Oak Ridge Today

Three groups seek info on plan to bring spent nuke fuel to ORNL

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Ralph Hutchison

Ralph Hutchison

Three nuclear watchdog organizations have filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission seeking information about plans to ship high burn-up commercial spent nuclear fuel from the North Anna power reactor in Virginia to Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, a press release said. The three organizations are Savannah River Site Watch in Columbia, South Carolina; Snake River Alliance Education Fund in Pocatello, Idaho; and the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance in Oak Ridge.

The groups filed the FOIA request after discovering a letter approving a shipping route from North Anna to Oak Ridge, the press release said. It said the letter provides little information about the specifics of the route or the timing of the proposed shipment.

“We asked for a map of the route two weeks ago,” said Ralph Hutchison, coordinator of OREPA. “So far, we’ve received nothing. So we are resorting to the formal—and more expensive for the government—FOIA process to get information.”

Tom Clements, director of SRS Watch, filed the FOIA on behalf of the three organizations. The Savannah River Site was initially under consideration for the research project. [Read more…]

OREPA celebrates 16 years of Sunday vigils this week

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OREPA Vigil Announcement Nov. 29, 2015

The Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance will celebrate 16 years of uninterrupted Sunday vigils at the gates of the Y-12 National Security Complex on Sunday, November 29, a press release said. The vigil starts at 5 p.m.

The vigils, which began on the first Sunday of Advent in November 1999, are intended to “bear witness to life and peace at the place where workers prepare for the destruction of the planet,” the press release said.

Thousands of people have attended the Sunday vigils; every continent except Antarctica has been represented; two presidental candidates have attended, the press release said.

“We welcome everyone to the vigils,” said OREPA coordinator Ralph Hutchison. “They attest to the persistent desire for peace and the refusal to be silent in the face of the threat Y12 poses to all humanity.”

For more information, contact Hutchison at (865) 776-5050.

Four ORNL researchers elected fellows of American Physical Society

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Jaime Fernandez-Baca

Jaime Fernandez-Baca (Photo courtesy ORNL)

Four researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory have been elected fellows of the American Physical Society, one of the nation’s top professional organizations for scientists.

Jaime Fernandez-Baca, Sergei Kalinin, Mark Lumsden, and Thomas Maier were selected for the honor by the APS Council of Representatives. They will be formally recognized at the APS’s March meeting.

Fernandez-Baca, a distinguished research staff member in the Quantum Condensed Matter Division in ORNL’s Neutron Science Directorate, was recognized by the APS Division of Materials Physics “for seminal neutron scattering studies of magnetic materials, especially the spin and lattice dynamics of colossal magnetoresistive manganites.”

Fernandez-Baca’s research is performed mainly at ORNL’s High Flux Isotope Reactor, where he is the lead for the Triple Axis Spectroscopy group. His expertise is in the study of the magnetic ordering and spin dynamics of complex oxides and related alloys using neutron scattering techniques.

He was the recipient of the International Atomic Energy Agency fellowship, the DOE Office of Science Outstanding Mentor Award (2008), and the Neutron Scattering Society of America Distinguished Service Award (2014). [Read more…]

ORAU employees prove it only takes a little to change a lot

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Haiti-Romulus-Family-ORAU

The Romulus family had a message in Haitian Creole for their friends at ORAU: Mèsi Anpil…“Thank You very much,” which they even painted on the side of their home. (Photo courtesy ORAU)

Haiti-Romulus-Family-Message-ORAU

Photo courtesy ORAU


Grassroots efforts, contributions from ORAU staff help build house for family in Haiti

When Chad Becker mentioned he was trying to get the funds together to go back to Haiti to build another home for a family devastated by the earthquake of 2010, it made a few of his ORAU coworkers stop and think.

“I’m sure people here would pay for a good spaghetti lunch,” said Frances Slater and Julie Humidan. “I could also make and sell some jewelry,” said Humidan. “And, I could help Chad sell his grandmother’s collection of beanie babies dolls that she gave him to help Haiti in some way,” said Deborah Wells.

Slater, Humidan, and Wells—all ORAU custodians—knew their coworkers at ORAU (Oak Ridge Associated Universities) would pitch in once they heard about the need. Becker, ORAU’s director of facilities and transportation, had been involved in recent years with Medic Samaritan to help provide aid to the Haitian people following the earthquake. He and his family even adopted a now 10-year-old girl from Haiti in 2012. [Read more…]

Miaofang Chi of ORNL named top scientist at UT-Battelle’s Awards Night

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Miaofang Chi

Miaofang Chi (Photo by ORNL)

Miaofang Chi of the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has earned the ORNL Director’s Award for Outstanding Individual Accomplishment in Science and Technology.

ORNL Director Thom Mason presented the award to Chi on Friday during the annual Awards Night event in Knoxville hosted by UT-Battelle, the management and operating contractor for ORNL.

Chi was honored for her pioneering early career research in analytical electron microscopy. Chi’s research has advanced the understanding of defect and interface chemistry and structure and how such defects control materials properties at the atomic level. Her work includes the recent development of transformative insitu microscopy methods to probe transport phenomena at the atomic scale.

Chi also earned the Early-Career Researcher Award. [Read more…]

CNS, UT chemical sensing technology wins R&D 100 Award

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ChIMES CNS and UT RD100

The ChIMES team’s investigators each brought unique expertise to the project. (Photo courtesy CNS)

 

An inexpensive, small, and portable chemical sensor developed by Consolidated Nuclear Security researchers at the Y-12 National Security Complex and the University of Tennessee received a prestigious R&D 100 Award.

