The UC Board of Regents on Sept. 18 approved five-year contract extensions for UC's management of three U.S. Depart-ment of Energy national laboratories.
The contracts--one each for the Berkeley, Livermore, and Los Alamos labs--are the result of more than a year of negotiations between the University and DOE. The contracts, which run concurrently through September 2002, were signed by UC and DOE officials after the Regents' September meeting in San Francisco.
UC President Richard C. Atkinson, in recommending that the Regents' approval, said, "The Berkeley, Livermore and Los Alamos laboratories are uniquely valuable resources. Today, more than ever, the historic partnership we share with the federal government contributes in increasingly important and diverse ways to our society and our future. We are proud of our historic association with the national laboratories and pleased to continue this service to the nation."
Prior to the Regents' action, five speakers used the open comment period to urge the University to delay Berkeley Lab's contract approval pending additional environmental reviews and a public hearing. Janice Thomas read a letter from Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean, who said she was "troubled" by the limited time the public had been given to review UC's Environmental Addendum for the Laboratory. The Addendum evaluated whether any environmental consequences of the contract extension would require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The University agreed that this level of review was appropriate since no substantial changes or circumstances in Lab operations since a 1992 Supplmental EIR involve new significant or more severe impacts.
Before approving the contract, the Regents were told by University administrators that no public review was required under California Environmental Quality Act stipulations for Environmental Addenda. They approved all three management contracts unanimously and with little discussion.
The university has been asked by the federal government to manage the three laboratories since their inception. The partnership began in 1943, with the establishment of the Berkeley lab as a federal facility, and the founding of the Los Alamos lab the same year. The Livermore laboratory was founded 1952.
Today all three laboratories are widely recognized for their research and development in such areas as energy, environment, and health, and in the case of the Livermore and Los Alamos labs, national security. The laboratories employ a combined UC workforce of more than 17,000 people, and operate on federally funded budgets totaling about $2.4 billion.
"These three labs have provided outstanding research that has contributed to our nation's security, economic growth, and scientific leadership," DOE Secretary Federico Peña said. "The new contracts will ensure that the world-class science continues, but that it be balanced with stronger community involvement, greater financial accountability and an increased emphasis on environment, health and safety. We're pleased that the University has already started initiating some of these reforms, including the adoption of integrated safety management programs at the three sites."
Senior Vice President V. Wayne Kennedy, UC's lead representative in negotiations with DOE, said the contracts will preserve and strengthen the performance-based management system introduced for the laboratories under the current contracts, which took effect in 1992.
"Our goal has been to balance the laboratories' consistently outstanding performance in science and technology with the highest possible degree of business management and accountability," Kennedy said. "Working with the Department of Energy, we have achieved increasingly strong results in recent years. We intend to build upon this success in the future."
The contracts continue to reflect principles fundamental to UC's management of the laboratories. Inherent to these principles are the preservation of scientific and intellectual freedom at the laboratories; the administration by UC of benefit and retirement plans for laboratory employees; the continuation of collaborative research opportunities among UC campuses, other academic institutions and the laboratories in non-classified areas of benefit to the nation; and the stipulation that UC manages the laboratories as a public service.
Under the contracts UC will receive $14 million a year as a program performance fee. This is used by the university for any operating costs arising from the laboratories not otherwise reimbursed by the government or for discretionary research by or at the laboratories. This fee may be increased or decreased based on results of the laboratories' annual performance appraisals.
DOE also will provide $11 million annually as a fixed payment for the indirect costs of managing the laboratories and up to $4.5 million a year to fund the UC Laboratory Administration Office, which implements the performance-based management system established for the laboratories.
The contracts include the right for UC to terminate one or more of the agreements upon 18 months' notice.
Students from McClymonds High School in Oakland wait for 88-year-old physicist Warren E. Henry to sign their programs during an all-day symposuim held at Berkeley Lab on Sept. 19 to honor the physicist. Henry's nearly seven decades of work in the fields of magnetism and superconductivity have earned him praise as one of this nation's most eminent African American scientists. Now retired, Henry continues to be involved with a program called Minorities Access to Research Careers (MARC). (XBD9710-03788) Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt
Where can you see the most powerful human-made magnet in the Galaxy? Or a photon-torpedo launcher as big as a barn? How about a room full of computers that let you explore the heart of the cosmos?
All this and more will be on display right here at Berkeley Lab from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. The public will be welcome to wonderful scientific gadgets, meet the people who use them to investigate nature, and learn about the latest scientific research.
There will be plenty of hands-on exhibits--including high-speed Internet surfing and the chance to control scientific instruments by computer--and tours of the Lab's facilities.
At the Family Science Tents, kids can learn the science of ice cream, wiggle like an electron, or hear from high-school students what it was like for them to work alongside researchers on real scientific investigations. All day long there'll be live music, food, and souvenirs on offer.
In a special noontime ceremony, Glenn Seaborg, Berkeley Lab's associate director at large and a 1951 Nobel Prize laureate, will be honored for his contributions to science, notably his discoveries and investigations of elements heavier than uranium.
