Today at Berkeley Lab: March 18 2008

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

More on these and future activities is available on the

Today

10 a.m.
EHS 34
EH&S for Office Work Leads
Bldg. 70A-3377

10:30 a.m.
Berkeley Lab Institute
Tuition Reimbursement Workshop
Bldg. 2-100B

11 a.m.
Chemistry Department
Recent Advances in Decarboxylative Coupling Reactions
Jon Tunge
120 Latimer Hall

12:30 p.m.
EETD
Trends in Industrial Energy Efficiency: The Role of Standards, Certification, and Energy Management in Climate Change Mitigation
Aimee McKane
Bldg. 90-3122

3 p.m.
Nuclear Engineering
Safeguards Research and Technology Development in Support of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
Mike Miller
285 Cory Hall

3:30 p.m.
Health Care Facilitator
Introduction to StayWell
Bldg. 90-3122

4 p.m.
Chemistry Department
Do We Have a Theory for Reactions at Metal Interfaces? The Unsolved Problem of Electronic Non-Adiabaticity
Alec Wodtke
120 Latimer Hall

4 p.m.
Nano Institute
Statistical Work in Nanomaterial Research
Jeff Wu
60 Evans Hall

4 p.m.
Physics
CP Violation at CDF
Petar Maksimovic
Bldg. 50A-5132

Tomorrow

8:30 a.m.
Berkeley Lab Institute
Excel Intermediate
Bldg. 90-0026

9 a.m.
EHS 530
Fire Extinguisher Safety
Bldg. 48-109

11 a.m.
Nuclear Science
Jet Cross Sections and Resummations
George Sterman
Bldg. 50 Auditorium

Noon
Dance Club
Intermediate Waltz
Bldg. 51 Lobby

Noon
Environmental Energy Technologies
The Relationship Between Vehicle Weight, Size and Safety (and Fuel Economy)
Tom Wenzel
Bldg. 90-3122

12:15 p.m.
Yoga Club
Class with Chris Hoskins
Bldg. 70-191

1 p.m.
Berkeley Lab Institute
Excel Advanced
Bldg. 90-0026

1 p.m.
EHS 279
Scaffold Safety
Bldg. 70A-3377

3 p.m.
Advanced Light Source
Current-Induced Dynamics of the Magnetic Vortex Core in a Ferromagnetic Circular Disk
Shinya Kasai
Bldg. 6-2202

March 17-21 Menu

Breakfast
6:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Lunch
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Coffee Bar
Mon. - Thur: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Weekends: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Corn Not Best Biofuel
Source, Chu Says in Talk

Steve Chu delivered a keynote address at the National 25x'25 Renewable Energy Summit, "Bringing the Vision to Life: Win-Win Solutions for America's Energy Future," in Omaha last Wednesday. Chu told the attendees that “Corn is not the right crop for biofuels," but that farmers should feel good about future prospects for renewable energy from alternative crops, such as wild grasses that require little or no fertilization and irrigation. The 25x'25 alliance consists of more than 650 organizations and individuals whose goal is to get 25 percent of the nation’s energy from renewable resources like wind, solar, and biofuels by the year 2025. Read a story on Chu’s talk here.

Climate Change Effect
On Airports, Roads

Michael Wehner, a climate-modeling researcher in Berkeley Lab’s Computational Research Division, has contributed to two national reports on the impacts of climate change on transportation. The first report, “The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation,” draws upon five papers commissioned by the Transportation Research Board. Wehner co-authored the paper “Climate Variability and Change with Implications for Transportation.” The second report, “Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf Coast Study, Phase I,” provides an assessment of the vulnerabilities of transportation systems in the region to potential changes in weather patterns and related impacts, as well as the effect of natural land subsidence and other environmental factors in the region. Full story.

BP-Funded Research
Focuses on Bioscience

As the debate surrounding the controversial $500 million deal with energy giant BP rages on, campus researchers have already begun investigations of alternative energy solutions with the funding. The Energy Biosciences Institute, which was created with the deal's funds, recently chose 49 new research projects and programs. The institute's projects are part of a multidisciplinary research platform ranging from the development of efficient biotechnologies to the examination of biofuel socioeconomics. In an effort to harness innovative techniques in biological system design, a group of scientists at Berkeley Lab — including Nikos Kyrpides and Phil Hugenholtz — is looking at bacteria for help in making the oils needed for biodiesel production. Full story.

From l-r, Street, Thompson, Seaborg and Ghiorso at the 25th anniversary of Californium in 1975

Californium Turns 58;
Discovered in 1950

The discovery of Californium, a transuranium element, was announced 58 years ago yesterday, on March 17, 1950. It was discovered by a research team of Berkeley Lab scientists, including Glenn Seaborg, Albert Ghiorso, Kenneth Street, and Stanley Thompson. The element’s symbol is Cf and its atomic number is 98. Its uses include treatment of certain cancers and radiography to detect metal fatigue.

Ergonomics Assessment, Training Available Online

Remedy Interactive, an online ergonomics self-assessment and training course (EHS59), is now available to all Lab employees. The self-assessment replaces the current Ergonomic Awareness for Computer Users course (EHS60). The course is required based on the Job Hazard Questionnaire (JHQ) for all lab employees who work four or more hours at a computer daily. The online course takes about 40 minutes for both evaluation and training, and can be completed in separate sessions. Remedy Interactive is helpful for assessing workstation set-up and postures, and for providing ergonomics improvement suggestions. It categorizes users into low, moderate and high-risk profiles, and prompts users to conduct five-minute reassessments at 30 and 60 days post evaluation. Employees enrolled in EHS60 April and May classes can take EHS59 online or attend the live EHS60 class. Go here to access Remedy Interactive. Staff will receive course credit for EHS59 by taking EHS60 until the end of May.

Chabot Space & Science Center Needs Volunteers

Berkeley Lab scientists and staff are invited to share their wonder of the universe with future astronomers, scientists and environmentalists by serving as a volunteer at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland. Volunteer benefits include free admission to the center, Planetarium and Megadome Theater shows, and training and enrichment opportunities. Go here to view a complete description of volunteer opportunities and access an online application. For more information, send e-mail here.

WEATHER

Partly cloudy.
High: 62° (17° C)

Extended Forecast

EMERGENCY INFO

Emergency: Call x7911
Cell Phones: Call 911
Non-emergency Incident Reporting: Call x6999

SECON level 3

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