In Brief

Benjamin Cravatt to Speak as Part of the Faculty Lecture Series
Benjamin Cravatt, chair of the Department of Chemical Physiology, will speak on "Activity-based proteomics ̫ applications for enzyme and inhibitor discovery" as part of the California campus's Faculty Lecture Series on Wednesday, March 10. The lecture will take place in the Timken Amphitheater (Green Hospital), 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, at 5 PM, with a reception to follow in the Arnold and Mabel Beckman building, first floor. For more information, see Cravatt's Faculty Lecture Series web page.

Take the Recycling Challenge
Are you in the mood for a challenge? The first-ever Scripps Research recycling competition is taking place on the California campus during the month of March and all California employees are invited to participate. The teams? East versus West campus (with the dividing line being North Torrey Pines Road). The metric? Pounds of recycled material per employee, as calculated by Environmental Services. The prize? Bragging rights.

"We're holding the competition to raise awareness of the importance of recycling," said Environmental Services' Mario Osornio, a member of the Green Team. "We'll announce the winners on April 15, at the 2010 Green Feat Expo."

Commemorating the 41st Earth Day, the Green Feat Expo will provide an opportunity for the institute's researchers and support staff to learn more about the campus's sustainability efforts and accomplishments; green purchasing decisions for work and home; local environmental education, outreach, and volunteer programs; and the current evidence and effects of climate change in the San Diego area. Some two dozen exhibitors are scheduled to participate in the event, which will be held Thursday, April 15, 2010, from 11 AM to 1 PM in the Immunology Building Breezeway. The annual E-waste recycling day will take place on Wednesday, April 21.

For the recycling competition, paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, cardboard, and pipette tips will all be counted towards your team's total. Recycled e-waste, batteries, and light bulbs (while still appreciated) can't be included for logistical reasons. Of course, no bringing in recyclables from home to improve your numbers!

For more information, click on the 2010 Green Feat button on the institute's home page or visit the website at http://www.scripps.edu/services/greenfeat/.

NWiS, Graduate Office, and SOF to Host Get Together For New Faculty and Students
The Network for Women in Science (NWiS), the Graduate Office, and the Society of Fellows (SOF) are hosting a happy hour for new faculty and students to get to know each other on Thursday, March 18 at 5 PM. Although the event is aimed at helping to pair students still seeking rotation opportunities with new Ph.D. advisors looking for new lab members, all individuals—including established principal investigators, more senior students, and postdocs—interested in meeting the people behind the institute's newest research directions are welcome to attend.

The March 18 event will be held in the Faculty Club Tennis Court Room. If you are a principal investigator planning to attend and have not already done so, please RSVP to heideker@scripps.edu. Appetizers, wine, and cheese will be served.

Career Workshop Series: "Designing Your Life"
Coach Samantha Sutton of The Handel Group will speak on "Designing Your Life" on Thursday, March 11 as part of the Career Workshop Series. The workshop will focus on formulating inspired dreams and honestly evaluating what your life currently looks like. It will help you cut through the limiting beliefs and excuses to design a plan-of-attack for moving toward your dreams. Sponsored by the Kellogg School of Science and Technology, The Network for Women in Science, the Society of Fellows, and the Office of Career and Postdoctoral Services, the event will be held in the Keck Amphitheater. A networking reception will follow. Registration is required at: http://hris.scripps.edu/training/course/11 .

Reminder: 2009 Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Account Deadlines
If you participated in the Healthcare Spending Account (HCSA) during the 2009 plan year and still have a balance in your 2009 Healthcare Spending Account, please remember that March 15, 2010 is the deadline for incurring claims for the 2009 Plan year. You will have until June 30, 2010 to submit your claims for reimbursement to our new provider, UMR.

If you participated in the Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA) during the 2009 plan year, please remember that June 30, 2010 is the deadline to submit your DCSA claims to UMR for the 2009 Plan year.

UMR claim forms are available on the Scripps Research Benefits website at http://www.scripps.edu/hr/benefits/flexaccts.html. If you have any questions, please contact Benefits Administration at x4-8487 or via email at benefits@scripps.edu.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu