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LBNL employees have shared across multiple feedback channels that they highly value learning from each other and seek opportunities to connect and exchange knowledge with colleagues outside of their existing networks and everyday teams. In response to these needs, we have launched the "Team Science Dine-Arounds."
What is a "Dine-Around"?
The goal of the Dine Arounds is to foster cross-lab opportunities for informal knowledge sharing and connection building, and provide a space for any individual or group to convene discussions on “team science” topics that could drive collaboration across the Lab.
Our LBNL definition of “Team Science” recognizes that innovative solutions to complex problems arise from embracing all approaches, experiences, and roles. As such, all Lab members (including all roles in operations and science, and all experience levels from intern to senior leader) are warmly invited to participate.
How Does it Work?
Several times per year, a different space at the Lab will be reserved for Dine-Arounds. Any individual or group from across the Lab can volunteer to “host” a table by choosing a discussion topic. Topics and discussion locations will be advertised Lab-wide.
Everyone (any position, any part of the Lab) is welcome to attend. Individuals can bring their own lunch, or purchase a “Dine-Around Special” from the food trucks. Those who purchase a "Dine-Around Special" in advance can have their lunch delivered to the dine-around location. Attendees can sign up in advance to let the host know they plan to attend the discussion, or they can drop-in. Space may be limited, but hosts will strive to accommodate all interested attendees.
Get Involved
Have a discussion topic idea? Let us know! You can volunteer to host a table yourself, or just submit an idea. Please fill out this form or email pathways@lbl.gov.
Know a space where we could host a dine-around? We are currently looking for spaces for future events! Email pathways@lbl.gov.
Want to join the dine-around organizing committee? We are looking for more volunteers! Please email pathways@lbl.gov.
Dine Around Discussions
At each dine-around, about six tables, with about 10 seats each, will be reserved for hosted discussions.
Anyone at the Lab (an individual, group, organization, office) can volunteer to host a discussion, as long as it is:
Focused on a “team science” topic (see next bullet for parameters) that you would like to discuss with others at the Lab with different approaches, experiences, and roles.
Discussion must be open to anyone at the Lab who is interested in the topic.
Topics can be operational, scientific, or both. Some examples could include:
Discussions seeking innovative solutions to complex problems (“How might we solve Problem X”?)
Discussions intended to bring together approaches, experiences, or roles that are usually siloed (“How can we get X and Y to work better together?”)
Discussions intended to share a unique approach, experience, or role with others at the Lab (“I/we have figured out how do X; how might this be useful to you?” / "Ask Me Anything about Y")
FAQS
Have a question that isn't covered here? Email the Career Pathways Office at pathways@lbl.gov.
For Attendees
Who can attend?
All Lab members (including all roles in operations and science, and all experience levels from intern to senior leader) are warmly invited to participate. Our LBNL definition of “Team Science” recognizes that innovative solutions to complex problems arise from embracing all approaches, experiences, and roles.
Do I have to be an expert in the discussion topic in order to attend a dine-around?
Not at all! Anyone from the Lab who is interested in any topic is welcome to join.
Is lunch provided?
No, lunch is not provided at this time. Attendees can bring their own lunch, or pre-purchase a Dine-Around Special from the food trucks, to be delivered to the dine-around location. (Orders must be submitted between 8-10 a.m. the morning of the dine-around.) Read more details.
Do I have to RSVP?
No, you are welcome to drop-in. Space may be limited, but hosts will strive to accommodate all interested attendees. But if you can RSVP, that is helpful, so that the discussion hosts and organizers know how many to expect. Also, if you would like your lunch to be delivered to the dine-around, you must order it between 8-10 a.m. the morning of the event.
For Discussion Hosts
How do I sign up to host a discussion?
Please fill out this form or email pathways@lbl.gov to let us know your topic!
Who can host?
All Lab members (including all roles in operations and science, and all experience levels from intern to senior leader) are warmly invited to submit discussion topics. We will prioritize a breadth of “team science” topics, which we define as:
Discussions seeking innovative solutions to complex problems (“How might we solve Problem X”?)
Discussions intended to bring together approaches, experiences, or roles that are usually siloed (“How can we get X and Y to work better together?”)
Discussions intended to share a unique approach, experience, or role others at the Lab might want to learn more about (“Come learn how I/we do X”)
What support will hosts receive?
Hosts will be provided with:
Materials on facilitating an effective team science conversation
Support with advertising their discussion, including Lab-wide communications via Elements
A list of any advance sign-ups for their discussion
An opportunity for both hosts and participants to purchase food to be delivered to the dine-around location
(Optional) If hosts would like, they can request a co-facilitator from Career Pathways Office to help guide the discussion, subject to availability.
Can groups or teams sign up to host a discussion?
Yes! Keep in mind that most dine-around tables accommodate around ten participants, and your discussion must be open to anyone who would like to join. If you have a large group, you may wish to sign up for multiple tables.
If I host a discussion, who will attend?
