Fall 2000
Fall 2000
Cal Scientists: Back to the Future
by Janet Huseby
In the 16th century the great scientist Galileo started his career as a student of medicine and philosophy. He then took up mathematics, physics and finally astronomy, exploring mysteries that had bedeviled man for centuries. He explained the workings of the pendulum, tracked the stars with telescopes and the animal world with microscopes. Finally Galileo proved Copernicus' theory that the earth circled around the sun. Under his hat was not only a brilliant, but an interdisciplinary mind at work.
But over centuries as scientific advances grew it became more and more difficult for any one person to absorb the whole of more than one subject. Eventually, even single subjects proved too complex to master and the disciplines themselves splintered into smaller units.
Today UC Berkeley is making bold moves to bring science disciplines together as interdisciplinary research teams: mathematicians working with biologists, molecular and cell scientists with engineers, chemists with computer scientists and physicians with bioengineers. Together they are developing new surgery procedures, improving detection techniques, and enhancing treatments for some of the most debilitating illnesses affecting mankind today, such as Alzheimer's disease, depression, brain and spinal cord injuries, breast and prostate cancer, and heart disease.
Dr.Thomas Budinger is an example of a scientist bringing various disciplines together. He is a medical doctor with a Ph.D. in physics. He chairs UC's new bioengineering department, serves as the Head of the Center for Functional Imaging at LBNL, and is a professor of radiology at UCSF. He's teaching a new course this year at Cal, Ethics in Science and Engineering. In 1956, before studying medicine and engineering, Budinger was one of the earliest cold water divers to explore arctic ice and icebergs. His varied interests have now converged as he pursues ways to save lives following cardiac arrest through brain cooling techniques.
Heart, Mind and Body: Berkeley Research on the Cutting Edge
Heart: "Every year 300,000 people in the United States suffer cardiac arrest, more commonly known as a heart attack," says Dr. Budinger. "The arrest stops the heart from pumping blood to the brain and within six minutes the brain stops functioning. Ninety-four percent of people who have an arrest outside of a hospital die. In a hospital where it is possible to intervene - jump start the heart or clear obstructions - the survival rate is significantly higher, around 30%."
Dr. Budinger is working on buying time for the stricken victim by developing a "life collar" which Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) can use to place around a victim's neck to assist in lowering the temperature of the brain. "We have found if the brain temperature is lowered just four degrees - from 37 to 33 Centigrade - the brain will go into a hibernation-like state for hours, enough time for the EMT to get the victim to the hospital and proper care. The collar needs additional development, but we know there are other more invasive methods that will work."
Next on Budinger's research agenda is analyzing the chemical results of a cooling brain. "When we understand what happens chemically we can come up with a chemical cocktail that is capable of inducing the same 'hibernating' effect, but without actually cooling, or the cocktail can be used in conjunction with the collar," explains Budinger. Once the collar is in place, a medical "cap" would be placed on the patient to measure the amount of brain oxygen, electrical signals and blood flow in order to gauge the success of resuscitation. These developments extend to benefiting patients with stroke or brain trauma, and are applicable to infants.
Dr. Budinger and his team of scientists are also working on a "Dick Tracy" type of watch that people at risk for heart attacks could wear. Explains Budinger, "A person experiencing cardiac arrest could electronically signal the nearest EMT, saving precious life-saving minutes before being raced to the hospital. This development depends on the UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Science colleagues who are premier in microfabrication and wireless communications."
Mind: Jonathan Maltz is a post-doctoral student working on a project that theorizes that Alzheimer's disease is not just attributable to the lack of function in the brain, but is the result of some other system wearing out. "We know Alzheimer's disease affects the circulation in the brain," Maltz says. "We are working to discover if it affects circulation elsewhere." The project draws on the expertise of electrical engineers, physiologists, fluid mechanics, medical doctors and biochemists.
To further research this theory Maltz is working on developing a simple arm band similar to a blood pressure cuff. The band will produce a non-invasive reading of the stiffness and rate of dilation of blood vessels. The blood vessels' flexibility might be an early warning sign of Alzheimer's. The cuff could be a low cost and routine way of testing for the risk of strokes, heart attacks and Alzheimer's disease, and is expected to be ready for testing shortly.