Throughout the day award-winning scientists will talk about their research, with topics including the future of computing, new approaches to the possible treatment of breast cancer, using X-rays to photograph the invisible, one woman's experience in the world of high-energy physics, and the fate of the universe.
For the Open House, the Lab will run free shuttles from the downtown Berkeley BART station every 10 minutes. A wheelchair-accessible van will be on call all day. Due to extremely limited space, no parking will be permitted on the Lab site, but free parking will be available at four nearby university parking lots, which will also be served by frequent shuttle buses.
Open House programs, with detailed information on all activities and events, will be available the day of the event. The program is also available on the web at http://www.lbl.gov.
Beginning next week, Currents will have a change at the helm. Mary Bodvarsson, who has edited the newspaper since 1991, is leaving the Lab on Oct. 10 to begin an assignment as communications specialist in the UC Office of the President's Laboratory Administration Office. She has held this position on a quarter-time basis since April.
The new acting editor will be Monica Friedlander of the Lab's Technical and Electronic Information Department. You may reach Friedlander for all Currents and Headlines related issues at 495-2248 (X2248) or MSFriedlander@lbl.gov.
John C. Browne, a physicist with extensive experience in scientific and administrative leadership at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, is the choice of UC President Richard Atkinson to become that laboratory's next director. Browne, 55, has been with LANL since 1979, following nine years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Since 1992, he has been managing LANL's acclaimed Neutron Science Center, but, prior to this, he served as physics division leader and as an associate laboratory director with a wide range of responsibilities.
Browne is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the author of numerous professional publications. He received his bachelor's degree in physics from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa., and his Ph.D. in physics from Duke University in North Carolina.
"John Browne is a distinguished and widely respected scientist, an internationally recognized expert in basic and applied neutron science, and a well-seasoned manager with a wealth of experience in the laboratory's critically important mission and its various programs," Atkinson said in announcing his choice. The UC president will recommend Browne's appointment as soon as possible to UC's Board of Regents, who must vote on it. As provided in the UC-DOE contract, DOE must also agree with the appointment, which will be effective one month from the date of action by the Regents. LANL's current director, Sig Hecker, who had planned to step down on Oct. 1, has agreed to stay on until the effective date of Browne's appointment.
DOE celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. Energy Secretary Peña sent out congratulations to the approximately 3,000 current DOE employees around who have served since the department's inception. He praised their role in responding to the challenges of national energy security and defense. "Today, we are fortunate to have inexpensive and abundant energy supplies, and the Cold War is a distant memory," Peña said. The Secretary has announced that DOE's anniversary theme will be: "Energy - Making Things Happen."
Global warming gas emissions can be stabilized at 1990 levels by the year 2010 without increasing energy costs provided there is a national commitment to developing and implementing energy-efficient and clean-energy technologies. This is the conclusion of a year-long analysis for DOE by experts at five national lab, including Berkeley Lab.
Achieving this goal would requires billions of dollars in R&D investments, but in the end, money would be saved by consumers and businesses through reduced energy use and lower energy bills, the study found. It also stated that investments should be directed at four key sectors of the economy--buildings, transportation, industry, and electric utilities--with the emphasis placed on advancing the development of natural gas turbines and other low-carbon technologies, biomass and biofuels, and energy-saving appliances. The analysis was prepared for DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by a consortium of researchers from Berkeley Lab and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the two lead labs on the project, and from the Pacific Northwest and Argonne National Laboratories, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Overall leadership for the final report was provided by Mark Levine, director of Berkeley Lab's Energy and Environmental Technologies Division, and Marilyn Brown of ORNL.
The report is entitled "Scenarios of U.S. Carbon Reductions: Potential Impacts of Energy Technologies by 2010 and Beyond." It can be obtained at http://www.ornl.gov/ORNL/Energy_Eff/CON444/
In response to conclusions of the "Scenarios of U.S. Carbon Reductions," President Clinton has called on federal labs to develop technological solutions to reduce gas emissions that contribute to global warming. Subsequently, Energy Secretary Federico Peña directed DOE's Federal Energy Technology Center to issue requests for proposals for novel ways to sequester, store, or re-use the so-called "greenhouse gases" associated with global climate change. DOE expects to provide up to $50,000 for each project selected for an initial exploratory phase. Projects moving on to the next phase could receive up to $1.5 million. Copies of the solicitation can be obtained at http://www.fetc.doe.gov/business/solicita.html or by faxing a request to (304) 285-4683.
From front to rear, Michelle Broido of DOE's Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Berkeley Lab Deputy Director Pier Oddone, and ALS Crystallography Group Leader Thomas Earnest tour the experimental station for the new ALS beamline 5.0.2 during the Sept. 19 dedication of the Macromolecular Crystallography Facility. The new facility will be used mainly in the study of cell membranes--a critical component of living cells. (XBD9710-03787) Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt
Berkeley Lab and the U.S. Department of Energy have provided $25,000 in "seed" money for an innovative Shorebird Park Environmental Learning Center, to be built at the Berkeley Marina.