Discussions are open to all, and will be advertised Lab-wide, so attendance could include anyone in any role from across the Lab. If there are specific groups or individuals you hope may attend, we encourage you to advertise your discussion to them.
Can I host a discussion on the same topic multiple times?
Yes! If you have a topic that would benefit from being discussed across multiple months, you are welcome to host repeat discussion tables, as long as space allows.
Upcoming Dine-Arounds
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025
Molecular Foundry
Time: 12-1 pm PDT
Location: In and around Molecular Foundry (meet at B67, 3rd Floor lobby)
Discussion Topics:
Setting (and Changing!) Annual Career Goals (Hosted by Rebecca Andersen, Talent Strategies, HR)
Setting intentional career goals doesn’t have to feel like a rigid plan, but can instead be a flexible framework allowing us to build our way forward. We'll explore how to move beyond static, set-and-forget goals and embrace a more dynamic process using design thinking.
Internships and STEM Communication Opportunities (Hosted by Faith Dukes, STEM Education and Workforce Office)
Interested in working with our future workforce? Learn about the capabilities of our STEM Education and Workforce Office and how you can facilitate hands-on learning, mentor, and hone your own communication and supervision skills.
Agentic AI for Coding (Hosted by Tim Fong, ScienceIT)
Interested in the latest developments in AI for coding? Eager to share your own coding workflow with others? Join Timothy Fong, ScienceIT consultant for a roundtable discussion about emerging practices in the exciting field of agentic coding tools and workflows.
Getting Experimental Data AI-Ready (Hosted by Katherine Sytwu, Molecular Foundry; and Ben Erichson, Scientific Data)
What does it mean for experimental data to be “AI-ready”? What do AI researchers want and need from experimental data? What are experimentalists’ questions and concerns about making data available for AI research? Join this cross-Area discussion, hosted by members of the Lab’s Early Career Enrichment Program, and bring your own questions and perspectives.
Mid-Career Scientists & Engineers Meetup (Meg Rodriguez and Linda Louie, Career Pathways Office)
Did you know that the Career Pathways Office is launching new support for mid-career scientists and engineers at the Lab? Come join this informal conversation to learn more about what we learned by conducting a needs assessment on this complex career stage. You’ll also hear about (and maybe meet!) the Advisory Board of scientists and engineers who will be co-leading development of new programs and services.
February 2026
Guest House
12-1 pm PDT
Discussion Topics:
Entrepreneurship at Berkeley Lab (Melanie Sonsteng, Cyclotron Road)
Did you know we host tough tech startup entrepreneurs at Berkeley Lab? The Cyclotron Road (CyRd) program is in its 10th year, and holds the distinction of being the 1st of the DOE Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Programs (LEEP) that now exist across 4 national labs, with additional programs modeled after it across the states. Join us for an informal discussion with Melanie Sonsteng, CyRd program manager, and a couple of our current entrepreneurial fellows working on projects at the Lab.
What I Learned about Science Communication from Participating in Berkeley Lab SLAM (Berkeley Lab SLAM Finalists)
Hear Berkeley Lab SLAM finalists talk about their experiences participating in the SLAM, and what they learned about science communication and how to effectively communicate their research.
Mentoring at Berkeley Lab (Description coming soon)
More topics coming soon. We are currently recruiting discussion hosts for February!
Past Dine-Arounds
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Building 50
Time: 12-1 p.m. Pacific
Location: Meet at B50 Auditorium
Agenda:
Day before: Order a “Dine-Around Special” from the food trucks (optional).
12-12:10 p.m.: Arrive at the auditorium to pick up your pre-ordered food, choose a discussion to attend, find your discussion room, and meet your host.
12:10-1 p.m.: Enjoy your discussion!
Discussion Topics:
PI Budget Tools (Hosted by Simone Pagan Griso, Senior Scientist, PSA)
How can we create budget sandbox tools that PIs can use to forecast the effects of different changes? All are welcome to join to share strategies or dashboards they currently use to do this, and/or what kinds of solutions they are looking for. Hosted by Simone Pagan Griso, Senior Scientist (PSA).
Supporting Early-Career Employees (Hosted by Kenny Higa, Early Career ERG)
What new initiatives would you like to see from the Early Career ERG? All are welcome to join to learn about the Early Career ERG, get involved, and/or share ideas for how to help all early career employees reach their fullest potential.
Boosting Employee Association Participation (Hosted by Bernard Field and Jakub Kierdaszuk, Berkeley Lab Postdoc Association)
How can we boost interest in volunteering for employee associations (EAAs) at the Lab? All are welcome to join to learn more about EAAs, express interest, or share strategies that work for your EAA/ERG.
Learning from Strengths (Hosted by Marcia Ocón Leimer, Sr. Manager, HR Strategic Partner Services)
How does collaboration at LBNL strengthen when we make space to learn from what's working, not just what needs fixing? If you're curious about how learning from strengths can support collaboration at LBNL, we welcome your contribution to the dialogue.
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