Body: Greg Gruber, a doctoral student in biomedical engineering, is developing a camera prototype that will be used to detect secondary stage breast cancer. "Currently, the x-ray mammogram is the most important tool we have for breast cancer screening," explains Gruber. But, he adds, "It is not useful in checking if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. That information is essential in determining the type of treatment a patient will need." The new camera, the size of a camcorder, is flexible and inexpensive and can be placed directly over the lymph node area to detect metabolic energy produced by the tumor. "It will be a piece of equipment that clinics will be able to have," says Gruber. Clinical trials for the camera should begin next year.
Dr. Phillip Levin, a vascular surgeon in private practice for 30 years and a 1960 Cal alumnus, is excited about these possibilities. "A cure for cancer and other chronic illnesses will probably not be found at our great medical schools, hospitals, private companies or even the National Institute of Health," he said. "Medical breakthroughs will more likely come from an institution that can integrate many disciplines. UC Berkeley is in an extraordinary position to lead the way in this effort."
Dr. Budinger puts it simply. "That's the Berkeley style. Going to the edge."
UC Berkeley's Health Sciences Initiative
This new way of doing science requires a rethinking of how to organize departments, facilities and laboratories to maximize the ability of scientists to collaborate and share the latest technology. The seismic vulnerability of some of the campus's buildings has provided an opportunity to look beyond the traditional "silo" model which housed one department in one building and to design new facilities to support interdisciplinary research. In fall 1999, Chancellor Berdahl launched the Health Sciences Initiative, to raise $500 million for new programs and to replace two seismically poor buildings at the east and west ends of the campus. The first project, replacing Stanley Hall, located in the northeast corner of the campus, will begin public environmental review this fall. A draft environmental impact report (EIR) is expected to be issued by December 2000.
Ultimately, the Health Sciences Initiative will involve as many as 400 researchers from fields including the biological sciences, public health, psychology, physics, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and computer science. Students will also benefit from a rethinking of undergraduate science education and exposure to a wide range of science disciplines. Ed Penhoet, dean of the School of Public Health and a leader of the Health Sciences Initiative, said "This initiative is, more than anything, about synergy. It's about departments working together to advance health care in the next century."
Cal Freshmen: Excelling in Class and in the Community
by Doreen S. MorenoThis year 3,759 freshmen converge onto the UC Berkeley campus. These students represent not only some of the highest achieving and hard-working students in the nation, but also a significant cluster of the country's future leaders.
"The overwhelming majority of students at UC Berkeley do volunteer work that serves their school and/or community," says Pam Burnett, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Admission and Relations with Schools. "Their volunteer efforts include neighborhood clean-ups, working with children and youth, substance abuse education, voter-related activities, participation in food drives, soup kitchens and church activities, to name a few."
Jabris Patterson, a recent Berkeley High School graduate, has been dancing since the age of five. She's received scholarships to attend the Alvin Ailey Summer Dance Program in New York and the Katherine Dunham Academy, two of the country's leading dance choreography programs. She currently performs with the Art of Ballet and the West African Diamano Couro dance companies.
"Dance has taught me so much about determination, persistence and dedication to pursuing goals," says Patterson. She's taken these lessons and her love of dance to motivate children to learn. "I've performed in several elementary schools in the Bay Area, exposing children to many dance forms, such as ballet, Afro-Haitian and modern dance. I love it!" Explains Jabris, "The techniques in rhythmic syncopation and creating dance formations involve understanding number patterns. I believe children can strengthen their interest in math and geometry when they connect it with a fun and creative art form."
Carlos Bustamante plans to major in psychology when he enters UC Berkeley in Spring 2001 and eventually apply to medical school. His desire to help people not only is reflected in his proposed choice of profession, but also in how he lives his life. While a student at Berkeley High School Carlos served as a teacher's assistant in mathematics and noticed that a number of students needed additional assistance. He responded by organizing an individualized tutorial program during lunch hours and after school. Before long, he had 15 students attending regularly. Says Bustamante, "I tutored students who are considered at-risk because in such a large school, these are the students who get the least attention and encouragement to go on to college."