Laboratory Deputy Director Klaus Berkner presented a check for the implementation funding to Lisa Carronna, the City of Berkeley's head of parks and waterfront programs, at a ceremony on Sept. 16. Also attending were Berkeley City Council member and Berkeley Lab employee Linda Maio, DOE-Oakland waste minimization program director Karin King, and Shorebird Nature Center Director Patty Donald.
One of the unique features of the proposed structure is that it will be constructed largely with straw bales, an old construction practice to be given new life by Berkeley architect Greg Van Mechelen. The new building, which will expand Shorebird's office and learning center space, will showcase technologies to reduce the environmental impacts of building construction and operations. The building will also serve as a living laboratory to test systems and monitor their performance.
At the check presentation ceremony, Van Mechelen said the project will be the model "for a building process that stops using our precious resources and reduces waste pollution." The rice straw that will be used for the bale construction is generally waste material that is typically burned--millions of tons of it a year--especially in California's San Joaquin Valley.
Straw has the advantage of being durable, with insulation value that's higher than conventional construction materials. It is resistant to bug infestations and fires, given the density of the compaction. The roof of the new building will be made of recycled wood from a demolition site in downtown Berkeley. These materials and techniques will provide a model of environmentally considered design for Bay Area residents and builders.
"When I first heard about this project, I was a little skeptical," Maio told the 50 people attending the ceremony at the Marina, most of them Berkeley Lab beach cleanup volunteers. "We all know what happened to the pig who built his house of straw. But I discovered that this is actually a new and effective contruction process that's easy on the environment and energy-efficient as well."
Shelley Worsham, an employee in the Laboratory's waste minimization program, was instrumental in promoting the project and generating Lab and DOE support for it.
The City of Berkeley, Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Recycling Board, and Berkeley Lab have been working together to realize the construction of the demonstration building. Contribution commitments have been made by the City of Berkeley, Alameda County, and theWest Berkeley Foundation.
Berkeley Lab, a national research leader in energy efficiency in building design, will consult on the building process and will provide exhibits in the new structure, which is scheduled for construction next spring.
The 20th annual Berkeley Lab Runaround is set for Friday, Oct. 10. The fun run will start promptly at noon near the Firehouse (Bldg. 48) and end at the cafeteria parking lot. All employees and retirees are encouraged to participate; there will be ample time for everyone, whether walking or running, to complete the course.
Runaround T-shirts, designed by TEID's Marilee Bailey, will be given to all finishers. Individual and group costumes are a popular feature of this fun event and repeat participants are encourage to wear their oldest Runaround T-shirt. In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the event, a group photo will be taken of participants wearing T-shirts from as many years as possible.
Before the run: The course is 3.0 kilometers (1.86 miles) long, with some steep elevation changes. Participants in average physical condition should be able to jog the level and downhill sections. For more preparation, jog two or three times a week, one to two miles per session.
When you cross the finish line: Keep your finishing order and form a single file in the chute, moving quickly to keep it clear for other runners. You will be handed a numbered envelope, which you should fill out at the results table and exchange for a T-shirt at the T-shirt table.
Following the event: There will be food, music, and fun prizes, and trophies will be awarded to the first man and woman to finish the course. The top three men and women finishers in each age category will receive medals. Prizes and free water bottles will be provided by the University and State Employees (USE) Credit Union.
BikeAround: Once again this year, there will be a bicycling component. The strictly non-competitive BikeAround begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Firehouse and follows nearly the same course as the Runaround. It should finish in plenty of time for bikers to participate in both events.
D.C. Runaround: Once again this year, employees in the Lab's Washington, D.C., office will stage their own Runaround through the streets of the Capital. To be as official as possible, they will begin their run at 3 p.m., equivalent to noon here. They will also receive T-shirts for their efforts.
Race results: Results will be published in Currents as soon as they are available. Complete results, including your individual time, will be published on the new Runaround website (http://cfi.lbl.gov/~derenzo/runaround/) in the future.
Traffic Note: Please avoid driving on the Hill between noon and 1 p.m. Shuttle bus service will be suspended while the run is in progress, and the cafeteria parking lot will be closed to cars.
For the third straight year, a team of runners from Berkeley Lab has placed third overall in the Corporate Challenge, a 3.5-mile race through San Francisco held in part to benefit local school athletic programs. This year's participants in the Aug. 13 event included (front, left to right) Paul Blodgett, Michelle Huesman, Greg Klein, Brooks Boyd, and (rear) Ron Huesman, Rich Brown, Ken Gregorich, and Brian Reutter. Members of the winning team were Paul Blodgett, Brooks Boyd, Rich Brown, Ken Gregorich, and Greg Klein. (XBD9709-03719)
The street sweeping will take place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5. If you have responsibility for a Lab vehicle, please park it away from any nearby buildings to allow the street sweeper to clean parking areas close to buildings.
The day after the Runaround, Saturday, Oct. 11, Facilities will pick up and haul away trash that you remove from your office and leave on the curb near your building. No furniture, equipment, or hazardous or chemical waste will be taken. (For pick-up of hazardous or chemical waste, follow the usual procedure of sending a hazardous materials requisition to the Hazardous Waste Handling Facility; call Brian Smith at X6508 for more information).
