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News Briefs: January 30, 2009

Water conservation project gets under way

The Laboratory is about to begin a water conservation test bed project for the LLNL site to reduce water usage through the implementation of a reclaimed water collection and distribution system as an alternative water source for irrigation. The project is part of the energy conservation initiatives mandated under the DOE Order 430.2B. Construction is scheduled to begin in early February and projected for completion by mid May. This test bed project will include: the installation of water storage tanks; a water collection system from the Central Cafeteria; and a distribution system to the irrigation tie-ins. The project will re-configure the E-7 parking lot by building a pedestrian spine to improve pedestrian safety. Site improvement includes landscaping with drought tolerant plants to conserve water, while still providing erosion control. Consistent with the land-use concept and long-range institution vision presented in the LLNL 10-Year Site Plan, the project will develop the open areas by adding such amenities as an "amphitheater" for special outdoor events and a "shade tree bosque" with an outdoor eating area. The construction area is located north of the Central Cafeteria/Lake Haussmann and is bounded by North Inner Loop Road and Library Drive. To ensure employee safety during construction, temporary fencing and barricades will be installed around the entire construction site, which will close the sand volleyball court and the E-7 parking lot. However, temporary "one-hour only" cafeteria parking will be designated in the adjacent D-7 parking lot. In addition, a temporary pedestrian pathway to the Central Cafeteria will be built along Library Drive.

JGI user meeting registration opens

The Joint Genome Institute (JGI) invites its users and collaborators, as well as prospective new users, to attend the JGI Fourth Annual User Meeting, March 25-27 in Walnut Creek, Calif.  This international gathering of researchers with an interest in sequence-based science will offer three days of user presentations, tours, workshops and poster sessions. Keynote speakers include sequencing technology pioneer George Church of Harvard University, and Chris Somerville, Energy Biosciences Institute director. This year's meeting will emphasize the genomics of renewable energy strategies, biomass conversion to biofuels, environmental gene discovery, and engineering of fuel-producing organisms. The meeting will feature presentations by leading scientists advancing these topics. Registration and more information can be found on the JGI Events page.

Jan. 30, 2009