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Artificial intelligence to be discussed Tuesday

Posted at 1:00 am December 5, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Lynne E. Parker

Artificial intelligence policy and its societal implications will be discussed during a lunch in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The featured speaker at Lunch with the League will be Lynne E. Parker, associate vice chancellor and director of the AI Tennessee Initiative at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Lunch with the League is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. It has been organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and it is open to the public.

You are welcome to bring a lunch or purchase a boxed lunch. Coffee and tea will be served. The presentation will begin at noon.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Community, Education, Front Page News, Science, Top Stories Tagged With: artificial intelligence, Lunch with the League, Lynne Parker, University of Tennessee

Lunch with League: Global warming at a local level

Posted at 9:08 am October 17, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Melissa Allen-Dumas

A research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Tuesday will discuss the expected impacts of climate change on extreme weather and cities.

Melissa Allen-Dumas is a research scientist in the Computational Sciences and Engineering Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Her talk at Lunch with the League is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Those who attend can bring a lunch or purchase a boxed lunch. Coffee and tea will be served. The presentation will begin at noon, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: climate change, global warming, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, Melissa Allen-Dumas, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL

ORNL scientist to lead project studying permafrost thaw, climate processes in Alaska

Posted at 12:40 pm May 29, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Colleen Iversen (Photo submitted by ORNL)

Submitted

Colleen Iversen—ecosystem ecologist, group leader, and distinguished staff scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory—has been named director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments Arctic, or NGEE Arctic. That is a multi-institutional project studying permafrost thaw and other climate-related processes in Alaska, a press release said.

Iversen has worked as a scientist on NGEE Arctic since 2012 and served as its deputy director from 2021-2023. She also leads a research team in the Plant-Soil Interactions Group at ORNL. Iversen succeeds Stan Wullschleger, founding director of NGEE Arctic, who retired as associate laboratory director for Biological and Environmental Systems Science at ORNL in April 2023.

Iversen, who took on the role of director and principal investigator for NGEE Arctic earlier this year, is excited about taking the reins of such a large, multidisciplinary project, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Arctic permafrost, climate, Colleen Iversen, Dan Stover, DOE, E3SM, Energy Exascale Earth System Model, Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments Arctic, NGEE Arctic, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, permafrost, Stan Wullschleger, U.S. Department of Energy

Guided paddle trip on Melton Hill Lake on Sunday

Posted at 8:19 pm April 28, 2023
By Sandra Kaye Goss Leave a Comment

A guided scenic paddle trip on Melton Hill Lake from Clark Center Park is scheduled for Sunday, April 30.

It will begin at the Clark Center Park boat ramp, a press release said. After paddling across the lake, there will be a stop at Knox County’s Melton Lake Park, where Knox County is sponsoring a weekend camporee. Along the way, participants can pick up and haul back manageable trash, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Recreation, Science, Sports Tagged With: Advocates for Oak Ridge Reservation, Clark Center Park, Melton hill lake, paddle trip, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning

Guided wildflower hike at Haw Ridge on Saturday

Posted at 8:14 pm April 28, 2023
By Sandra Kaye Goss Leave a Comment

Wildflower fans will enjoy a guided, curated hike on Haw Ridge this Saturday, April 29, at 10 am. There will likely be sightings of inconspicuous orchid, Wister’s coralroot, and other spring wildflowers, a press release said.

“Some of these flowers are growing on a small cedar barren,” said botanist and hike leader Larry Pounds. “We’ll walk a loop of less than two miles. The trail is rough in places.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Recreation, Science, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Haw Ridge, Larry Pounds, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, Tennessee Native Plant Society, wildflower hike

Ernie’s Creek cleanup is Saturday

Posted at 7:28 pm April 28, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Several organizations and volunteers will be cleaning up a section of Ernie’s Creek in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The cleanup is hosted by the National Ecological Observatory Network (Domain 07 Appalachians and Cumberland Plateau), in partnership with Oak Ridge Healthy Waters and the Adopt-A-Stream program.

“The event aims to provide an opportunity for our office and the greater community of Oak Ridge to work together to reduce the impacts of accumulated garbage in a local creek,” a press release said. “Work gloves, safety vests, trash bags, etc. will be provided along with extra water for hydration.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Science Tagged With: Adopt-A-Stream, cleanup, Ernie's Creek, National Ecological Observatory Network, Oak Ridge Healthy Waters

ORCSGirls resumes in-person classes in Oak Ridge, Maryville

Posted at 7:00 pm January 23, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls (ORCSGirls) will resume their free in-person coding classes for girls in grades 5-10. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls (ORCSGirls) is resuming their free in-person coding classes for girls in grades 5-10, a press release said.

