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ORNL awarded two Energy Frontier Research Centers

Posted at 6:00 pm June 20, 2014
By Oak Ridge National Laboratory Leave a Comment

David Wesolowski and Yanwen Zhang

Pictured above are David Wesolowski, left, director of the Fluid Interface Reactions, Structures, and Transport Center; and Yanwen Zhang, director of the Energy Dissipation to Defect Evolution Center. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory will be home to two Energy Frontier Research Centers announced this week by U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. The Department of Energy awarded a total of $100 million to 32 EFRC projects to accelerate the scientific breakthroughs needed to build the 21st-century energy economy. 

“Today, we are mobilizing some of our most talented scientists to join forces and pursue the discoveries and breakthroughs that will lay the foundation for our nation’s energy future,” Secretary Moniz said. “The funding we’re announcing today will help fuel scientific and technological innovation.”

The two ORNL EFRCs are a renewal of the Fluid Interface Reactions, Structures, and Transport (FIRST) Center, which is led by David Wesolowski, and a new award to the Energy Dissipation to Defect Evolution (EDDE) Center, led by Yanwen Zhang.

ORNL scientists also partnered on successful proposals to lay the groundwork for fundamental advances in solar energy, electrical energy storage, carbon capture and sequestration, materials and chemistry by design, biosciences, and extreme environments. Those proposals include three new projects (led by the Georgia Institute of Technology, the State University of New York–Stony Brook, and Pennsylvania State University) and three renewals (led by Washington University in St. Louis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Argonne National Laboratory, David Wesolowski, Drexel University, EDDE, EFRC, energy dissipation, Energy Dissipation to Defect Evolution Center, Energy Frontier Research Centers, energy technologies, Ernest Moniz, FIRST, Fluid Interface Reactions Structures and Transport Center, fluid-solid interfaces, irradiation, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Michelle Buchanan, nanoscale, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, ORNL, Pennsylvania State University, Thom Mason, U.S. Department of Energy, University of California–Berkeley, University of California–Davis, University of California–Riverside, University of Delaware, University of Michigan, University of Tennessee, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Vanderbilt University, Yanwen Zhang

With help from ORNL, UT’s bandwidth hits 100 gigabits-per-second milestone

Posted at 9:43 am June 20, 2014
By University of Tennessee Leave a Comment

Joint Institute for Computational Sciences

The Joint Institute for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is pictured above. (Photo courtesy of ORNL)

KNOXVILLE—For some, getting on the Internet can be a blast.

Now, thanks to the Bandwidth for Leadership in Advancing Science and Technology project—known as BLAST—it can also be faster for computer users at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

A lot faster.

“This is quite an accomplishment, for both UT and for the researchers who use the network,” said Victor Hazlewood, chief operating officer at the Joint Institute for Computational Sciences and the National Science Foundation’s principal investigator on BLAST. “This really positions UT well to continue to be at the forefront of innovation.”

The upgrade, completed May 25, is a combined effort between JICS and UT’s Office of Information Technology and makes it possible for UT users to make use of Internet speeds up to 100 gigabits per second. JICS is an institute of UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Bandwidth for Leadership in Advancing Science and Technology, BLAST, data, fiber optic, gigabits per second, Internet, Joint Institute for Computational Sciences, Larry Jennings, National Science Foundation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Information Technology, ORNL, University of Tennessee, UT, Victor Hazlewood

DOE’s Oak Ridge Office names safety, technical services manager

Posted at 1:09 pm June 19, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Mildred López-Ferré

Mildred López-Ferré (DOE photo/Lynn Freeny)

Mildred López-Ferré has been named deputy assistant manager for safety and technical services at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office.

In this position, López-Ferré will be responsible for leading the development and execution of the requirements and guidelines for environment safety and health and quality assurance for ORO and for multiple DOE site offices nationwide under the purview of the department’s Office of Science Integrated Support Center.

López-Ferré will assist ORO in all aspects of the Integrated Safety Management System, or ISMS, to ensure that DOE operations provide adequate protection to employees, the general public, the environment, and DOE property, effectively and efficiently, a press release said.