For more information about the clean-up efforts, contact Bob Berninzoni at X5576.
As many people are aware, Assembly Bill 1890, a bill passed by the California legislature and signed into law by Governor Wilson, will create a new marketplace for the buying and selling of electricity beginning Jan. 1, 1998. Soon after that date, all electric utility customers in California will be able to choose a supplier other than their current electricity provider. A 10 percent drop in electricity rates is also required by the new law. But even cheaper electricity rates are anticipated in the future, as competition drives down generation costs and additional cheaper power from neighboring states is imported to California.
Economic boon
Competition among electricity suppliers may stimulate an economic boon in California. Whether electricity competition will also bring with it downsides that could include additional damage to our natural environment is not clear. Certainly, the potential is there. Cheaper sources of energy could easily negate efforts towards energy conservation, energy-efficiency, and the use of renewable sources of energy, such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass.
In addition, since electric utilities will be opening their transmission lines to a variety of out-of-state suppliers, California consumers will soon have an unprecedented ability to influence environmental quality, not just in California, but in other states. For example, states bordering or downwind from other states expanding the use of coal-fired power plants may experience difficulty in maintaining their current air quality.
To most people, deregulation of the electric utility industry will probably appear similar to that of the telephone industry. An important distinction between the two is that if an individual increases the use of a long distance calling service due to cheaper rates, this increase does not noticeably affect the natural environment. Neither does the simple action of choosing one long distance carrier over another.
Environmental impacts
With electricity deregulation, however, if cheaper electricity rates produce an increase in electricity demand, meeting that additional demand could have noticeable environmental impacts. Similarly, an increase in one supplier's customer base versus another's could significantly affect the amount of environmentally damaging emissions released into the atmosphere.
On the whole, power plants account for about 75 percent of the nation's annual emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a major contributor to acid rain and smog, and more than 30 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions. Individually, power plants vary greatly in the amount of environmentally damaging emissions they produce, depending upon their type and age. Newer plants run much more efficiently and are freer of emissions
According to Cooper Richey from the Lab's Environmental Energy Technology Division, coal-fired plants claim the lion`s share of environmentally damaging emissions. On the low end of emissions are natural gas-fired plants. Wind and solar are renewable sources of energy that are virtually emission free during power production.
The environmental costs of an upswing in demand, therefore, are significant if it is met by an increased use of coal-fired plants or by older, dirtier plants. Worse yet, this environmental price tag may not be included in the market price of the electricity purchased by consumers. On the other hand, some electricity suppliers currently include wind and solar generation as part of their energy mix, which are often available during peak periods of electricity demand.
What the consumer can do
Consumers do not have to wait for policy makers to enact laws rectifying any negative impact electricity competition may have on the natural environment. One of the environmentally and economically sound choices consumers can already make and continue to make is turning off unneeded lights, appliances, electric heaters, air conditioning, and electronic equipment such as computers. In the new era of electricity competition, another choice both beneficial to the natural environment and a consumer`s wallet might be using cheap, interruptible service from a renewable electricity supplier in conjunction with small generators for back-up power.
A proactive approach to environmentally conscious energy choices could be choosing suppliers based on their energy mix--that is, how much, if any, of their supply comes from natural gas, coal, wind, or solar powered units, and on the age of any fossil fuel plants. Consumers may need to request this information from electricity suppliers. A list of suppliers ready to serve California consumers can already be found on the web at www.cpuc.ca.gov/electric_restructuring/esp_registration/providers/provider_index.html
For more information on emissions from various types of power plants, contact Chris Marnay (X7023; C_Marnay@lbl.gov) or Cooper Richey (X5417; RCRichey@lbl.gov).
General information, food, entertainment, and an overview of Laboratory activities. The Welcome Tent is the starting point for the events and activities you can reach on foot. For all of the attractions below, follow the signs at the Welcome Tent.
Scientists here and elsewhere were among the earliest architects of electronic networks--though who could have foreseen electronic chatrooms and 100 million Web sites? Come get wired!
Demonstrations focus on clean air and water: how to make natural gas a cleaner fuel, how to purify water with ultraviolet light, and how to tell when carbon monoxide levels become unsafe.
A room full of computers encourage you to explore the world of the nuclear physicist. Scientists will help you experience a nuclear collision inside a modern particle accelerator, show you glimpses of the community's major facilities around the world, and offer you another shot at the World Wide Web.
Activities for kids, ages 6-12.
Special presentations by three of the Laboratory's leading lights--and a special guest.
Visit NERSC, one of the world's preeminent supercomputer centers, where machines perform up to 500 billion alculations per second. Visit the historical exhibits in the Bldg. 50 lobby, then follow signs inside the building to:
Take a look at the "atom smasher" where three Nobel prizes were won and review its history in vintage photos. Just down the hall, TEID demonstrates digital "morphing," Web site design, coloring books for the kids, and more.
Controlling fusion, the sun's own power plant, could eventually provide almost limitless energy. For a close-up look at one approach to practical control, take a self-guided tour of our fusion research facility--the only one of its kind in the world. In the same building, researchers test superconducting magnets designed for the particle accelerators of tomorrow--including the most powerful such magnet in the world.
