June 18, 2013
Developing an in-depth understanding of adverse events is part of the Lab’s collaborative approach to improving safety and operational excellence. Part of this process includes analyzing why adverse incidents occur. Lab Director Paul Alivisatos has introduced a set of incident analysis principles that focus on understanding the direct cause of an incident, the underlying organizational strengths and weaknesses, and lessons learned. These Incident Analyses Principles should be applied when evaluating safety incidents and other adverse events. These principles were recently incorporated into the Causal Analysis Program Manual (PUB 5519-2).
Tags: Environment/Health/Safety/Security, Policy
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June 17, 2013
Jim Floyd, the current EHS Program Manager for the Advanced Light Source, has been named the new director for the Environment, Health & Safety Division, effective July 8. He brings over 30 years of experience as a chemist, operations manager, division group leader, and program manager. He replaces acting Division Director Joe Dionne. Go here to read a message on the appointment from COO Glenn Kubiak, and here for a profile on Floyd that ran last year.
Tags: Advanced Light Source, Environment/Health/Safety/Security, People
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June 17, 2013
Aindrila Mukhopadhyay of the Physical Biosciences Division and Trent Northen of Life Sciences led a cross-divisional research team that performed molecular level analysis of desert biological soil crusts – living ground cover formed by microbial communities. Their study revealed how long-dormant cyanobacteria become activated by rainfall then resume dormancy when the precipitation stops. Also working on this study, which was funded through the LDRD program, were Lara Rajeev, Ulisses Nunes da Rocha, Niels Klitgord, Eric Luning, Julian Fortney, Seth Axen, Patrick Shih, Nicholas Bouskill, Benjamin Bowen, Cheryl Kerfeld, Ferran Garcia-Pichel and Eoin Brodie. More>
Tags: Life Sciences Division, Physical Biosciences Division, Science/Research
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June 17, 2013
Described as a “visionary” in a 2011 New Yorker profile, computer scientist, composer, and author Jaron Lanier will discuss how big data’s role in money and power colors its role in the sciences during a talk at the June 20 dinner of the annual NUFO meeting. The event will be held at 6 p.m. during a buffet dinner at the Bancroft Hotel in Berkeley. Send e-mail here to RSVP. Register to attend the whole meeting, which takes place June 19-21 at the Building 66 Auditorium. Contact NUFO organizers for more information.
Tags: Conference, Lecture/Seminar
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June 17, 2013
The Physical Biosciences Division presents its next ‘Science & Tech Talk tomorrow with a lecture by Ian Sharp at 12:30 p.m. in the Building 50 Auditorium. He will discuss his work at the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), where researchers are investigating ways to devise new technologies capable of providing distributable power that is carbon neutral and renewable, yet price competitive.
Tags: Lecture/Seminar, Physical Biosciences Division
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June 17, 2013
The Lab’s back-up care program can help with last-minute changes in your care arrangements, such as when your child or parent is ill, your regular caregiver is ill or on vacation, your work hours change unexpectedly, or you need temporary care during gaps in your child’s summer care program. Employees are eligible for up to 15 days of back-up care per calendar year at a co-pay of $15/child or $25/family per day of center-based care and $6/hour for in-home care. Go here to register and make a reservation (username is LBNL and password is 4Backup), or call 877-242-2737.
Tags: Benefits, Human Resources
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June 14, 2013
The Advanced Light Source excels at ARPES — angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy — which directly maps a material’s electronic structure using electrons emitted when x-rays strike its surface. When it comes to magnetism and spintronics, progress in both these fast-rising fields demands new experimental tools, however. Electron spin determines magnetic properties and can control how charged currents flow. Alexei Fedorov, Chris Jozwiak, and Zahid Hussain of the ALS and Peter Fischer of the Materials Sciences Division have proposed an instrument that would be unique in the United States for a deeper understanding of the role of spin: spin-resolved ARPES. More>
Tags: Advanced Light Source, Science/Research
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June 14, 2013
The Center for Science and Engineering Education (CSEE) recently hosted a visit by students from Richmond High School’s Engineering Academy. The group explored cool roofing materials, conducted a waste audit of their lunches, toured several Engineering labs, and learned about college and career opportunities in engineering. Among their activities, students visited the Molecular Foundry lab of Tracy Mattox (above right), who discussed her work with inorganic nanostructures.
Tags: Center for Science and Engineering Education, Outreach
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June 14, 2013
The Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP) is hosting the first annual Solar-Fuels Summer School during the week of June 17-21 in Building 50 Auditorium. The morning sessions (8:30 to 11:45 a.m.) are open to the Berkeley Lab community. JCAP is the nation’s largest research program dedicated to the development of an artificial solar-fuel generation technology and aims to find a cost-effective method to produce fuels using only sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide as inputs. More>
Tags: Materials Sciences Division, Training
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