In March 2020, all classes were switched to be virtual events in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In person classes resumed in January and are offered at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge and at the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, the press release said.

All in-person events follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to keep everyone safe, the press release said. ORCSGirls also continues to offer virtual sessions. Current classes and signup can be found at www.orcsgirls.org/classes.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, K-12, Science Tagged With: coding classes, Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls, ORCSGirls

Bird courtship to be discussed in UT Arboretum Society program

Posted at 11:00 am January 23, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bird courtship will be discussed in a pre-recorded program of the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society in February.

“Bird courtship has begun!” a press release said. “Either from new partnerships being formed or existing pairs renewing their bonds, it is that time of year when birds are looking for a mate. Each species is slightly different with some feeding, some grooming and some snuggling. But can we call it love? Join us for this pre-recorded program to discuss bird courtship.”

Michelle Campanis, education coordinator at the University of Tennessee Arboretum, and naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales will discuss aspects of avian pair bonding in a pre-recorded program for February’s First Thursday Nature Supper Club, the press release said.

“This is one of our favorite and most requested programs!” the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Science Tagged With: bird courtship, Michelle Campanis, Stephen Lyn Bales, University of Tennessee Arboretum Society, UT Arboretum, UTAS

President appoints ORNL researcher to National Science Board

Posted at 11:08 pm January 18, 2023
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image courtesy Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Note: This story was updated at 2 p.m. Jan. 22.

President Joe Biden will appoint Merlin Theodore of Oak Ridge National Laboratory to the National Science Board, the White House said in an announcement last week.

Theodore is the first full-time researcher from a national laboratory to serve on the National Science Board, the governing board for the National Science Foundation, according to ORNL.

“Merlin’s appointment to the National Science Board is indicative of her accomplishments as a researcher, her contributions to national missions, and her advocacy for women and minorities in science,” said interim ORNL Director Jeff Smith.

Theodore is one of eight new board members. The National Science Board is made up of 25 members appointed by the president, and they serve six-year terms.

The National Science Board pursues the goals and function of the NSF, including the duty to “recommend and encourage the pursuit of national policies for the promotion of research and education in science and engineering,” according to the White House news release.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: advanced manufacturing, Jeff Smith, Joe Biden, material research, National Science Board, National Science Foundation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, University of Tennessee

ORNL isotope center estimated to cost $250 million

Posted at 12:17 am January 14, 2023
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge National Laboratory had a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 24, 2022, for the U.S. Stable Isotope Production and Research Center. A design image of the new center is pictured above.

Note: This story was last updated at 4 p.m.

A new center to research and produce isotopes at Oak Ridge National Laboratory could cost an estimated $250 million.

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Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Premium Content, Science, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Inflation Reduction Act, isotopes, Jennifer Granholm, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, SIPRC, stable isotopes, U.S. Stable Isotope Production and Research Center, Y-12 National Security Complex

ORNL center will make isotopes for medicine, research, security

Posted at 12:48 pm November 21, 2022
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge National Laboratory had an October 24 groundbreaking ceremony for the U.S. Stable Isotope Production and Research Center. A design image of the new center is pictured above.

Note: This story was updated at 11 a.m. Nov. 22.

For decades, Oak Ridge made stable isotopes. Those are non-radioactive forms of atoms that can be used in medicine and industry, and for research and national security.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here.

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  • Pro annual subscription ($100 per year)—save $20 per year, access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month

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We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription.

Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Premium Content, Science, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, DOE, Geraldine Richmond, Inflation Reduction Act, isotope separation, Jennifer Granholm, Johnny Moore, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, ORNL, stable isotope center, stable isotopes, Thomas Zacharia, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Stable Isotope Production and Research Center

Arboretum Nature Book Trail features new insect book

Posted at 1:16 pm November 16, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Nature Book Trail at the University of Tennessee Arboretum features “Bugs on the Job,” a book by author Nancy Kelly Allen and illustrator Martyna Nejman. (Photo by UT Arboretum Society)

The Nature Book Trail at the University of Tennessee Arboretum features “Bugs on the Job,” a book by author Nancy Kelly Allen and illustrator Martyna Nejman.

The Nature Book Trail is about half a mile in length. It begins near the parking lot by the UT Arboretum Visitors Center at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“It is an easy trail for children and adults to hike, with two benches to rest on along the way; however, it is non-accessible for people with disabilities,” the press release said. “The 14 beautiful trail signs feature Ian Sect, a roving reporter who interviews 10 different insects to learn about their roles in nature as decomposers, pollinators, or colonizers.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Front Page News, Science Tagged With: Bugs on the Job, Nature Book Trail, University of Tennessee Arboretum, University of Tennessee Arboretum Society, UT Arboretum

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