Quick tests for E. coli contamination, tricks for discovering new superconductors, and light, long-lasting batteries for electric cars.
Explore the Laboratory's largest user facility, one of the world's brightest sources of x-rays and a cornerstone of our research efforts.
Tour the world's most productive user facility for low-energy nuclear physics.
One of the earliest spin-offs of "big-machine physics" in Berkeley was the use of radioactive tracers in medical research and treatment. This tradition continues today with research on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and more.
Berkeley Lab is a partner in one of the nation's largest consolidated effort to sequence the human genome--the Joint Genome Institute. It is also home to the NIH's effort to sequence the genome of that venerable "model organism," the fruit fly.
Take a look underground--or at least learn what goes on there and how people study the earth beneath our feet.
Get your hands on a fire truck! A traditional favorite with the kids. Also at the firehouse is our Emergency Operations Center.
Shops aren't what they used to be. Come see computers in control of metal cutting, and marvel at machines that make a hairsbreadth sound crude.
Sit down at the controls of the nation's most powerful microscope.
Shows for the young and the young-at-heart, presented by Berkeley Lab scientists and the Lawrence Hall of Science.
Research inevitably produces waste, which can be an environmental hazard if handled carelessly. For a look at our state-of-the-art facility, join an escorted tour at 11 a.m., or 1, 2, or 3 p.m.
How are mountains formed? What is the science of making ice cream? Cubes, prisms, spheres ... can you build your own shape? How does a food chain work? To find out first hand, visit The Family Science Tents, where these and other fun-filled educational activities will be presented throughout the day for children, grades K-6 and their parents. High school students in the Student Research Program will also be on hand to share their experiences as members of a scientific research team. Their projects include building integrated circuit boards and writing interactive Web pages of interviews with scientists.
An Electron's Adventure -- (On the ALS Patio)
Become an electron! Create a photon! See secrets exposed by the special photon light you produce! Follow the path an electron takes as it is accelerated, bunched, bumped, and bent around the synchrotron at the Advanced Light Source. While you're there, see "Cool Science Demos," and "Soapy Science."
Science Passports
Take a trip into the world of science and record the experience in your LBNL Science Passport. You'll receive a stamp for each stop you make on this journey. Take it back to school to share with classmates. Pick up your Passport in the Welcome Tent.
Science Wanderers
They seek you out, ask you a science question and reward you with a prize. You'll know them by their brightly colored lab coats. Who are these Science Wanderers? They are college students participating in the Science and Engineering Research Semester Program (SERS) at Berkeley Lab. Spend a little time with them. Test their knowledge of science by asking them a question.
A rainbow in an auditorium? What is the relationship between light, color and the stars and planets? Is there invisible light? Come and see this Lawrence Hall of Science presentation to unlock the secrets of the universe.
12:15 p.m.
Dogs, Flies, Worms and People
Who are we in the grand scheme of life? What do dogs, flies, worms and people have in common? Hands-on models, animals, games, and discussions will be used to introduce you to the basic concepts of DNA, your genetic make-up. Come and help sort out the mystery.
2 p.m.
Solids, Liquids and Gases
The Bay Area is famous for its fog. In this Lawrence Hall of Science presentation you'll see dry ice change into mysterious fog, and solids go directly into colorful gases. Participate in "the atom dance" and explore the concept that all matter is made of moving atoms.
With huge crowds expected to arrive at the parking-challenged Berkeley Lab site for the Oct. 18 Open House, a special set of regulations will be in effect during event hours. There will also be some inconvenience the day before as some parking areas will be closed or restricted due to advance preparations.
As in 1995, the general rule will be to park at one of the four off-site parking lots near the UC Berkeley campus that will be designated for Open House visitors, and take a bus shuttle to the event. The number of buses carrying visitors up the hill will be increased from five to eight, ensuring that no one will wait longer than seven minutes for a pick-up.
Although Berkeley Lab employees will be permitted to access limited parking on the hill during the day, those who are not working or volunteering at the Open House are encouraged to use off-site transportation. A significant portion of the Lab will be off-limits to all vehicles during event hours, and pedestrian zones are being protected from all but shuttle bus traffic. On-site shuttle buses will run continuously throughout the Lab during the day.
Event-day parking
Employees arriving before 9:30 a.m. on Saturday will be permitted to park in any unrestricted parking area at the Lab. At 9:30 a.m., three barriers will be erected that will limit access traffic to perimeter locations--at the Bevatron circle inside the Blackberry gate, on Lawrence Road near Bldg. 72, and inside the Grizzly Gate on McMillan Road near Bldg. 76. This is to preserve pedestrian-only circulation in the primary program zones between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. People who have to depart from inside the zone during the day are urged to use caution, in deference to walkers and to buses that might be traveling in opposite directions on one-way roads.
