2009 flu outbreak
Top stories
Genetics /
Tougher controls sought for DNA ancestry testing
Economy
& Environment /
Green Corridor Partnership picks up steam as UC, LBNL drive innovation
Representatives of UC Berkeley and other members of a public-private
East Bay consortium designed to solve environmental challenges while
creating jobs gathered in Oakland June 26 for the partnership's second
annual summit. Biology /
A scientist probes the origins of 'ouch!'
Skinning a knee, swallowing habanero salsa, and installing snow chains
bare-handed have one thing
in common — they hurt. In her lab, biologist Diana Bautista investigates
the molecular mechanisms behind 'noxious stimuli,' otherwise known as
pain.Health /
Researchers
share
the skinny
on school lunches
Good-bye
Pop-Tarts and cheese-flavored Doritos; hello chard and spinach. The Center
for Weight and Health at UC Berkeley is looking at whether an ambitious
city school-lunch program is changing the
way kids eat, their overall fitness, or their academic performance. Here's
what they've discovered so far.Campus News /
Yudof summarizes feedback
on proposed furloughs/salary reductions
UC President Mark Yudof, in a written update, reports on concerns
raised by thousands of staff and faculty on proposed means of reducing
UC payrolls to meet a huge budget shortfall. En Español: Lo más reciente sobre la propuesta de días libres sin pago
Philosophy /
Where does consciousness
reside? A philosopher offers a
new take on an age-old debate
Most
scientists would say that the brain houses all our capacity to think,
feel and perceive — while others believe that the seat of
consciousness is a mind or soul; it isn't physical at all. Berkeley
faculty member Alva Noë argues
in his 2009 book Out of Our Heads that this debate, between
neurons and the immaterial soul, misses a third possibility. Budget/
UC president
issues video message on proposed furloughs/ salary reductions
In
a six–minute online talk, President Mark Yudof says he hopes
to protect employee benefits to the "absolute greatest extent
possible" as
payroll-reduction decisions are made. He will recommend that "if
there are furlough days or salary reductions," employees' "original"
(unreduced) salaries will used for calculating pension
benefits. 
>
Also: California's budget crisis: New journal explores causes and possible solutions
Public policy /
Can we reduce medical costs while expanding health care access?
Without reform, President Obama has warned, the U.S. health care system may "go the way of GM — paying more, getting less, and going broke." In a Q&A with the NewsCenter, Dean of Public Health Stephen Shortell, an adviser to the Obama administration, speaks about needed changes — from a center for comparing effectiveness of various treatment options to better incentives for doctors and hospitals to reduce costs. Technology /
New study charts green course to reducing CO2
People/
Sinnyo-en
Foundation names Chancellor Birgeneau and Maria Shriver its 2009
'Pathfinders to Peace'
Sinnyo-en
Foundation names Chancellor Birgeneau and Maria Shriver its 2009
'Pathfinders to Peace'
Health /
Children susceptible to pesticides longer than expected, study finds
Campus News /
Berkeley's GradLink-on-the-Web wins Sautter Award, UC's
top technology honor
Engineering /
Berkeley students take title in national concrete-canoe
competition
A
team of Berkeley civil engineering students captured the championship
in the 22nd annual Concrete Canoe Competition, held in Tuscaloosa,
Ala. June 11-13. Known as the America's
Cup of civil engineering, the contest requires students to design
and construct a boat, present a technical design paper, and
race their craft in sprint and endurance races. Engineering /
Student design embraced by Pinoleville Pomo Nation
Campus News/
UC president proposes three systemwide furlough/salary
reduction options
Also:
• Q&A
on UC furlough/salary-reduction options
• En espanol (PDF): Carta del presidente | Q&A
• Chancellor delivers grim budget news at BSA gathering