López-Ferré began her career at the DOE-ORO in 1991 as a program manager in the former Environmental Restoration Division. Since that time, she has held several leadership positions at ORO, including team leader for Y-12 National Security Complex projects, and ORO federal project director responsible for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 environmental management operations. She has also served as special projects manager in the ORO Manager’s Office, and most recently special projects assistant for the assistant manager for safety and technical services within the DOE Oak Ridge Office. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge Office, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: DOE, environmental management, environmental safety and health, Integrated Safety Management System, ISMS, Mildred López-Ferré, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office, Office of Science Integrated Support Center, ORO, ORO Manager's Office, quality assurance, safety, technical services, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex

ORNL awarded $2.75 million for fuel cell research

Posted at 8:56 am June 19, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Sign

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Sign

DOE’s ARPA-E announces 13 new projects at New York Energy Week

New York, N.Y.—ARPA-E Acting Director Cheryl Martin has announced $33 million in funding for 13 new projects aimed at developing transformational fuel cell technologies for low-cost distributed power generation.

The funding was announced Thursday at New York Energy Week. ARPA-E is Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy.

The projects, which are funded through ARPA-E’s new Reliable Electricity Based on Electrochemical Systems, or REBELS, program, are focused on improving grid stability, balancing intermittent renewable technologies, and reducing CO2 emissions using electrochemical distributed power generation systems, a press release said.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory received $2.75 million for a project titled “Nanocomposite Electrodes for a Solid Acid Fuel Cell Stack.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, ARPA-E, catalysts, Cheryl Martin, distributed generation, DOE, fuel cell electrode, Nanocomposite Electrodes for a Solid Acid Fuel Cell Stack, New York Energy Week, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, power generation, rebels, Reliable Electricity Based on Electrochemical Systems, U.S. Department of Energy

Energy policy professor, former ORNL manager to discuss sustainable energy

Posted at 8:22 am June 19, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Marilyn Brown

Marilyn Brown

The 17th Annual Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series opens on Thursday, June 26, featuring Professor Marilyn Brown, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Lab in the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The title of her June 26 lecture is “Technologies and Policies for a Sustainable Energy Future.” It’s sponsored by Friends of ORNL. The event is free of charge and will be held at the American Museum of Science and Energy at 300 S. Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge.

Before moving to Georgia Tech in 2006, Brown managed the Efficiency, Renewables, and Electric Grid Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She is also a board member of the Tennessee Valley Authority. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Community, Education, Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: climate, Climate and Energy Policy Lab, climate change, Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series, energy, fossil fuels, Friends of ORNL, Georgia Institute of Technology, Marilyn Brown, Nobel Peace Prize, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, School of Public Policy, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, sustainable energy, Technologies and Policies for a Sustainable Energy Future, Tennessee Valley Authority

White House Maker Faire: High school team with ET ties competes with cutting-edge 3D

Posted at 12:43 pm June 18, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

White House Maker Faire 3D Exhibitor

Photo courtesy WhiteHouse.gov

From WhiteHouse.gov

A high school team with East Tennessee ties, including in Oak Ridge, was among the exhibitors and honored “makers” at the White House Maker Faire on Wednesday.

The team includes Fletcher Blue, 17, of Hardin Valley Academy FIRST RoHAWKtics Team 3823 in Knoxville; Joshua St. John, 33, a teacher in New York, N.Y.; and Scott Turner, 48, 3D Systems of Venice, Calif., and Knoxville. They received mentoring help from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Here is more information about the team’s project: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Education, Federal, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: 3D modeling, 3D printed polymer robot, 3D printing, 3D Systems, FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST RoHAWKtics Team, Fletcher Blue, Hardin Valley Academy, Joshua St. John, makers, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Scott Turner, White House Maker Faire

Battling cancer but planning to help build 59th home for Habitat

Posted at 9:45 am June 18, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Tim and Teresa Myrick Home Build

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County is building a new home on Valley View Lane in Heiskell in honor of longtime volunteers Tim and Teresa Myrick, pictured at right. A family of five will live in the four-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot home. From left, they are Alexia, Amanda Cook, Edward Brown (back), Eddie (front), and Ethan.

