Oak Ridge Today

ORNL hires more than 60 UT engineering interns

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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)

 

Submitted

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…]

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

Posted at
By 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…]

Teaching Climate Change workshop part of ORAU professional development series

Posted at
By 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…]

UT camp to spark interest in STEM, showcase public transit systems

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

KNOXVILLE—The Center for Transportation Research will give area high school students a behind-the-scenes look at public transit in Knoxville and Atlanta when it hosts its first Transit Camp July 29-31 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, the camp is designed to spark interest in STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math—and to showcase focus areas, such as public transit, that might not readily come to mind when engineering and technology are discussed.

“The goal of this camp is to expose area students to the types of transit careers available, as well as becoming more aware of the reach of transit,” according to Tammy Enix from CTR.

Through the camp, the center—part of the College of Engineering at UT—will help students learn about how modern transportation systems rely on everything from designers and graphic artists to planners and maintenance officials. [Read more…]

Spotlight: UT designates local official as certified public administrator

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Steve Emert CPA

Anderson County Commissioner Steve Emert of District 3 is pictured at right above. (Submitted photo)

KNOXVILLE—The University of Tennessee has honored Anderson County Commissioner Steve Emert of District 3 as a certified public administrator at a Capstone event at Montgomery Bell State Park on April 11.

To achieve the designation, each of the officials completed 80 credit hours in the County Officials Certificate Training Program, or COCTP. The program is administered by the UT County Technical Assistance Service, or CTAS, and is available to every county employee in the state.

“No other state in the nation provides county employees with such specialized training,” said Bob Wormsley, executive director of CTAS. CTAS is an agency of the statewide UT Institute for Public Service. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge nuclear engineering student earns scholarship award at UT

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

KNOXVILLE—Nuclear engineering students at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville were recently awarded a number of scholarships, with Oak Ridge’s Mikah Rust among them.

Rust, who was named the Junior/Senior Undergraduate Scholarship winner, joins three other students from the College of Engineering’s Department of Nuclear Engineering who were recognized:

  • Alyxandria Wszolek, a sophomore from Madison, Mississippi, won the Operations and Power Division Scholarship;
  • Travis Labossiere-Hickman, a junior from Brush Creek, Tennessee, won the Raymond DiSalvo Memorial Scholarship; and
  • Colton Oldham, from Hurricane, West Virginia, won the Sophomore Undergraduate Scholarship. [Read more…]

Bredesen Center graduates first class with help from ORNL, UT

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Bredesen Center

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason (seated, at left) and former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen sign certificates for the Bredesen Center’s first two graduates, Vincent Kandagor and Scott Curran (standing, from left) while center Director Lee Riedinger (at right) watches. (Submitted photo)

 

KNOXVILLE—Two students were the first to earn a new doctoral degree this month from the Energy Science and Engineering program founded by former Gov. Phil Bredesen in partnership with the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The General Assembly approved the program in a special session on education in January 2010. The first class enrolled in the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education in fall 2011, and it is now one of UT’s fastest-growing graduate programs.

Scott Curran and Vincent Kandagor earned their doctorates in energy science and engineering at UT’s graduate hooding on Thursday, May 8.

“We’re awfully proud of Scott and Vincent,” said Bredesen Center Director Lee Riedinger. “They both transferred into our program once we’d started and were able to really shine, to really do some positive things.” [Read more…]

UT study: Lackluster growth in first quarter, but overall gains expected in 2014

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

KNOXVILLE—An abnormally harsh winter led to lackluster economic growth the first quarter of 2014, but a dip in unemployment rates and expected increases in housing investments signal stronger gains for the remainder of the year.

The gross domestic product is expected to increase 2.4 percent this year as a whole, compared to 1.9 percent last year, according to the spring 2014 Tennessee Business and Economic Outlook released Friday at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The national unemployment rate will likely average 6.5 percent this year compared to 7.4 percent last year, the report shows. It is expected to decrease to 6 percent in 2015.

