Berkeleyan
News Briefs
04 June 2008
It’s the last Berkeleyan of 2007-08
This is our last issue of the academic year. We’ll produce a Summer Sessions issue next month, then return to our usual weekly publication schedule in the fall. The first Berkeleyan issue of 2008-09 will appear on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Berkeley Citation for MSE’s James Evans
James Evans, professor of metallurgy and Plato Malozemoff Professor in Mineral Engineering in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, was presented with the Berkeley Citation, the campus’s highest honor, at his “belated” retirement party on May 14. (Evans retired in 2007; the May 14 event was held on the occasion of his stepping down from the Malozemoff Chair.)
Evans, a specialist in the mathematical modeling of process metallurgy, joined the Berkeley faculty in 1972, earning promotion to associate professor in 1976 and to professor in 1980. From 1986 to 1990 he chaired the Department of Materials Science and Mineral Engineering. He has performed substantial service to the campus, serving on a number of committees and boards, including the Hellman Family Faculty Fund Panel, the campus Task Force on University-Industry Relations and Novartis Oversight Committee, and the Academic Senate Committee on Research. As chair of the latter he was responsible for the adoption of online administration of research and travel grants, which freed up substantial staff time.
Hellman Family Faculty Fund awardees named
The Hellman Family Faculty Fund, established in 1995, supports the research of promising assistant professors who show a capacity for great distinction in their research. Twenty-three awards have been announced for 2008; they will go to the following faculty:
Leigh Raiford, African American studies; Geoffrey Bower, astronomy; Sanjay Kumar, bioengineering; Seung-wuk Lee, bioengineering; Mohammad Mofrad, bioengineering; Christopher Chang, chemistry; Richmond Sarpong, chemistry; Maneesh Agrawala, electrical engineering and computer sciences; Sanjit Seshia, electrical engineering and computer sciences; Rodrigo Almeida, environmental science, policy, and management; Perry de Valpine, environmental science, policy, and management; Sean Farhang, public policy; Randi Engle, education; Michael De Weese, physics; Michael Silver, optometry; Carlos Norena, history; Daniela Kaufer, integrative biology; Rachel Brem, molecular and cell biology; Russell Vance, molecular and cell biology; Qing Zhong, molecular and cell biology; Myra Melford, music; Kathleen Ryan, plant and microbial biology; and Samera Esmeir, rhetoric.
EBI-sponsored workshop on link between biofuels and greenhouse gases is June 9
Biofuels are a growing element of the world strategy for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. A June 9 workshop arranged by chemistry professor Ronald Cohen will explore the state of knowledge of greenhouse-gas emissions associated with biofuel crops.
The workshop, sponsored by the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), will feature a series of subject experts from universities and federal agencies. EBI Director Chris Somerville will open the session with an institute overview at 9:10 a.m. in 116 Calvin Laboratory. Other Berkeley campus scientists speaking during the day include ecosystems-science professors Mary Firestone, Dennis Baldocchi, and Whendee Silver, and atmospheric scientist Inez Fung. Berkeley Lab earth scientists Bill Riley and Margaret Torn will also give presentations.
A full agenda can be accessed at www.energybiosciencesinstitute.org; click on the link marked “Greenhouse-Gas Emissions From Biofuels.”
Barrows Hall repair work to continue through the summer
Construction work on the exterior of Barrows Hall began last week and is expected to continue through the end of September. The structure of Barrows Hall is not compromised: the building remains safe, with a seismic safety rating of “good.”
Project work will entail fencing and the temporary closure of a parking lot, sidewalk, and building-access ramp; the latter will entail a detour to the building’s north entrance for the disabled. The other building entrances will remain available for use.
The first phase of work is expected to take three weeks. It is expected to make some noise that may be heard in and outside the building; constructing the scaffolding involves some drilling, and removing loose concrete will be done by tapping on the exterior with hammers.
Regular updates will be provided throughout construction at www.cp.berkeley.edu/Projects_Info_Notices.htm.
Cal team seeks members and support for AIDS Walk San Francisco
Members of the campus community are invited to join the Cal team for the 22nd annual AIDS Walk San Francisco on Sunday, July 20.
Last year the Cal team included more than 300 people and raised close to $34,000, making it one of the top 20 fundraising teams on the walk (which had 25,000 participants and raised a total of $4.6 million). For 2008, the team has set a goal of $45,000; each participant sets his or her individual fundraising target.
AIDS Walk SF begins and ends in Golden Gate Park’s Sharon Meadow. Participants can do all or part of the 10K (6.2-mile) course.
To register for the Cal Team (#0087), see the current list of members, or pledge support for the team or an individual participant, visit newscenter.berkeley.edu/goto/aidswalk08. For information, contact Karen Gee at kgee@berkeley.edu or 643-6179.
Students win nearly $180,000 to tackle the world’s problems
Fifty student proposals received a total of $179,000 in the third annual Bears Breaking Boundaries competition, which is designed to find and fund students’ best ideas for addressing the world’s toughest problems. Students were invited to design and implement new initiatives in a broad range of areas, including energy and environment, curricular innovation, neglected diseases, improving student life, nanotechnology, synthetic biology, information technology for society, and new collaborations with nonprofit organizations.
Among the winning proposals are projects to expand Berkeley’s education, service, and advocacy efforts to rebuild the Gulf Coast, create a new minor in food systems and sustainability, and reduce maternal deaths in Nigeria by bringing reliable power and communications to delivery wards.
For information on Bears Breaking Boundaries, including a complete list of the winners and many of the full proposals, visit contest.berkeley.edu.
Green Seal cleaners ‘on trial’ through June
Trial use of Green Seal cleaning chemicals by Custodial Services staff will continue through June 30 in several campus buildings: Stanley, Boalt, Soda, University, Barrows, and Zellerbach halls, along with Hearst Memorial Mining Building and 2195 Hearst. At the end of the trial, custodial staff and building occupants will be asked to evaluate the effectiveness of the products. If Green Seal cleaners prove to be acceptable, they will be used on a permanent basis in the test areas and their use will be expanded to other buildings on campus.
Feedback and questions about these sustainable cleaners are welcome, especially from occupants of the buildings that are part of the current trial. Custodial Services has set up a special e-mail address for questions or concerns; send messages to greenclean@berkeley.edu.