After 9:30 a.m., employees will have first-come, first-served access to the following parking areas: The "horseshoe" lot on Cyclotron Road outside the Blackberry gate; the Blackberry Canyon ("pit") lot; spaces around Bldgs. 88, 90, 75, 62, 66, and 69; the lot inside and opposite the Strawberry gate; and the lot (Bayview) across from Bldg. 55.
Off-site parking garages and lots, which will be free to Open House visitors, are located at Foothill, at Hearst and La Loma, at Hearst and Oxford, and at Kleeberger Field on the Berkeley campus. Buses will also stop at the downtown Berkeley BART station on their routes.
Grizzly and Strawberry gates can be entered with an access ID card. Entrance onto the site at Blackberry gate will require a valid Berkeley Lab parking permit.
Parking for employees with disabilities will be available in the Bldg. 50E parking garage. On-site buses will be wheelchair-accessible, and off-site pick-ups of wheelchair passengers will be arranged on request via radio communication.
Day-before parking
On Friday, Oct. 17, the parking lots at the cafeteria (Bldg. 54) and adjacent to Bldgs. 70 and 70A will be off-limits to all vehicles, so that large activity tents can be assembled. Automobiles need to be moved from the parking lots in front of Bldg. 50 and at the "Y" lot at the intersection of Lawrence and McMillan roads (the bus turn-around) no later than 6 p.m. Friday.
Any questions regarding parking and traffic issues should be directed to Roberta Boucher (X7580 or RLBoucher@lbl.gov).
Flu season is almost upon us, and once again, Health Services will be offering low-cost flu and pneumonia vaccines to Lab employees over the age of 18. Call X6266 to schedule an appointment between 8 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, Oct. 15, or Friday, Oct. 24, in Bldg 26. The cost is $10 for the flu vaccine and $20 for the pneumonia vaccine, payable by check to V.N.A.H.N.C.
It is suggested that you contact your own physician if you have specific personal questions about receiving the vaccine. If you are a Kaiser health plan member, Health Services can provide you with a schedule of flu shot clincs at their facilities. Other locations are available to the general public in the community, such as Longs drugstores, Safeway grocery stores, etc.
When should you consider getting a flu shot?
The following Oracle Channel courses will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bldg. 936-12. The registration deadline for each class is the Monday prior to the week the class is to be held. Please note that effective Oct. 1, the cost of each Oracle Channel course is $195. When registering for a course, please obtain approval and an account number to be charged from your supervisor.
To register for a class, contact Lynellen Watson (fax: X5870; phone: 5999). Course participants are advised to arrive to class on time. For information about class content, visit the web at http://www.lbl.gov/Workplace/EDT/computers/oracle.html
The 17th century was the Golden Age for the Dutch. Mariners from the Netherlands had established trade in many parts of the world, bringing in its wake economic prosperity and a flourishing of culture. Situated in the heart of the country, the city of Utrecht played a significant role in the Dutch Republic's history.
The landmark exhibition Masters of Light is the first in America and Britain to highlight the unique achievements of the Utrecht School. It includes some of the most luminous and deeply moving masterpieces created in a century known for outstanding art. Eighty works from U.S. and international collections are featured. Among the artists represented are the early mannerists Abraham Bloemaert and Joachim Wytewael, and the Utrech "Caravaggesque" painters Hendrick ter Brugghen, Dirck van Baburen, and Gerard van Honthorst. Together, the works reveal an unexpected and important aspect of Dutch painting.
Space is limited for this special tour; the deadline for reservations and payment is Friday, Oct. 24. For reservations and more information, contact Mary Clary (mmclary@lbl.gov or X4940).
The Laboratory welcomed the following new career employees during the months of August and September:
Norman P. Adams, FACIL
Richard E. Beard, NERSC
Marcia W. Beck, OPER
Thomas R. Bennett, FACIL
Robert Buck, OPER
Roby Chapman, ASD
Sandra G. Cheeks, CFO
James Coletti, HR
Antoinette Czerwinski, ASD
Robin W. Dandridge, ESD
Marie Elvira, ASD
Robert F. Fairchild II, EH&S
Lori A. Fries, EH&S
Stephen A. Gourlay, AFRD
Ramesh Gupta, AFRD
Colleen Haraden, AFRD
Damon C. Hougland, LSD
Liam Kearney, LSD
Mary Ann McFarland, ASD
Matthew Mleczko, HR
Katherine Nixon, LSD
Gary L. Novak, ICSD
Heather L. Rojeski, LSD
Richard L. Sarmiento, LSD
Brian T. Twomey, LSD
Julia West, COMP SCI
Frank Wood, ICSD
The prices for the standard film processing currently offered through the Employee Buying Service have been lowered for most items, including 4centscents single and double prints.
In addition, Kodak premium processing services are now being offered. New services include: 5x7centscents prints at the time of developing; "gallery" photos returned in an album; Advanced Photo System processing; and a variety of digital transfer services.
All color print 35 mm films are returned with the negatives in protective sleeving, along with a free index print for easy reordering, and prints are backstamped with the month and year of processing.
See the film drop location in the cafeteria lobby for flier describing new services and prices.
