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

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