What: UC Davis is the first public university in the United States to house a Sun Technology and Research Excellence Center. It makes possible innovative, technology-based projects among faculty, students and policy-makers involved in government issues. The goal of the $550,000 Sun Microsystems gift is to enable the political science department to develop state-of-the-art, Internet-based solutions to key government issues and to enhance citizens' access. When: Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. Where: Room 233 Social Sciences and Humanities Building, UC Davis Visuals: The research lab has an extensive bank of computer work stations equipped with Netra Internet servers and videoconferencing software. The lab's associate director, Professor Geoffrey Wandesforde-Smith, and its director, political science chair Larry Berman, will conduct a demonstration for the news media. In addition, John Thomas Flynn, in charge of California's electronic communication, will tour the facility and look at the opportunities available for statewide collaboration. Background: As one of its first projects, the lab will operate a virtual policy center for the defense department that will link policy-makers and academics for a discussion of defense and security issues. Also students will be able to study the strategies and accomplishments of the environmental movement by using the World Wide Web and the Internet for collaborative research and writing. "An exciting use of our lab will be the ability to query focus groups electronically and conduct some polling on the Internet related to election issues," says Berman. "This form of electronic democracy will result in many new applications to help make government a more efficient and effective process." In the United States only MIT and Harvard University have similar laboratories. Parking From Interstate 80, take the Richards Blvd. exit and proceed and Directions: north to First Street. Left on First to A Street. Right on A Street and park alongside the Social Sciences and Humanities Building (spaces will be reserved). Take the elevator on the north entrance of the building down one story and Room 233 will be on the north of a small courtyard. Photographers and reporters may park on the street if they leave a business card on the dashboard.