Oak Ridge Today

You can watch the total solar eclipse in the national parks

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Commemorative poster by artist and astronomer Tyler Nordgren (Submitted image)

Commemorative poster by artist and astronomer Tyler Nordgren (Submitted image)

 

On Monday, August 21, a total solar eclipse will be crossing the entire continental United States from Oregon to South Carolina. It has been named the Great All-American Total Solar Eclipse, a press release said.

Three local national parks—Obed Wild and Scenic River, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area—will collectively be offering six different viewing locations, with five of these locations being in the path of totality, the press release said.

The viewing locations include: [Read more…]

Park Service program on women of the Manhattan Project on Saturday, July 29

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Y-12 Calutron Girls

Women enriching uranium in calutrons at Y-12 as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II. This is the “Calutron Girls” photograph by Manhattan Project photographer Ed Westcott.

 

Join National Park Service staff for an interpretive program on women of the Manhattan Project at the American Museum of Science and Energy on Saturday, July 29.

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present the free program at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 29.

“The program will outline the life for women before, during, and after World War II,” a press release said. “Come learn about the women of the project and how they shaped the nation for future generations.” [Read more…]

DOE/NNSA test mobile nuclear facilities with Army during national security exercise

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Personnel from Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory participate in simulated radiation contamination and perform large drum packaging operations. (Photo by NNSA)

Personnel from Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory participate in simulated radiation contamination and perform large drum packaging operations. (Photo by NNSA)

 

Experts from across the U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration recently teamed up with the U.S. Army at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, to exercise the capabilities of two rapid response facilities critical to national security.

For six weeks in May and June, interagency partners practiced the operations and procedures necessary to deploy the Mobile Plutonium Facility and Mobile Uranium Facility as part of Exercise Corvina Loco, the NNSA said in a story published on its website in June.

“These two assets would allow the U.S. to package and safely remove nuclear materials quickly,” the NNSA said. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project public program: Powering the Tennessee Valley at AMSE on July 21

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Join a park ranger for a talk on the Tennessee Valley Authority on Friday. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present the free program at 1 p.m. Friday, July 21, in the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.

“During the program, we will discuss how the Tennessee Valley Authority changed the landscape and supported the war effort in East Tennessee,” a press release said.

The American Museum of Science and Energy is located at 300 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge. Call (865) 576-6767 for directions.

“Join Manhattan Project National Historical Park and help us celebrate our centennial by finding your park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee,” the press release said. “Visitors are encouraged to visit our website for more information on the park at https://www.nps.gov/mapr/oakridge.htm.”

For more information or directions, contact the Manhattan Project National Historical Park at (865) 576-6767.

DOE funds Center for Bioenergy Innovation at ORNL to accelerate biofuels, bioproducts research

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Gerald Tuskan will serve as chief executive officer of the new ORNL-led Center for Bioenergy Innovation, one of four DOE bioenergy research centers. (Photo by ORNL)

Gerald Tuskan will serve as chief executive officer of the new ORNL-led Center for Bioenergy Innovation, one of four DOE bioenergy research centers. (Photo by ORNL)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced funding for new research centers to accelerate the development of specialty plants and processes for a new generation of biofuels and bioproducts.

The Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI), led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is one of four bioenergy centers chosen by DOE to advance a new biobased economy with the production of fuels and other products directly from nonfood biomass. The DOE announcement provides a total of $40 million in initial funding for the four centers in fiscal year 2018, with plans for a total five years of funding, a press release said.

The new centers follow the success of predecessor Bioenergy Research Centers established by DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research within DOE’s Office of Science in 2007. The ORNL-led BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), for instance, has demonstrated scientific breakthroughs in its mission to overcome the natural resistance of plants to being broken down and converted into useful bioproducts.