During his sophomore year in high school, Jimmy Tran entered an art contest entitled, "Growing Up Asian-American." The competition proved to be a turning point in his life. "My family migrated to the United States after the fall of Saigon, but since I was born here, I grew up in mainstream American culture," says Tran. "The contest provided me the opportunity to really examine my cultural heritage and I found myself wanting to be involved in activities that would connect me even more with the Asian culture."
Through a friend's introduction, Jimmy became involved with Asian Health Services in Oakland's Chinatown by drawing cartoon strips for the newsletter. Eventually, he participated in community health fairs and got involved with Oasis, a tutorial program for Chinatown youth operated by Cal students. Says Jimmy, "Helping elementary students with reading and math made me feel I was really making a difference in their lives." He also volunteered with the New Mentorship Program at Berkeley High School, which matches juniors and seniors with freshmen students to ease the transition into a large urban school. As a freshmen this year at Cal, Tran plans to work with student organizations that contribute to the community and help youth with the college entrance process.
Fall 2000 Profile of UC Freshmen
FREQUENCY Asian/Asian American Hispanic African American Native American Other/Unknown GENDER DISTRIBUTION Color Color Women Men SAT SCORES (MEDIAN RANGE) Color Verbal Mathematics AVERAGE GPA (no honors) AVERAGE GPA (with honors) HIGH SCHOOL Color Bay Area Counties Other Northern California Counties Los Angeles County Other Southern California Counties All Other Locations
How We Spent Our Summer @ Cal
YouthWorks . . . Works!
by Stephanie Wong
I can't believe I actually woke up at 7:00 a.m. on my first day of summer vacation. Summer . . . you know - supposedly eleven relaxing weeks of fun, sun, and of course sleeping in. But, this summer I did something different - I chose to work. So, here I was getting ready for my first day of work at UC Berkeley's Office of Community Relations.
I got my job through the Berkeley YouthWorks program, a youth employment program managed by the City of Berkeley, which partners with the University to employ youth in various jobs on campus. The program matches a student's interest and skill level with a job, as well as providing an opportunity to learn new skills. This was my first job and I was hoping to get placed in an office setting to develop important clerical skills.
On my first day I arrived at work fifteen minutes early - a result of my overly anxious nerves. My supervisor gave me a deluge of instructions on telephone etiquette and transferring calls (believe me, it's much harder than it seems), use of the copier and fax, computer data entry, filing system set-up and much more. I was starting from the ground up, so basic "boot camp" exposure to an office environment was exactly what I needed.
In the beginning I handled simple tasks, but eventually graduated to more challenging responsibilities. One of the highlights was attending the office's strategic planning retreat and listening to the staff discuss issues involving both the community and the University and ways to strengthen community ties.
Throughout the summer I worked on a variety of projects. A special assignment was writing this article about my own experience and those of other YouthWorks employees and their supervisors:
David Hampton, a sophomore at the College of Alameda, worked for the second summer at the Electronics Research Laboratory in Cory Hall. Responsible for repairing equipment, David used hand and power tools to perform his job, which requires having a fairly decent knowledge of chemistry, thermodynamics, and hydraulics. He explains, "I learned most of my skills in this job and it's an incredible environment to be in. My job is like being in a science class everyday, and I've never had so much fun! This position has opened up a whole new career option for me."
Monique Le, a junior at Berkeley High School, became the first high school student to work in an Associate Vice Chancellor's office this summer. "I'm learning a lot," says Monique. "I knew absolutely nothing about working in an office, and now I can say I'd be pretty confident about my skills if I am offered another clerical job." Meg Garstang, Monique's supervisor admits, "I was very surprised. I underestimated the capabilities of these students. I thought I'd have to spend the summer training from the ground up. But every expectation we had has been exceeded. Will we be involved with YouthWorks next year? Absolutely!"
