September 8, 1995
LBNL Open House
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Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory gearing up for October Open House

(An article in the September 1 LBNL Currents by Ron Kolb, RRKolb@lbl.gov)

Promotional announcements and publicity will begin next week for the
Laboratory's Open House, to be held Saturday, Oct. 28. In the spirit of the
theme "Opening Doors to the Future," the event will feature more than 50
special activities, including tours, scientific lectures, exhibits and
demonstrations, a family science tent, food, and music.

"At a time when federal spending on science is under intense scrutiny, it
becomes more important than ever that we tell our constituents how important
our work really is to their lives and to the future of our country," Lab
Director Charles Shank said. "An open house gives us the opportunity to share
the value and excitement of research with our public stakeholders."

Planning coordinators for Laboratory divisions and programs have been working
for the last few months on ways to showcase their work for Bay Area residents
and employees visiting between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. that day. Visitors will be
greeted by a 40-by-60-foot canopy in the cafeteria parking lot, where Lab
representatives and displays will guide them to tours, open labs and special
programs.

Highlights will include public tours of user facilities such as the Advanced
Light Source, the National Center for Electronic Microscopy and the 88-Inch
Cyclotron, and a special lecture series in the Bldg. 50 Auditorium. Speakers
will include Nobel Laureate Glenn Seaborg, Eric Norman and Jay Marx of Nuclear
Science, Robert Cahn of Physics, Peter Schultz of Materials Sciences, and Mina
Bissell of Life Sciences.

A number of programs have been designed especially for children. Local science
teachers will present a variety of hands-on activities at the Family Science
Tent in the Bldg. 50 parking lot. Special Science Discovery Theatre programs
will be staged in the Bldg. 66 Auditorium with the assistance of the Lawrence
Hall of Science. A team of "science wanderers"--costumed student
volunteers--will walk around with science questions and information.

The preliminary program includes:

   *  Tours of environmental research labs in Bldg. 70 and advanced materials
     labs in Bldgs 62 and 66

   *  Video presentations

   *  Hands-on computer demonstrations, including instructions for accessing
     and using the Internet and World Wide Web

   *  Demonstrations of "Hands-on Universe" and educational software developed
     by the particle physics group

   *  Walks through the fusion and superconducting magnet labs

   *  Guided tours of the lighting lab and the environmental
     engineering-fracture flow lab

   *  Nature and geology walks

   *  A historic look at the Bevatron

   *  Close-up looks at two of the world's most exciting nuclear science
     projects--Gammasphere and STAR

   *  Exhibits on medical imaging and cholesterol research

   *  Tours of shops and assembly areas for advanced engineering technology,
     electronics engineering, and engineering research for the ALS

   *  Visits to the Genome Research and Windows Research laboratories

The cafeteria and several local restaurants are sponsoring food booths in the
central staging area. The Lab's Music Club will provide entertainment on the
cafeteria lawn.

A complete schedule of activities will be available in about two weeks (watch
for it in Currents).

Transportation presents a special challenge for the Open House. Since much of
the Lab will be open to pedestrians, automobile traffic will be limited.
Employees with valid permits will be able to park in designated lots inside the
Blackberry and Strawberry entrance gates, as space allows. No other parking
will be available except to Open House volunteers.

Visitors will be directed to several lots along Hearst Avenue, where they will
be able to park for free and ride a shuttle bus to the Laboratory. Four
off-site buses will travel continuous loop routes with stops at the downtown
Berkeley BART station and along Hearst. Passengers will disembark in the
parking lot at the Cyclotron Road "Y" for the short walk to the cafeteria lot
and the welcome canopy. Shuttle buses will also run regularly around the Lab
site, staffed with volunteer tour guides.

Posters and flyers will be distributed to stores, libraries and schools. A
special phone line has been established (510-486-6999) to provide taped
information on the program, transportation and parking, and children's
activities. Selected newspaper advertising will also promote the event.

For more information about Open House, contact Susan Torrano at X6734. n