The study, prepared by UT’s Center for Business and Economic Research, predicts the direction of the state and national economies by examining many economic and fiscal factors and trends. [Read more…]

UT nuclear engineering students awarded scholarships, fellowships through DOE program

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

One undergraduate scholarship goes to Oak Ridge student

KNOXVILLE—Several University of Tennessee students in the College of Engineering’s Department of Nuclear Engineering in Knoxville received a nice start to the summer as Nuclear Energy University Programs announced its most recent award recipients, with UT netting nine undergraduate scholarships and three graduate fellowships.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Integrated University Program, undergraduate winners receive a $5,000 scholarship, while the graduate fellowship winners receive $50,000 annually over three years, as well as $5,000 toward summer internships at national laboratories or other approved locations.

The undergraduates include Mikah Rust of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Thinner, flexible tablets, TVs possible through UT research, visiting ORNL scientist

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

David Mandrus, Stephen Pennycook, and Jiaqing Yen

David Mandrus, Stephen Pennycook, and Jiaqiang Yan, from left, recently helped in a Vanderbilt-led project that could result in paper-thin, flexible tablets and TVs. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee)

KNOXVILLE—Researchers from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville recently garnered national attention for their part in a study that could lead to the development of tablets, televisions, and mobile devices the width of a piece of paper.

First published in Nature, the article details how researchers have been able to create wires only three atoms wide using an electron beam.

The lead researcher on the project was Vanderbilt Ph.D. student Junhao Lin, who was a visiting scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory at the time.

Through the ORNL connection, UT’s Stephen Pennycook, David Mandrus, and Jiaqiang Yan—all of the College of Engineering’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering—got involved. [Read more…]

Living Light solar-powered home moves to Children’s Museum

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Living Light House Trailer

The University of Tennessee donated the Living Light House to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, and the 750-square-foot solar-powered home was moved Saturday.

 

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville has donated its Living Light House to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, and the 750-square-foot solar-powered home was moved Saturday.

The award-winning home makes more energy than it uses, said James Rose, senior lecturer in UT’s College of Architecture and Design.

Moving the 80,000-pound house was a daylong project. The Children’s Museum is in a residential area in Oak Ridge, so the museum had to move trees, excavate a slope, and create a temporary road to get to the site.

Rose said the one-room home, which has mechanical and laundry areas, will be used at the Children’s Museum for outreach and to showcase the latest energy-efficient technologies.

“This is the perfect place for this building,” said Rose, the architect of record on the project and the leader of the student architecture studio that designed it. [Read more…]

UT Career Services leader to discuss ‘Negotiating for Women’ at AAUW meeting today

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mary Mahoney, an assistant director for University of Tennessee Career Services, will discuss “Negotiating for Women” during an AAUW meeting at lunchtime today.

The AAUW Oak Ridge Branch meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. today in Room 102 of the Activities Building of First Presbyterian Church at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive. 

The public is invited to attend a potluck luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and the meeting, which begins at noon, a press release said. The luncheon will feature main dish salads prepared by AAUW members. Drinks, bread, crackers, and desserts will be provided. There is no cost, but donations to AAUW are welcome. Reservations may be made by calling either Mary Uziel at (865) 483-1043 or Marge Congdon at (865) 438-3120.

Mahoney has more than 20 years’ experience working as the assistant director of recruiting at the University of Tennessee, the press release said. She has certifications in salary negotiations and career coaching.

Before the program begins, Mayme Crowell, outgoing Tennessee State President of AAUW, will recognize the Education Award winner selected by Roane State Community College and will introduce the Roane State students who are winners of AAUW Educational Scholarships for this year.

Crowell will also install the Oak Ridge Branch AAUW officers for next year, including Peggy Emmett as president; Fay Martin as vice president for membership; Virginia Jones, vice president for programs; and Mary Uziel, treasurer. [Read more…]