“Our team of leading researchers is excited to use new approaches in biology to address the basic research challenges in developing real-world applications in the future sustainable bioeconomy,” said CBI Chief Executive Officer Gerald Tuskan. Tuskan, an ORNL Corporate Fellow, led the sequencing of the genome of Populus—a fast-growing perennial tree recognized for its potential in biofuels production—as well as the largest study of natural diversity in poplar trees for BESC. [Read more…]

Derek W. Austin, Ph.D Math and Science Scholarship awarded to Curtis Robertson

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Mr. and Mrs. Larry A. Austin announced that Curtis Robertson, a top STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) student from Oak Ridge High School is the second annual recipient of the Derek W. Austin, Ph.D Math and Science Scholarship. (Submitted photo)

Mr. and Mrs. Larry A. Austin announced that Curtis Robertson, a top STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) student from Oak Ridge High School is the second annual recipient of the Derek W. Austin, Ph.D Math and Science Scholarship. (Submitted photo)

 

Mr. and Mrs. Larry A. Austin have announced that Curtis Robertson, a top STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) student from Oak Ridge High School is the second annual recipient of the Derek W. Austin, Ph.D Math and Science Scholarship. This scholarship in the amount of $1,100.00 is designated to a senior who is working toward a math or science major and has received no other scholarship. The first recipient of this award in 2016 was Elisabeth Gallmeier.

This scholarship endowment is in memory of their son, Derek Austin, who was most recently the director of Telemedical Systems at Hubble Telemedical, Inc. in Knoxville, a press release said. He had also worked for Siemens Healthcare Im Tek Inc. He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. His profile on LinkedIn included a statement from Derek Austin, “As a survivor of pancreatic cancer, I have both a personal interest and intimate relationship with medical imaging and cancer research.” His specialties included expertise in software development, data acquisition, imaging systems, microscopy, and nanotechnology.

After Derek’s struggle ended with cancer, his parents created this scholarship endowment to carry on his memory, possibly giving students like Derek the opportunity to pursue their ambitions in STEM careers, the press release said.

This press release and photo were submitted by Holly Cross.

ORAU announces recipients of 2017 Pollard Scholarships

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Natalie Campbell

Natalie Campbell

 

ORAU has awarded five William G. Pollard Scholarships of $2,500 each toward undergraduate studies for the 2017-2018 academic year. The recipients of this year’s scholarships are Natalie Campbell, Rachel Edmonds, Connor Holmberg, James Timothy Maze, and Caroline Thomas.

Each year, ORAU awards these scholarships to employees’ children who display exceptional achievements in their high school or undergraduate studies, a press release said. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended, three references (at least two of which must be from teachers), and a 500-word essay describing the student’s professional and personal interests.

Below are additional details on each of this year’s winners: [Read more…]

Roane State’s Wurth honored for distinguished career in GIS

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Pat Wurth

Pat Wurth

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

When it comes to her expertise, Roane State’s Pat Wurth occupies a unique niche in Tennessee, and she has won a first-ever award for it.

Wurth, an associate professor at the college for nearly 19 years, recently received the accolade of appreciation for her “distinguished career developing GIS professionals.”

That’s what it says on the plaque she received during an April conference of the 500-member Tennessee Geographic Information Council. “It was quite an honor,” Wurth said.

GIS is about using geographic data to understand patterns, trends, and relationships. It’s widely used in environmental research, city planning, crime analysis, and by utility systems. [Read more…]

Health Physics Society names ORAU’s Davis as recipient of Elda E. Anderson Award

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ORAU Health Physicist Jason Davis and his wife, Samantha, display the 2017 Elda E. Anderson Award he received at the Health Physics Society Annual Meeting. (Photo by ORAU)

ORAU Health Physicist Jason Davis and his wife, Samantha, display the 2017 Elda E. Anderson Award he received at the Health Physics Society Annual Meeting. (Photo by ORAU)

 

RALEIGH, N.C.—The Health Physics Society has named Jason Davis, an ORAU health physicist, as the 2017 recipient of the Elda E. Anderson Award, an annual honor bestowed to one of its young members for excellence in research or development, discovery or invention, or significant contributions to the health physics profession.

The award was presented to Davis during the 62nd annual meeting of the Health Physics Society, July 9-13 in Raleigh.

Davis joined ORAU in 2009 to work on projects associated with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). As a member of the NIOSH Special Exposure Cohort team, Davis researches the historic monitoring practices of sites to determine whether sufficient information exists to adequately bound radiation exposures to employees, a press release said. He communicates this information, along with analyses of the methods to bound radiation doses using the data available, through evaluation reports, project reports, and white papers.