 

HEISKELL—He’s worked on all 58 homes built by Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County during the past two decades. If his health allows, he’ll work on No. 59.

Tim Myrick, 60, is known for his community involvement, charitable contributions, and key role in the renovation of the Oak Ridge High School and modernization work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. But now he’s battling prostate cancer. His doctor said it’s the fastest-growing he’s seen. Myrick said it spread to his bones and elsewhere within three months. In December, he was given a year to live.

“I told them that’s not going to happen,” Myrick said during a Habitat for Humanity groundbreaking ceremony this month. “I told them I have too much work to do.”

Habitat is honoring Myrick and his wife Teresa by building a home in their honor on about 1.5 acres on Valley View Lane near East Wolf Valley Road in Heiskell.

“We can’t think of anyone who has worked harder for us for a longer period of time,” said Pat Fain, HFHAC board president. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Community, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Amanda Cook, Anderson County, cancer, Edward Brown, groundbreaking, Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, Heiskell, HFHAC, Jim Hardy, Mary Ann Hardy, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Pat Fain, prostate cancer, Randy McNally, Teresa Myrick, Tim Myrick, Valley View Lane

UT, ORNL scientists’ discoveries could help neutralize chemical weapons

Posted at 1:57 pm June 16, 2014
By University of Tennessee Leave a Comment

Enzyme Figure

Nerve agent sarin bound to bioscavenger enzyme. (Image courtesy University of Tennessee)

KNOXVILLE—Researchers at the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are a step closer to creating a prophylactic drug that would neutralize the deadly effects of the chemical weapons used in Syria and elsewhere.

Jeremy Smith, UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair and an expert in computational biology, is part of the team that is trying to engineer enzymes—called bioscavengers—so they work more efficiently against chemical weapons. The work is a joint effort between scientists at UT, ORNL, and a French national laboratory in Grenoble. Their study was published recently in the Journal of Physical Chemistry.

Nerve agents, such as sarin, are among the most highly toxic chemical weapons. The study focuses on engineering enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of nerve agents as a prophylactic approach to diminishing their toxic effects. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: bioscavengers, Biosciences Division, chemical weapons, computational biology, computer simulation, enzymes, Jeremy Smith, Jerry Parks, Journal of Physical Chemistry, nerve agents, neutron scattering, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, prophylactic drug, sarin, Syria, University of Tennessee, UT-ORNL Governor's Chair

Photo: Czech ambassador tours ORNL

Posted at 5:25 am June 14, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Czech Ambassador Tours ORNL

Tim Powers, right, ORNL research reactors division director, shows Petr Gandalovič, Ambassador of The Czech Republic, a fuel assembly mock-up during a tour of the High Flux Isotope Reactor. (Photo by Jason Richards)

 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Friday hosted a visit by Petr Gandalovič, ambassador of The Czech Republic.

The ambassador toured ORNL’s High Flux Isotope Reactor and facilities for advanced reactor materials development and testing. He met with ORNL Director Thom Mason and held discussions with lab staff on topics including fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors and the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors.

Filed Under: Media, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Photos, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors, Czech ambassador, High Flux Isotope Reactor, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Petr Gandalovič, The Czech Republic, Thom Mason, Tim Powers

The Smithsonian, ORNL partner to advance science, education

Posted at 11:30 pm June 12, 2014
By Oak Ridge National Laboratory Leave a Comment

Smithsonian Wayne Clough, Thom Mason, and Jeff Nichols

Pictured above during a Thursday signing ceremony at the Smithsonian Institution’s Castle Commons are, from left, Wayne Clough, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; ORNL Director Thom Mason; and ORNL associate lab director for computing and computational sciences Jeff Nichols. (Photo by John Gibbons/Smithsonian)

 

The Smithsonian Institution and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have announced a new partnership to support collaborative research programs and science education efforts. This is the first partnership between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Smithsonian, which was formalized during the signing of a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, on Thursday, June 12.