Phillip Guillory, Hampton's supervisor in the Electronics Research Laboratory, also was concerned whether high school students would have the ability to do the work. Guillory said, "It's definitely worth anyone's time to explore the viability of employing students. They make an incredible contribution just given the chance."
I definitely found my work rewarding and I developed essential skills that I can use in future jobs. Because my job was part-time, I still had my fair share of hanging out, sunshine, laughter, and fun. The only thing I missed out on was sleeping in. Oh well, I'll just have to wait for winter break. Thanks everyone for a memorable experience!
For more information about the Berkeley YouthWorks program, call Juanita McMullen, Coordinator, at (510) 883-6508 or visit the YouthWorks page on the City of Berkeley website.
A Camp for Young Musicians
by Janet Huseby
When Hitomi Oba's sixth summer at Cal's Young Musicians Program came to an end, the Berkeley High junior acquired a case of "post YMP syndrome." "They all do," explained her mother Hisako Oba whose second daughter is also a member of the program. "YMP is a big family of music lovers and they all wish the summer program could keep going and going."
Since 1968, Cal's unique Young Musicians Program has provided musically gifted students from low-income families with a comprehensive music education. It is a year-long program but the highlight is the seven-week summer mini "conservatory of music" during which 80 young Bay Area participants, ages 9 to 18, study their instrument of choice, music theory, sight singing and ear training, as well as History of American Music, music composition, Latin percussion and more.
"It's great!" says Hitomi, "Going every day to play with other musicians who are just as intent and practice just as hard as you do. When it's over it's very sad." Hitomi started piano when she was six and picked up the tenor saxophone while in 5th grade at Malcolm X School. A member of the Berkeley High jazz ensemble and combo, she will continue weekly private instrument lessons with the program during the school year.
Young Musicians accepts 10-13 new students each year, providing tutoring in academic subjects along with music and guidance for its senior students in choosing a college, university or music conservatory. Applications are available in January, and auditions are held in the spring. There is no fee for the program.
For more information, contact Marsha Jaeger, 19 Morrison Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-1204 or call (510) 643-6658.
Kids Bust Out at Cal Skateboard Camp
by Janet Huseby
"Half cab into nose blunt, shuv it out." Sounds like a foreign language? Not to kids across the country who have spent hours mastering these skateboarding maneuvers. Developed in the 1940s by California surfers, boarding has ollied and landed in a big way in Berkeley. Responding to popular demand, a new skateboarding camp was added to Cal's summer youth sports program. It proved so successful that skateboarding is now a year-round program with supervised afterschool classes, private lessons, clinics, and skateboarding birthday parties.
The camp's facility, open to 9- to 16-year-olds of all skill levels, is located at the parking structure at the corner of Hearst and Scenic Avenues. It features grind rails, fun boxes, quarter pipes, halfpipes, ledges and pyramids. "We teach by demonstrating," said skateboarding coordinator Sean O'Loughlin. "First they have to learn how to fall and then how to compress. After that, we cover balance, pushing, carving, and sidewalk etiquette." Eight-grade camp participant Mikhail Binnewies gives the camp high marks: "On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it a 10," he said.
For more information, call (510) 643-2477, email scra@uclink4.berkeley.edu, or check out the web site at http://www.oski.org.
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UC Senior Helps Berkeley High Freshmen Plan for Success
by Janet Huseby
Pamojah (P.J.) Johnson made his way from the rough streets of south central Los Angeles to the Dean's List at UC Berkeley. Now a senior at Cal, Johnson is determined to help other students take the same voyage towards academic success. "I want to reach out and help kids who are in the same situation I was. I'm going to do whatever I need to do to open those doors of opportunity."
This fall Johnson will play a major role in the Berkeley Alliance's Freshman Project at Berkeley High School. Now in its second year, the program tackles the student "achievement gap" by counseling BHS freshmen and their parents on high school graduation requirements, college and career options, and available resources. Volunteers also provide mentoring and tips for surviving the challenges of a large urban high school.