At ORAU, Davis works closely with Eric W. Abelquist, executive vice president and chief research officer. Abelquist is a former recipient of the Elda E. Anderson Award and is the new president of the Health Physics Society national organization. Davis recently assisted Abelquist in the execution of the Radiation Protection Research Needs Workshop held earlier this year and has helped organize a Visiting Faculty Research Program pilot that will be completed in August. [Read more…]

Melanie Fillauer, Rebecca Bowman are Agape House Chocolate Contest winners

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Melanie Fillauer, second from right, is the grand prize winner in the Agape House chocolate contest. With her are the contest judges, from left, Jeanne Gorman, Kelly Callison, and Elaine Graham. (Submitted photo)

Melanie Fillauer, second from right, is the grand prize winner in the Agape House chocolate contest. With her are the contest judges, from left, Jeanne Gorman, Kelly Callison, and Elaine Graham. (Submitted photo)

 

More than 130 chocolate lovers attended the recent “Evening of Everything Chocolate” in support of Agape House of Oak Ridge, a nonprofit organization providing transitional housing for the homeless.

The evening featured tables filled with chocolate desserts in the Social Hall of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church and a chocolate dessert contest. This year’s grand prize winner for best chocolate dessert was Melanie Fillauer with her Jack Daniels fudge pie. It was the second win for Fillauer, who won the first chocolate contest sponsored by Agape House two years ago. She took home a gold medal and a gift certificate for dinner at Aubrey’s Restaurant.

Rebecca Bowman won second place in the contest with her cookies with a kick. Judges were Jeanne Gorman, last year’s gold medal winner; Kelly Callison, Oak Ridge City Council member and chief operating officer of Information International Associates; and Elaine Graham, owner of Estate Sales Professionals, or the “Purple Van People.”

“Agape House counts on this annual fundraiser to produce 35 percent of our budget, and we are glad to announce that we achieved this goal this year,” said Michael McCutcheon, Agape House director. “We thank our sponsors, our ticket sellers, our volunteers, and all our ticket buyers for helping us help our struggling homeless neighbors.” [Read more…]

Butterfly Festival at UT Arboretum on Saturday, July 29

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

Monarch release, UT Insect Zoo, speakers, and children’s activities are highlights

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will present its Second Annual Butterfly Festival on Saturday, July 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum Auditorium and surrounding grounds, 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.  It is cosponsored by the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center. The gate will be open at 9:30 a.m., with coffee and donuts available.  The event will take place rain or shine, a press release said.

The event, which drew hundreds of area participants in 2016, is designed for children and adults of all ages. There is ample parking in designated areas of the Arboretum adjacent to the event, the press release said.

The day’s highlight will be the release of 100 butterflies, some at noon and the remainder at 2 p.m.

“We invite children to help release the monarch butterflies, which will be offered at a cost of $10 per butterfly,” the press release said. Cash or credit cards will be accepted.

Nationally recognized author Rita Venable is the keynote speaker. An award-winning writer, photographer, and butterfly expert, Rita will speak about “Small-scale Butterfly Gardening” at 10 a.m. At 1 p.m., she will speak on “Butterflies of Tennessee,” the subject of her popular book. Her book will be available for purchase and signing, the press release said. [Read more…]

UCOR Oak Ridge Velo Classic bike races are July 22-23

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2017-Oak-Ridge-Velo-Classic-Family-Wellness-Festival

The Tenth Annual UCOR Oak Ridge Velo Classic bicycle racing event will take place on Saturday, July 22, and Sunday, July 23. It will feature the 2017 State Championship Road Races.

The Velo Classic has become a “must-do” event for hundreds of competitive cyclists from throughout Tennessee and around the Southeast, a press release said.

The road races will be staged from the East Tennessee Technology Park on Saturday, July 22, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The final road race that day begins at 1 p.m. The time trial event is also staged at ETTP and begins on Saturday at 3:30 and runs for about an hour.

The criterium races, likened to “NASCAR on bikes,” will take place on a one-mile course at the Horizon Center on Sunday, July 23, beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the last race of the day beginning at 4:20 p.m. [Read more…]