The Berkeley Lab Calendar is published biweekly here on the World Wide Web and in Currents by the Public Information Department. Employees can list a meeting, class, or event in the Calendar by using this submission form. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Monday in the week that Currents is published.In addition to the events listed below, Berkeley Lab's Washington, D.C. Projects office is hosting a Science and Technology Seminars series.
Scientific Conferences
OCTOBER
Employee Music Club
General meeting at noon in the lower cafeteria.
African-American Employees Association
General meeting at noon in Bldg. 90-1099.
October is Energy Awareness Month
(see page three for details)
Physics Division Research Progress Meeting
"Evidence for the Rare Decay K+ right arrow p+nn bar" will be presented by George
Redlinger of TRIUMF at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 50A-5132; refreshments, 3:40 p.m.
Four players tied with 15 points for the LBNL Golf Club player of the year and will have a playoff. They are:
Mark Campagna
Tom Corbin
Ralph Sallee
Vickie Weber
The next tournament will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, at Blue Rock Springs Golf Course in Vallejo. Contact Denny Parra at X4598 for more infomation.
EDITOR: Mary Bodvarsson, X4014, mgbodvarsson@lbl.gov
STAFF WRITERS: Jeffery Kahn, X4019; Paul Preuss, X6249; Lynn Yarris, X5375
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jon Bashor, X5849; Allan Chen, X4210; Monica Friedlander, X5122
PRODUCTION: Alice Ramirez
FLEA MARKET / CALENDAR: Mary Padilla, X5771
fleamarket@lbl.gov / currents_calendar@lbl.gov
Public Information Department, Berkeley Lab, MS 65A
One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley CA 94720
Tel: 510/486-5771 Fax: 510/486-6641
Berkeley Lab is managed by the University of California
for the U.S. Department of Energy
'86 FORD LTD, 6-cyl, a/t, 80K mi., beige, $1200/b.o. X5329, 527-5890 (eve.)
'86 NISSAN Stanza wgn, 5-dr, 130K mi., body in very gd shape, runs great, $1500 expenses during first 6 mo., owned 1-yr., check up OK (Dana Meyer/AAA certified), asking $2100/b.o. Frederic, X7057, 524-8712
'89 FORD Taurus GL sta. wgn, exc. cond., 3.8 l engine, new tires, very clean, fully loaded, 3rd seat, no smokers, 104K mi., $5700/b.o. Reinhard, X5446, 845-7705
'92 FORD Explorer, Eddie Bauer 4 x 4, 2-dr, 59K mi., exc. cond., midnight blue, $13.5K. Elizabeth, X6166, 653-6050
MOTORCYCLE, '90 Honda XR250R dirt bike, like new, w/supertrap exhaust system, $2150. Steve, X6598, 689-7213
SF OPERA, Pelleas et Melisande, 11/14, 8 p.m.; Eugene Onegin, 12/5, 8 p.m., balcony circle center, $140/pr. Diana, X6444
SF OPERA, Pelleas et Melisande, Sun., 11/23, 1 p.m., 2 seats in row A, balcony, $47 ea. Gil, X6802, 376-1435
GUITAR, for beginner. Colleen, X4323, (415) 355-1258
SURFBOARD, 8 or 9 ft., reasonably priced, for beginner. Steve, X7855
COFFEE MAKER, Melitta, 4-cup model, like new, $10/b.o. Steve, X6941
COMPUTER DESK, engineered wood; microwave cart; 2 sm. black end tables; girl's bicycle for ages 5-7. 528-0683
COPY HOLDER, elec., foot pedal controls up/down feed, magnifier lens enlarges several lines, 18" florescent tube, orig. $175, $55. Matt, X6347
DINNING TABLE, teak, 35.5x35.5" (29" tall), expands to 35.5x67", like new, $130. X6004
DRUM SET, Pearl Export, 2 ea., 1 new 5-pc. set, candy apple red, w/all tom hardware, $575; used 5-pc., black, w/all tom hardware, exc. cond., $475; various cymbals, cases, stands & hardware. Don, X7972
FUTON, black mattress/light wood, $35; microwave, Sharp Carousel, 1K W, 1.2 cu. ft., 7 mo. old, avail. 10/20, $95; mini hi-fi, Sony CFD-758, CD, radio, dual cass. + remote, $50; iron + board, $15; camp bed, $15; patio chairs (2) + sm. table, avail. 10/20, $8; misc. kitchen items, avail. 10/20, $30. Jan, X5614
LITTLE TIKES "Beauty Salon", new in box, $50. Teresa, X6246, 594-1439
NORDIC TRACK ski exerciser, model Pro. Home, like new, w/accessories, reg. $600, $350. Chin-Fu, X5782
PC COMPUTER, Compac 486, 4 mbs RAM w/complete pkg. incl. color monitor, power supply, keyboard, w/Windows 3.1 programs, $250. Colleen, X4323, (415) 355-1258
SYSTEM, Denon receiver, 50w/ch., Denon 5 CD player, AIWA dual cass. player, JBL spkrs, ~12wX22hX10dp, Magnavox VCR, $700/b.o. Warren, 524-4194, 256-0704
