In Brief

Lerner Receives Honorary Degree From Northwestern
Richard Lerner, president of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), received the honorary degree of Doctor of Science from Northwestern University on June 21. Northwestern awards honorary degrees to those judged to have made exceptional contributions to fields valued by the university.

Lerner's 30-year scientific career encompasses a broad scope of seemingly disparate activities in biomedical research, ranging from insights into protein structure to identification of a sleep-inducing lipid.

His most recent work, and that for which he is perhaps best known, involves groundbreaking discoveries of converting antibodies into enzymes, permitting the catalysis of chemical reactions considered impossible to achieve by classical chemical procedures. The work has resulted in the possibility of producing antibodies overnight for obtaining an almost limitless variety of products beyond natural ones with an efficiency that may exceed that of natural enzymes.

You Can Take This to the Bank: Financial Awareness Week Begins July 15
Human Resources is pleased to announce the Fourth Annual Financial Awareness Week from Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 19. Representatives from various financial and retirement organizations will be conducting presentations designed to point you in the right direction towards financial success—whether you are just starting to plan for a successful financial future or are nearing retirement. Refreshments will be served and raffles will be held at each presentation.

Also, don't miss out on an opportunity to sit down one-on-one with a representative from either TIAA-CREF or Fidelity. The individual consultations can help answer questions concerning your retirement, such as how many funds should you invest in, and personal savings issues, such as buying a home. Space is limited and must be reserved in advance.

For more information, see the Financial Awareness Week web page.

Good News for New Mothers
TSRI has opened a new lactation room on campus in the Immunology Building. The newly painted and carpeted room is located on the ground floor, off the women's bathroom. The room has private space for two mothers, including comfortable, easy-to-clean leather chairs, electrical outlets, and other necessary supplies. If you are interested in learning more about the lactation room please contact Kayoko Lindenberger, Benefits Representative at 4-8501 or kayoko@scripps.edu.

New Officers at Toaster's Club
Scripps Outstanding Speakers (SOS) Toastmaster's Club recently held elections for the next term of officers for July through December. The new officers are: Valerie Moreau, President; Dave Tabb, V.P. Education; Gina Salazar, Secretary; Michelle Roberts, V.P. Membership; Tina Dostalek, V.P. Public Relations; and Arkadius Pichota, Sergeant-at-Arms. Iris Ben-Efraim remains as Treasurer for the club and Astrid Visser is the Immediate Past President.

For those of you not familiar with SOS Toastmasters, the club was formed in 1999 by a group of employees who were interested in improving their speaking and leadership skills by following the guidelines of Toastmasters International. Foreign scholars for which English is not their first language find SOS Toastmasters a good place to practice speaking English, and the international flavor of the members makes the meetings fun and informative. All employees are welcome to attend the meetings, which are held in the third floor Beckman Conference room the first three Tuesdays of the month, 12:15 to 1:15PM. Feel free to contact any officer for more information.

TSRI Picnic, "Survivor" style
The 2002 TSRI Picnic, entitled "Survivor - Rooftop Island," will be held from 3:30 to 7:30 PM on Friday, July 19, on the roof of the Immunology Building. Gather with your friends and colleagues to celebrate the summer, eat delicious food, enjoy live music, enter the raffles, and relax.

Some may choose not to relax, however. The theme of the TSRI picnic this year is based on the hit TV show, "Survivor." Picnic attendees will be invited to form and join teams-or tribes-and compete for the grand prize. An obstacle course, stilts, and jousting will be among team challenges for contestants. And one lucky winner will win over one ten thousandth of ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!!

All TSRI employees are invited to attend with guests, and tickets to the event will be sold from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on July 8 through July 17 in the lobbies of the Immunology and the Molecular Biology buildings, and from July 15 to July 17 in the lobbies of the Beckman and CVN buildings. They will also be sold from 1 to 2 PM on July 12 in the lobby of the ICND building. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.

This year's picnic features much children's entertainment, including professional entertainers, a science booth, a giant slide, a moon bounce, and other fun. Children will also be treated to such delectables as fudge brownies and lemon bars. Adults, naturally, can also participate in the dessert course. For more information, see the picnic page: http://www.scripps.edu/services/picnic2002.

TB Screenings, Hepatitis B Immunizations, and Serum Draws
On Monday, July 8, Wednesday, July 10, and Friday, July 12, personnel from Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group will be on-site to conduct TB screenings, Hepatitis B immunizations, and serum draws. The clinics will be conducted at the Administrative Offices (3301 North Torrey Pines Court) on the P1 level from 11 AM to 2 PM. No appointments are necessary. TB screening requires a 48 to 72 hour follow-up. Individuals receiving the TB screen on Monday will need to return on Wednesday; individuals screened on Wednesday, will need to return on Friday. Initiation of the TB screening process will not be available on Friday, but Hepatitis B immunization and serum draws will be. To learn more about these programs, see the Environmental Health & Safety Occupational Medicine web page, which includes a map and patient information sheets.

Look for Next News&Views July 15
The next issue of News&Views, which is published every other week throughout the summer, will be posted by Monday, July 15. The deadline for announcement and calendar submissions is Wednesday at noon for the following Monday's publication.

Go back to News & Views Index

What do These People Have in Common?

All members of the National Academy of Sciences, several TSRI researchers pose for a picture after a reception last week in honor of the 2002 inductees, investigators Francis V. Chisari and Chi-Huey Wong. Pictured here (left to right) are Gerald F. Joyce, Chisari, Ernest Beutler, Paul Schimmel, Wong, Bernard M. Babior, and Albert Eschenmoser. Not shown are National Academy of Sciences members Floyd E. Bloom, Gerald M. Edelman, Richard Lerner, K.C. Nicolaou, Julius Rebek, Jr., Peter Schultz, K. Barry Sharpless, and Peter K. Vogt. Photo by Jason Bardi.