Oak Ridge Today

Greener, cheaper fuel possible thanks to ORNL-UT breakthrough

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Michael Hu

Michael Hu

KNOXVILLE—Sticker shock at the gas pump could soon be a thing of the past thanks to research being conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Among the key components in processing fuels, particularly bio-friendly ones, are the membranes that aid in the process of separating unwanted compositions such as water from the fuel or hydrocarbon from aqueous phase.

“We can help wallets and help profits at the same time,” said Michael Hu, a joint faculty member of ORNL and the College of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. “If we can improve that separation process it will mean a reduction in cost to make, a reduction in cost to supply, and a reduction in cost to buy.”

The breakthrough technology being brought to life by the research team combines nanotextured pores with superhydrophobic or superhydrophillic—or, in plain terms, super water-repulsing and water-attracting—substances. [Read more…]

Honors: Hicks named Roane State paramedic student of year

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Terry Hicks Roane State Paramedic Student of the Year

Roane State paramedic student of the year Terry Hicks (center) is congratulated by his mother, Tangiela (left), Dr. Roger Brooksbank with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine (back), and Roane State paramedic program director David Blevins (right). (Photo by RSCC)

 

Terry Hicks of Robbins was named Roane State Community College’s paramedic student of the year.

Dr. Roger Brooksbank with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine presented the award to Hicks during Roane State’s annual Knoxville paramedic program luncheon. Students completing the paramedic program were recognized at the event, which was sponsored by TeamHealth.

Hicks started as a volunteer firefighter. As he worked his way through the ranks, he became interested in pursuing education in emergency medicine.

“It’s been long, committed hours,” Hicks said of the year-long paramedic program. “You have to stay in the books, stay studying, and stay on top of your clinicals. My teachers at Roane State are fantastic. They make sure we are ready, and they do a fantastic job.” [Read more…]

Honors: Mehta awarded Food City scholarship

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Monil Mehta of Oak Ridge was recently awarded a $1,500 Food City Scholarship Award from the Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation.

Mehta was recognized on June 14 at the annual convention of the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association held at the Music City Center.

A graduate of Oak Ridge High School, Mehta attends the University of Tennessee and majors in biochemistry and molecular  and cellular biology. Monil is an employee at Food City, and he has spent close to 500 hours volunteering in his community with fundraisers and youth outreaches, a press release said.

The Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation presented 148 scholarships this year valued at $161,300 to students in the food industry. Eligible recipients are either employed by TGCSA member firms, or have parents who are full-time employees of a TGCSA member firm.

Roane State professor develops online course he will teach while living under the sea

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Bruce Cantrell

Bruce Cantrell

Roane State Community College biology professor Bruce Cantrell has always wanted to teach a course on living under the sea.

He developed a fascination with the sea years ago while serving in the Navy. Books about undersea exploration line his office shelves. A promotional poster for the famed Jacques Cousteau-directed documentary “World without Sun” hangs on his wall.

This fall, Cantrell will finally have a chance to teach Roane State students about living and working under the sea. And he’ll do it while he actually lives and works under the sea.

Cantrell and faculty member Jessica Fain will live and teach from an underwater habitat for 72 days this fall. While they live in a space the size of a college dorm room submerged about 25 feet, Cantrell and Fain will host weekly shows titled “Classroom Under the Sea.”

The shows, presented in partnership with the Marine Resources Development Foundation in Key Largo, Florida, will feature scientists and explorers and will cover topics such as underwater archeology and ocean exploration. [Read more…]

Roane State honor society members take part in national conference at Disney World

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Roane State Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Conference

Roane State Phi Theta Kappa members, from left, Miranda Chase, Shawn Van Horn, and Georgette Boozer take a break from all the fun at the honor society’s national conference at Walt Disney World this spring. (Submitted photo)

 

Representatives of Roane State Community College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society unleashed their inner nerd at the society’s national conference, “NerdNation 2014,” at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges.

Roane State PTK chapter president Georgette Boozer said attending the national conference offered “a chance to explore leadership potential with college peers and a way to have fun with people from all over the country.”

Boozer and fellow PTK members Miranda Chase and Shawn Van Horn attended education sessions, networked with fellow students, and heard renowned speakers such as polar explorer Alison Levine and oceanographer Robert Ballard, who discovered the Titanic in 1985.

The conference was titled “NerdNation” to celebrate the idea that it’s cool to be smart. Pop culture, through shows such as “The Big Bang Theory,” and fashion—bow ties are in, and horn-rimmed glasses are back—celebrate nerd style, or “geek chic.” [Read more…]

Scholarships helps study abroad programs for Roane State students

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Roane State Study Abroad Scholarships

The Roane State Concert Choir traveled to Malaga, Spain, this spring, just one of the international education programs offered at the college. (Submitted photo)

 

A grant awarded by the Tennessee Board of Regents helped Roane State Community College students participate in study abroad programs this spring.