As a youth, Johnson lived in a rough neighborhood with his mother and two sisters. "By eighth grade I had seen so much violence, school was the last thing on my mind. My mom kept me out of a gang, but she couldn't keep me in school. I was failing all my classes," says Johnson. One day, a group of boys sitting in the back of an art class taunted him for asking the teacher too many questions and threw crayons at his head. "I was so infuriated, we ended up getting in a fight. I came out of it with a broken arm." But, he points out, the broken arm proved to be a turning point for him. The boy he fought with was an identified gang member. As a form of protection, the school district assigned P.J. to home study and provided him with a tutor, a young African-American woman who encouraged Johnson's inquisitiveness. "I asked my tutor a lot of questions and she gave me a lot of positive praise."
Johnson started his ninth grade year at a new school: the James A. Foshay Learning Center. The K-12 public school had 60 students per grade level and boasted small classes, a great teaching staff and good counseling. Says Johnson, "I became a self-professed 'nerd' and studied all the time. I began to focus on applying to UC Berkeley." Even so, his high school counselor did not encourage Johnson to attend Cal. "My counselor said you had to be very aggressive at Cal to survive and he didn't think I had what it takes to make it." But Johnson proved him wrong. P.J. applied to UC Berkeley and was accepted. By his second semester at Cal he had made the Dean's List. "I continue to work four or five times harder than most students to keep my competitive edge," says Johnson.
As leader of the Freshmen Project, Johnson says, "My goal and the community's goal is for the kids to succeed and the parents to be involved in their education." Johnson plans to meet with students and their parents in a series of small community meetings. "The ninth grade was a critical point in my life where the course of my future changed in a dramatic and positive way. I know how important it is to help as many youth as I can to have this chance too."
The Berkeley Alliance
Founded in 1997, the Berkeley Alliance is a partnership of UC Berkeley, the City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Unified School District. The Freshmen Project is one of its major efforts to reach out to high school freshmen and their families. Last year, the Alliance worked with Berkeley High to produce a "Freshman Guide" that included study tips, requirements for high school graduation and college admissions and useful resources. The handbook was distributed last fall by community and Cal volunteers, who met with 9th grade students and their family members in individual orientation sessions.
This year, the Alliance is increasing its outreach efforts. An updated version of the guide will be used in personal counseling sessions at Berkeley High School and at community centers. Berkeley Alliance Director Toni Tullys explains, "The Alliance's goal is to connect the dots between the educational sector, city government and the greater community. We are working together to improve communication and collaboration that will reap educational rewards for our young people."
For more information about Berkeley Alliance or how you can get involved, call (510) 845-7103.
UC Night Safety Shuttle Expands Hours, Door-to-Door Service
by Doreen S. Moreno
For the past seven years, Cal's Night Safety Shuttle has provided free transportation to students and the general public from the University to residential areas north and south of campus. Routes and service hours were expanded to the residential area south of Dwight Way as part of Chancellor Berdahl's Southside Safety Initiative launched in 1999.
Now in its second year, this new southside service has added "Owl Door-to-Door" service by expanding its hours from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., Sunday through Friday. Using 15-seat passenger vans which are wheelchair accessible, the shuttle service provides courtesy rides to a person's home, at no charge, within the following boundaries: Martin Luther King Jr. Way to the west, Warring Street to the east, Ashby Avenue to the south, and Cedar Street to the north.
"This is a safe and convenient way for community members to get to and from the campus and downtown Berkeley," said Lieutenant Adan Tejada of UC's Police Department.
For more information, call (510) 643-7508 or visit the shuttle information page
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Controlling Hillside Wildfires
One of the most important lessons learned from the 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm was that urban areas are highly vulnerable to the spread of spot fires originating in unmanaged neighboring wildland vegetation. This fall, UC Berkeley's Panoramic Hill Fire Abatement Project continues efforts to protect residential and hillside areas from wildfires.
Begun in early September, this year's fire-prevention effort covers a 30-acre area above Strawberry Canyon in the Panoramic Hill section situated between Panoramic Way and Centennial Drive, bounded by residential neighborhoods to the west, the Grizzly Peak area to the east, Claremont Canyon to the south and Strawberry Canyon to the north.
