onsite Excel, Powerpoint
Classes Available

Representative from Learn iT computer training will be onsite to instruct classes on Microsoft Excel Advanced and Microsoft Powerpoint Advanced on Wednesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 20.  The classes are $40 each.  Go here for more information and to register. Call Karen Paris (x5122) to provide a project ID number for payment.

Acalanes team, l-r, Trevor Mooney, Gurbir Dhillon, Sophia Evans, Charles Cao, Peter Espe, and Lab Director Steve Chu

Lab Hosts Regional
Science Bowl Contest

Students from six Bay Area high schools converged at Berkeley Lab on Saturday, Feb. 23 to compete in a regional competition of the Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl. Participants were from Kennedy High School in Fremont, Acalanes High School in Lafayette, Hercules High School, Benecia High School, Andre Hill High School in San Jose, and Monta Vista High School in Cupertino. After a day of grueling question and answer sessions, Acalanes emerged the victor. They will progress to the national competition in Washington D.C. May 1-6. This annual event, the fourth the Lab has hosted, is made possible by numerous staff volunteers, who names are listed here.

Coffee Bar Changes
Hours; Closed Easter

After reviewing the first few months of service, Cal Dining has decided to modify their hours of operation. The coffee bar will be open 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekends. The weekday hours will go into effect on Monday, and the weekend hours will begin on Saturday, March 15. In observance of the Easter holiday, the coffee bar will be closed the weekend of March 22 and 23.

Electrical Switching
At 10 a.m. Monday

The Facilities Division will perform 12kV switching to conduct maintenance at the Grizzly Peak Station on Monday at 10 a.m. The switching should be transparent and no power interruptions are expected, but staff are advised to take all precautions to protect personnel and property. A public announcement will proceed the switching.

Lawrence Road Closure
Through the Weekend

A section of Lawrence Road across from Building 54 will be closed for construction activities on Saturday and Sunday. Normal traffic will resume on Monday.  For more information, contact Kirk Haley at x4171.