ChIMES, which is short for Chemical Identification by Magneto-Elastic Sensing, was selected as a revolutionary technology by a panel of 70 independent judges. This low-cost sensor has virtually limitless applications, including detection of chemical and biological warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, explosives, and illegal drugs, a press release said.

The sensor is the product of a three-year collaborative effort between CNS and scientists from the University of Tennessee. Y-12 researcher Vincent Lamberti, who managed the project, said: “The R&D 100 award reflects the importance in having strong partners in the advancement of a new technology. ChIMES surely would not have succeeded without the steady stream of innovations that were created in our collaboration with UT.” [Read more…]

Homeland Security seeking faculty, grads, undergrads for summer 2015 research

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students interested in participating in one of its 10-week programs in summer 2016, including its Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions and its Homeland Security—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (HS-STEM) Summer Internship Program. The deadlines for applying for both programs occur in December 2015.

Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions

The Summer Research Team Program provides faculty and student teams from Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) with opportunities to conduct research at the university-based DHS Centers of Excellence.

Faculty members and students currently teaching or enrolled at an MSI in a discipline, major, or concentration directly related to a homeland security STEM research area are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be U.S. citizens, and each team must be comprised of one faculty member and up to two students (undergraduate and/or graduate level).

Applications and supporting materials must be submitted via the online application system by December 20 at https://www.zintellect.com/Posting/Details/1503. [Read more…]

ORNL, Solid Power sign exclusive license for lithium-sulfur battery tech

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Howe-Dudney-Liang

ORNL’s Nancy Dudney, center, and former lab researchers Jane Howe and Chengdu Liang were among the developers of lithium-sulfur materials that have been licensed to Solid Power for use in next-generation batteries. (Photo by ORNL)

 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Solid Power Inc. of Louisville, Colorado, have signed an exclusive agreement licensing lithium-sulfur materials for next-generation batteries.

The company licensed a portfolio of ORNL patents relating to lithium-sulfur compositions that will enable development of more energy-dense batteries, a press release said. ORNL’s proof-of-concept battery research has demonstrated the technology’s potential to improve power, operating temperature, manufacturability, and cost as well, the release said.

“We’re thrilled to add the technology developed at ORNL to Solid Power’s portfolio of novel materials and processes built around manufacturing a better battery,” said Douglas Campbell, president and chief executive officer of Solid Power. “The intellectual property ORNL has perfected better positions Solid Power to successfully achieve its mission.” [Read more…]

Record funding in federal budget could help Oak Ridge, senator says

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Lamar-Alexander-Warren-Gooch-Terry-Frank-Nov-20-2015

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, at a brief press conference with Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, center, and Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The federal budget expected to be complete by mid-December should have record funding, and the money could help Oak Ridge in areas ranging from mercury and Cold War cleanup to scientific research and the proposed Uranium Processing Facility, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander said Friday.

The Oak Ridge area now receives about $3 billion per year in federal funding, and the level will be increased although he doesn’t have a number yet, said Alexander, a Tennessee Republican.

Alexander held a brief press conference at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building on Friday.

He said the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which provided $1.4 billion to Oak Ridge National Laboratory this year, will have a record level of funding. [Read more…]

Tree removal to temporarily close Clark Center Park, Bull Bluff Road

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Clark Center Park Picnic Area

One of two large picnic areas at Clark Center Park. The park also includes a small playground, two ball fields, boat ramp, fishing trails, and beach. (File photo)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office will temporarily close Clark Center Park and Bull Bluff Road in Oak Ridge from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Monday, November 30, and again on Tuesday, December 1.

The temporary closure is due to tree removal that has been identified as potential safety hazards for travelers and visitors on the road and throughout Clark Center Park, which is in south Oak Ridge. Closure of the road during this work allow performance of the work in the most safe and efficient manner, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Office roads and grounds contractor will allow any emergency vehicles access in the event of an emergency while the work is being performed. Normal opening of Bull Bluff Road and Clark Center Park will resume on December 2 at 5 a.m.

Startup Day, which has ties to Oak Ridge, is in Knoxville on Thursday

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Knoxville’s 3rd annual Startup Day is Thursday, November 19, at the Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville. More than 400 attendees participate in the event that highlights East Tennessee as the hub for startups and entrepreneurs, organizers said.

Startup Day has ties to Oak Ridge. Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Tech 2020 are presenting sponsors.

Doors open at 1:45 p.m. Thursday. [Read more…]

Budget plans for Secret City Festival discussed; DOE landfill raises concerns for Council

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Warren Gooch

Warren Gooch (Photo by Savanna Schubert)

By Savanna Schubert

There are no changes to the 2016 Secret City Festival, but Oak Ridge may enjoy the festival in a new season in 2017.

The first resolution on the Oak Ridge City Council agenda on Monday related to the Secret City Festival, an annual two-day festival that is the city’s biggest event each year but is in transition. It’s now in June, but it could be a fall event starting in 2017 and it could be transformed into a celebration that lasts a week or more.

“We are looking to broaden the festival into a series of concerts and festivals to last throughout the year,” City Manager Mark Watson said.

The 2016 festival will continue the tradition of nightly concerts, war re-enactments, and fun family-oriented activities for all ages. [Read more…]