loader from loading.io

The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge from the Dawn of the Atomic Age to the Present

AMSEcast

Release Date: 10/09/2024

AMSE Science Report with Simon Cordrey show art AMSE Science Report with Simon Cordrey

AMSEcast

Author Simon Cordrey discusses the early days of the railroad and how that changed America.

info_outline AMSE Science Report with Jay Feldman show art AMSE Science Report with Jay Feldman

AMSEcast

Author Jay Feldman and Alan Lowe, Director of the AMSE Foundation discuss his book, When the Mississippi Ran Backwards.

info_outline Planetary Defense 101 with Dr. Robin Andrews show art Planetary Defense 101 with Dr. Robin Andrews

AMSEcast

Alan Lowe is joined in this episode of AMSEcast by Dr. Robin Andrews, volcanologist, science journalist, and author of How to Kill an Asteroid. Dr. Andrews explores how modern planetary defense blends cutting-edge detection networks, such as NASA’s NEO Surveyor, with active deflection efforts like the DART mission, which successfully shifted an asteroid’s orbit. He also delves into theoretical approaches, including gravity tractors and even nuclear options as last-resort strategies. While comets remain a tougher, faster-moving threat, advances in technology continue to make catastrophic...

info_outline AMSE Science Report with Author Michele Gelfand show art AMSE Science Report with Author Michele Gelfand

AMSEcast

Michele J. Gelfand is the John H. Scully Professor of Cross-Cultural Management  Professor of Organizational Behavior and Psychology at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Her book, RULE MAKERS, RULE BREAKERS: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World takes readers on a journey through a variety of human cultures, exploring unique a multi-faceted glimpse into the world around us and ourselves.

info_outline Invention and Exploration at the Smithsonian Institution show art Invention and Exploration at the Smithsonian Institution

AMSEcast

Host Alan Lowe continues AMSEcast’s exploration of 250 years of American innovation with Smithsonian experts Harold Wallace Jr., Dr. Eric Hintz, and Tim Pula. Together, they trace invention from Benjamin Franklin’s experiments to modern breakthroughs, highlighting the Smithsonian’s exhibitions, collections, and hands-on learning at Spark!Lab. The discussion spans collaboration with the Library of Congress, the role of failure in creativity, and how patents shape (but don’t define) innovation. The guests also reflect on nuclear technology’s history and social impact, and share how...

info_outline Exploring the Human Microbiome with Dr. Bob Hettich show art Exploring the Human Microbiome with Dr. Bob Hettich

AMSEcast

Dr. Robert Hettich is a pioneer in bioanalytical mass spectrometry. In this episode of AMSEcast, he describes how microbiomes form, vary across the body, and influence digestion, immunity, and overall health. Dr. Hettich also explains metaproteomics, the study of microbial proteins, to reveal how microbes function beyond their genes as well as their applications from human health to environmental cleanup and bioenergy. Inspired by his daughter’s experience with Crohn’s, Robert Hettich is especially focused on microbiomes’ links to inflammatory and neurological diseases, including...

info_outline One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science author on AMSE Science Report show art One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science author on AMSE Science Report

AMSEcast

Dr. Colwell shares her insight on the progression of women in science through the years. Framed by her own experiences we learn about her incredible work.

info_outline The History of the American Railroad with Albert Churella show art The History of the American Railroad with Albert Churella

AMSEcast

Railroads have shaped America’s growth, technology, and daily life for nearly two centuries. In this episode of AMSEcast, Alan talks with Dr. Albert Churella of Kennesaw State University about how innovations such as the automatic knuckle coupler, Westinghouse’s air brake, and the move from steam to diesel transformed safety and efficiency. Dr. Churella explains how signaling, centralized traffic control, and GPS-based Positive Train Control modernized operations. While U.S. passenger service lags Europe, its freight rail system leads the world in ton-miles, fuel efficiency, and low...

info_outline AMSE Science Report with Marc Wortman show art AMSE Science Report with Marc Wortman

AMSEcast

info_outline AMSE Science Report with Richard Ellis show art AMSE Science Report with Richard Ellis

AMSEcast

Author Richard Ellis speaks about his latest book The Quest for the Cosmic Dawn. A breakdown of the earliest moments of our celestial cosmic soup.

info_outline
 
More Episodes
Alan Lowe, director of the American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) introduces a live audience to the first-ever AMSEcast Conversation. Held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the event featured a panel of experts discussing the historical significance of the Military Industrial Educational Complex and the book Critical Connections. The panel, which included Lee Riedinger, Ray Smith, and William Bugg, explored the development of Oak Ridge and the University of Tennessee (UT) during the 1940s.
 
 
Guest Bios
Lee Riedinger has held numerous leadership positions during his distinguished career at the University of Tennessee (UT). He has served as the Director of the UT-ORNL Science Alliance, Head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Vice Chancellor for Research. Additionally, Lee has held key roles at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), including Deputy Director for Science and Technology, and Associate Laboratory Director for University Partnerships. His contributions have strengthened the collaboration between UT and ORNL, fostering groundbreaking research and educational initiatives.
 
 
Al Ekkebus has a long history with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he previously served as Head of the Research Library and Assistant to the Laboratory Director. He is currently the outreach leader for Neutron Science at ORNL, where his work supports the lab’s scientific community. Al was a crucial research assistant for the book Critical Connections, adding his extensive knowledge to the project.
 
 
Ray Smith, the City of Oak Ridge’s official historian, has dedicated years to documenting the rich history of the city. For over a decade, he has written a weekly newspaper column on Oak Ridge’s history and contributed significantly to preserving its legacy. Before retiring in 2017, Ray worked at the Y-12 National Security Complex, where he was a key figure in chronicling its historical significance.
 
 
William “Bill” Bugg is a retired high-energy physicist and former Head of the Physics Department at UT, where he served from 1959 until 2006. An Oak Ridge High School graduate from the class of 1948, Bill’s personal and professional journey has been deeply intertwined with Oak Ridge’s scientific community, making him a living testament to the city’s storied past.
 
 
Show Notes
  • (04:19) Guest introductions
  • (06:13) UT and Oak Ridge as they were in 1940
  • (10:03) The role UT played in the construction of Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project
  • (19:48) How Oak Ridge was able to continue existing after WWII
  • (21:00) The role Dr. Hertel played in continuing the connection between UT and ORNL
  • (23:48) Who Bill Pollard was and his central role in the relationship between UT and ORNL
  • (32:35) Alvin Weinberg’s role in making connections between ORNL and UT
  • (35:32) The role politicians and other political servants played in connecting ORNL and UT
  • (41:18) How their partnership has benefited the lab and the university
  • (45:23) What’s in the immediate future for UT and ORNL
  • (48:38) The connection between UT and Y-12
  • (50:54) Q & A
  • (59:58) What the panelists think is missing from the partnership between UT and ORNL