Alliance for Global
Health is Launched

Alber

From projects to prevent mothers from dying during childbirth to the development of low-cost treatments and diagnostics for drug-resistant tuberculosis, UC Berkeley is bringing together global health research from across the campus in an ambitious interdisciplinary initiative. The Alliance for Global Health connects more than 80 faculty members from different departments to address the health challenges of the world's underserved populations. The alliance is comprised of two tightly linked centers: the Center for Global Public Health and the Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases, directed by Thomas Alber, with Berkeley Lab’s Physical Biosciences Division. Full story.

Bike-to-Work Day
Takes Place Tomorrow

Tomorrow is “Bike-to-Work Day,” an event devised to encourage commuters to use two-wheeled transporation to reach their jobs. Participation improves health, saves money, and helps the environment. To support riders, energizer stations have been set up around the Bay Area, with treats, free goods and encouraging words. Berkeley stations include Shattuck and Channing, Sproul Plaza on campus, and the North Berkeley BART station. The Oakland/Alameda Ferry is also offering free rides for bike riders throughout the day. Go here for more information.

Give Blood During
Drive on May 21

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be parked in the cafeteria parking lot on Wednesday, May 21, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donation rules have recently changed, so those who haven’t previously qualified may now be eligible. Go here to make an appointment (sponsor code is LBL). For questions, contact Heather Pinto (x4181).

New INCITE Proposals
Are Being Accepted

NERSC

The Department of Energy has announced it is accepting proposals for a program to support high-impact scientific advances through the use of some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers at four of DOE’s national laboratories, including Berkeley Lab’s National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC).  Through the Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment (INCITE) program, approximately 680 million supercomputer processor-hours will be awarded for large-scale, computationally intensive science projects in 2009. Full story.

Wind-Powered Electricity
20% for U.S. by 2030

A first-of-its kind report that examines the technical feasibility of harnessing wind power to provide up to 20 percent of the nation’s total electricity needs by 2030 was released by the Department of Energy yesterday.  Entitled “20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030,” the report identifies requirements to achieve this goal including reducing the cost of wind technologies, citing new transmission infrastructure, and enhancing domestic manufacturing capability. Full story.

Workshop on Retirement
Savings Plan Enrollment

Fidelity Retirement Services representative Joseph Hager will present a workshop on “Enrolling in Your UC Retirement Savings Program” tomorrow from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Building 50 Auditorium. Participants will learn about the benefits of the program, investment options, enrollment guidelines, and optimum retirement funding.