Work crews have begun extensive pruning of overgrown brush and selective removal of diseased or dying non-native trees. The project reduces the risk of wildfires and provides firefighters with the open space needed to set up trucks and battle wildland blazes. All residual materials from the project are being recycled or environmentally disposed of; small material will be chipped, unhealthy pines will be disposed of locally and the disturbed soil will be seeded with grasses and wildflowers. Removed wood will be donated to a nonprofit organization for use as lumber and in artistic projects. This project is expected to conclude in mid-October.
Hauling will occur between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to avoid peak commute hours.
For project information, call (510) 643-5028.
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Come Home to Cal
Homecoming, Reunion and Family Weekend is on October 13-15. Alumni, students and their families, and the campus community are all invited!
Weekend Highlights:
- Chancellor's keynote address & class procession
- Reception for Cal students and families
- 28 faculty lectures and readings
- Guided tours and open houses
- Spirit rally
- Homecoming BBQ
- Cal-UCLA game
- Post-game bash
- Welcome back, classes of '48, '49, '50, '55, '60, '65, '70, '75, '80, '85, '90, and '95!
For details about times and registration fees, call 1-888-UNIV-CAL or go online to www.urel.berkeley.edu/homecoming.
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Women's Volleyball
Volleyball, a fast-moving, action-packed game with lots of spectacular moves, is a terrific spectator sport. An excellent place for volleyball fans this fall is Haas Pavilion where Cal's women's volleyball team has launched what they expect will be a very good season. Seven top seasoned players have returned to the team along with a coaching staff that established Cal as the most improved volleyball program in the conference last year. This year they're aiming to compete in post-season play for the first time since 1991.
Players to watch for: At 5'9" Alicia Perry, the senior outside hitter/setter was spectacular at the end of last season when she had back-to-back triple-doubles against Washington State and was named Pac-10 Player of the Week. At 6'0" Candace McNamee, garnered the same honor last year and was later featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd."
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Music and Dance in Downtown Berkeley
The Downtown Berkeley Association presents its annual "Fall for the Arts" Lunchtime Concert Series. Enjoy live music and dance performances in the Downtown Berkeley BART plaza from 12 noon - 1:00 p.m. Seating is available. One hour free parking anytime in Center Street Garage.
Sept. 21: Pascal Bokar
An explosive unit composed of 2 African percussion players, traditional dancers and a rhythm section (drums, bass, keyboards, and guitar)
Sept. 28: Berkeley High School Jazz Combo
A 5 piece combo group from the Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble, renowned for producing some of the best musicians in the jazz world including Dave Ellis, Benny Green, and Joshua Redman
Oct. 5: Capoeira Arts CaféBrazilian Extravaganza
Samba, Capoeira and more!
Oct. 19: Vocal Sauce
A vocal jazz ensemble from the Jazzschool with instrumental accompaniment
Oct. 26: East Bay Science & Arts Middle School
Middle school students performing selected dances from folk, swing, and rueda classes
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Redesigning Retirement: A Public Conference
Saturday, October 7, 2000
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
UC Berkeley, Clark Kerr Campus
Explore the exciting new options available to today's retirees and create a design for your retirement. Nationally acclaimed speakers, community experts and community resources. $25 includes lunch and reception. Sponsored by the UC Berkleley Retirement Center and The Academic Geriatric Resource Center.
For a full brochure, call (510) 642-5461 or visit http://thecenter.berkeley.edu.
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Cal Neighbors Contest Winner
Long-time Berkeley resident Harry Battin won a blanket, picnic basket and Cal football tickets in a contest featured in the spring issue of Cal Neighbors. The UC Berkeley graduate and his wife made several trips to campus searching for bridges, lions, pelicans, and bears. Not only did they correctly identify everything on the contest list, the spotted two additional bridges crossing Strawberry Creek (23 in all) and a total of 17 bears - 5 extra-credit! "We had a great time," said Harry.
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