TODDLER BED, looks like blue sports car w/mattress, for kids 2-4, Toys R Us $180, accessories, $100/b.o. Dick, X6204
TODDLER GEAR, jogging stroller, $40; bicycle seat & rack, $40; small trampoline, $35; "Little Tikes" cube & slide, $30; 2 sm. bicycles, $15 ea. Carolyn, X7827
WASHER, Hotpoint, heavy duty, 2-spd, needs motor fixed, white, $25; washer, Whirlpool, 2-spd, 5-cycle, almond color, works, $100; dryer, Kenmore, 220v elec., heavy duty, white, gd cond., $125; vintage gas stove, Rheem Wedgewood "Franciscan", 4 burners + grill, 1 oven + storage, white w/lots of chrome, gd cond., $250, offers considered. Nick, X6314, 525-1223
BERKELEY, Northside, furn. rm in 4-bdrm house, 5 blks from UCB, nr LBNL shuttle stop, 2 other visiting scholars live here, $500+utils.548-1287, 841-2749
BERKELEY, nr Cedar/Euclid, short-term sublet, Dec.-Jan., or just part of Dec., 1-bdrm apt in sm. bldg., lg. living rm, frpl, balcony, walk to UCB/shuttle, $900/mo. (negot.). Steve, X6941, 841-9709
BERKELEY, short-term sublet, furn. studio apt, top-floor of 1920s bldg., view, hardwd flrs, laundry fac., on-st. parking, linens, dishes etc., avail. 11/17, $660/mo. incl. phone & utils. Sarah, X7283
BERKELEY, Elmwood area, furn. 1-bdrm + flat, sunny, walk to UCB, split level, hill view from lg. terrace, linen, dishes, hi-fi, TV, VCR, microwave, garage, avail. for 1 yr. +, prefer 1 resp., mature, neat & nonsmoking visiting scholar, $825/mo. 843-6325
NO. BERKELEY, furn. rm in house, no smoking, on st. parking, some kitchen & laundry privs., telephone & cable TV lines. Jan, 845-9055
EL SOBRANTE, share furn. rm in 3-bdrm house, sunny, view, light kitchen privs., prefer quiet, non-smoker, no pets, 15 mi. from LBNL, $450/mo. utils. incl. 644-8164
ORINDA, rm in home, $750/mo., $300/wk, $50/night, utils. incl. Mrs. Johnston, 254-4763
WANTED: furn. 2 or 3 bdrm apt/house for visiting scientist & family, 11/2 for 1 yr. Ian, X4174
WANTED: furn. apt, nr LBNL, for visiting lady scientist, from late Nov. for ~3 mo. Ian, X4174
WANTED: short term, parents visiting from 10/28 - 11/18, would like to rent a place in No. Berkeley/Albany/El Cerrito. Lisa or Isaac, 528-5451
WANTED: Swiss linguist needs a rm & bath from early Feb. thru late May. Dave, X7344, Dave or Sally, 524-2904, dfstevens@lbl.gov
WANTED: 2 or 3 bedroom house for 6 mo. to 1 yr. rental, within El Cerrito/Albany/ Kensington/Berk/Oak/Emeryville area. Mary, 642-5205, mpezzuto@socrates.berkeley.edu
SONOMA COAST, 2.16 acres, Timbercove, Ft. Ross area, all utils. Nick, 527-1965
HAWAII, 20 mi. below Hilo on rainy side of Big Island, convenient to Univ. of Hawaii & orchid plantation, 2-bdrm, 2-bth house, nr schools, shopping & rec. center, 1 mi. to ocean bluff, $450/mo., possible lease-option to buy for $58K. X6005
SO. LAKE TAHOE, Tahoe Keys, 3-bdrm, 2.5 bth house, on the water, fenced yd, quiet area, nr skiing & attractions, water & mtn. views, $125/night. 376-2211
OREGON COAST, furn., 3-bdrm, 2-bth house, attached garage, nr beach on edge of sm. town, avail. 10/15 thru 6/15/98, $700/mo. 525-7543
Due to the large volume of ads received each week, ads are accepted only from LBNL employees, retirees, and on-site DOE personnel. No other ads will be accepted. We encourage other readers to use local services such as LBNL's online housing listing (call X6198 for information), and the UC Housing Office.
Please note also:
Published once a month by the Communications Department for the employees and retirees of Berkeley Lab.
Reid Edwards, Public Affairs Department head
Ron Kolb, Communications Department headEDITOR
Pamela Patterson, 486-4045, pjpatterson@lbl.gov
Associate editor
Lyn Hunter, 486-4698, lhunter@lbl.govSTAFF WRITERS
Dan Krotz, 486-4019
Paul Preuss, 486-6249
Lynn Yarris, 486-5375CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ucilia Wang, 495-2402
Allan Chen, 486-4210
David Gilbert, (925) 296-5643DESIGN
Caitlin Youngquist, 486-4020
Creative Services OfficeBerkeley Lab
Communications Department
MS 65, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley CA 94720
(510) 486-5771
Fax: (510) 486-6641Berkeley Lab is managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Flea Market is now online at www.lbl.gov/fleamarket