The Smithsonian and Oak Ridge National Laboratory both examine many of the world’s most complex and time-sensitive scientific problems and support many research programs that complement and reinforce each other. They also support science education to impact students and teachers from elementary school through post-doctoral studies. The MOU, signed by Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough and ORNL Director Thom Mason, creates a framework for future collaboration between the two organizations that leverages the strengths of each.

“The Smithsonian is proud to partner with another organization that realizes that basic research is vital to the future of the nation, and that knowledge about the natural world is inherently valuable to society,” Clough said. “This agreement will help us each maximize our strengths and achieve our common goals across a broad spectrum of scientific endeavor.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Uncategorized Tagged With: bioinformatics, climate change, computational sciences, data analytics, genomics, memorandum of understanding, MOU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, ORNL, research, science education, Smithsonian, Smithsonian Institution, STEM, Thom Mason, U.S. Department of Energy, UT-Battelle, Wayne Clough

Teaching Climate Change workshop part of ORAU professional development series

Posted at 10:57 pm June 12, 2014
By Sara Wise 1 Comment

Barry Golden at ORAU Workshop

University of Tennessee Assistant Professor Barry Golden, right, discusses data with a group of educators during ORAU’s Teaching Climate Change workshop on Thursday. (Photo by Sara Wise)

 

On Thursday, Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ Center for Science Education hosted the Teaching Climate Change workshop as part of their Summer Technology Professional Development series of workshops.

ORAU’s summer workshop program hosts 13 STEM-based lectures offered free to K-12 teachers.

ORAU Program Manager Meiko Thompson said the organization “sees a benefit in making sure that local educators have the opportunity to get professional development” outside of the typical school system offerings.

“One thing I know is that just because you’re a scientist doesn’t make you a good teacher,” Thompson said. “So, what I would really like for them to do is really know how to engage their students.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, K-12, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Anderson County, Barry Golden, Center for Science Education, climate change, Denise Sawyer, K-12, Meiko Thompson, Norris Middle School, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORAU, ORNL, professional development, Ross Tadte, STEM, Summer Technology Professional Development, Teaching Climate Change, University of Tennessee, UT, workshop

Tours of Manhattan Project sites a highlight of Secret City Festival

Posted at 9:59 am June 12, 2014
By Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau Leave a Comment

Secret City Festival Logo

One of the highlights of the annual Secret City Festival, taking place Friday and Saturday at A.K. Bissell Park, is the series of tours that run all day both days.

Each of the four tours will depart from the American Museum of Science and Energy at scheduled times. In addition, the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train will be chugging along during the festival.

Visitors will have a unique opportunity to tour three historic Manhattan Project World War II sites. On Friday, June 13, Y-12 will host tours from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The one-hour tour will include the Y-12 History Center, Building 9731, the Chestnut Ridge Overlook, and Bear Creek Road.

Also on Friday, visitors can take the U.S. Department of Energy Facilities Bus Tour, which is included with a $1 admission to AMSE. This tour includes stops at the Y-12 New Hope Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Graphite Reactor, and a tour around the East Tennessee Technology Park. A separate tour that focuses on the X-10 Graphite Reactor is available at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday.

On Saturday, there will be four opportunities to tour the ORNL Graphite Reactor. All tours will begin at the American Museum of Science and Energy. The Secret City Scenic Excursion Train will be running three tours as well. Departure times for both tours are listed below: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: A.K. Bissell Park, American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, Arts Council of Oak Ridge, Building 9731, bus tour, Chestnut Ridge Overlook, City of Oak Ridge, East Tennessee Technology Park, Graphite Reactor, K-25 Overlook, living history, Manhattan Project, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Secret City Festival, Secret City Scenic Excursion Train, Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, tours, U.S. Department of Energy, World War II, X-10, Y-12 History Center, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 New Hope Center

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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