Access and Diversity grants are awarded by the Tennessee Board of Regents to projects promoting diversity, enhancing inclusiveness, and strengthening the presence of underrepresented groups on campuses statewide. Roane State associate professor of business Dave Rath applied for and received an Access and Diversity grant for 2013-14. Titled “Access Global Cultures,” the grant funded study abroad scholarships up to $1,000.

Scholarship applicants were required to write an essay and to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Roane State community service after returning from their study abroad program. Recipients were chosen based on individual need, GPA, and their essay.

The grant, for example, provided funding for music students who traveled to Malaga, Spain, in March to participate in an international choral festival. Of the 11 Concert Choir members who traveled to Spain, six applied for and received the Access Global Cultures scholarship. All six students agreed that without the scholarships, they would not have been able to participate. [Read more…]

UT among best, most interesting schools; ORNL collaboration cited

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory Sign

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville has been rated one of the “best and most interesting” schools in the 2015 edition of the “Fiske Guide to Colleges,” and UT’s collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory was recognized.

KNOXVILLE—The University of Tennessee in Knoxville has been rated one of the “best and most interesting” schools in the 2015 edition of the “Fiske Guide to Colleges,” which reviews higher education institutions in the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain.

UT is one of more than 300 universities to be included in the guide, which advises prospective students about academic quality, campus setting, financial aid, housing, and extracurricular activities. The publication was released this summer.

UT is recognized for its collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which “bolsters science and technology offerings, and involves more than 400 students and faculty in majors as diverse as English and physics.” The guide also praises the university’s strong programs in communications, psychology, business, architecture, accounting, and engineering. [Read more…]

Honors: Anderson County commissioners award $500 scholarship

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Anderson County Commissioners Scholarship

 

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The Anderson County Board of Commissioners established and began contributing personal funds to a scholarship fund in 1996. This fund is set up to provide a scholarship annually to a student at each of the three high schools in Anderson County.

Oak Ridge commissioners, from left to right, Myron Iwanski, Whitey Hitchcock, Jerry Creasey, scholarship recipient Jasmannie Garcia, Steve Mead, and Robin Biloski, and John Shuey (not pictured) were pleased to award Garcia, Oak Ridge Class of 2014, with his $500 scholarship to be used at Roane State Community College, where he will enter the nursing program.

Congratulations, Jasmannie!

Roane State to offer new programs in medical informatics, financial services

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Roane State Community College Harriman Campus

The main Roane State Community College campus in Harriman. The college also has a branch campus in Oak Ridge.

 

Roane State Community College will offer two new programs beginning in fall 2014: an associate of applied science in medical informatics and an associate of applied science in financial services.

The Tennessee Board of Regents approved the programs at its June meeting.

The two-year medical informatics program combines information technology, or IT, and health care. As health care providers increasingly use complex computerized records, they need qualified employees with computer skills and expertise in digital health care record-keeping.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to grow 20 percent through 2018. Technicians who also have IT skills are expected to be in particularly high demand. [Read more…]

Roane State medical transcription program has new name

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Applications now being accepted

Roane State Community College has changed the name of its one-year medical transcription program.

The certificate program is now called healthcare documentation specialist. The name change reflects changes taking place in the medical transcription industry and the program’s emphasis on new skills that employers want.

While traditional medical transcription remains part of the program, students also practice editing reports generated by speech recognition software.

“Students still need to know transcription,” program director Linda Marsh said. “But the use of speech recognition software is growing. Editing reports generated by this software requires an additional skill set than traditional medical transcription. The job function is quickly going from transcribing to editing and very often the healthcare documentation specialist may edit documentation inside the electronic health record environment. They may also perform quality checks. [Read more…]

ORNL hires more than 60 UT engineering interns

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UT Co-op Students

University of Tennessee engineering students who are taking part in summer internships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, more than 60 in all, gather at ORNL. (Photo courtesy UT)

 

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KNOXVILLE—For more than seven decades, the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have forged special connections in a number of key areas, perhaps none stronger than the personnel that the two share.

That particular bond was on display recently when members of UT’s Office of Professional Practice office visited the facilities at ORNL, meeting more than 60 engineering students involved in summer internships at the lab.

Todd Reeves, director of the office, addressed the College of Engineering students and shared his thoughts about the importance of the work they are doing for ORNL and on leaving a good impression of themselves and their attitude.

“We talked about how special it is for them to be working in such a high-profile facility, and that it was key for them to do their best every day,” Reeves said. “More than that, we encouraged them to be enthusiastic and positive as they went about their work because it shapes the impression their managers have on them.” [Read more…]