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 The Physics of Santa show art AMSE Science Report The Physics of Santa

AMSEcast

A few thoughts on the 24 hour, madcap & meteoric flight across the planet

info_outline The Hidden Lives of Ants with Susanne Foitzik show art The Hidden Lives of Ants with Susanne Foitzik

AMSEcast

Alan, an ant enthusiast since childhood, is joined by Susanne Foitzik, author of Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth’s Tiny Conquerors. She explains that while queens start colonies and lay eggs, they don’t control the colony. Worker ants take on specialized roles like brood care and foraging, with older ants handling riskier tasks. Ants communicate through pheromones and use impressive navigation skills. Some species, like the Argentine and fire ants, thrive in new environments due to human transport, forming super colonies. Susanne’s current research...

info_outline AMSE Science Report with guest Eric Jay Dolin show art AMSE Science Report with guest Eric Jay Dolin

AMSEcast

Following the horrific devastation wreaked by Hurricane Helene, I was so heartened to see many in our community and around the nation come together to help those who had lost everything. I had spoken a while back on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Eric Jay Dolin about his book, A Furious Sky: The 500 Year History of America’s Hurricanes. We talked about some of those storms, including the Galveston, Texas, Hurricane of 1900. The people there had been encouraged to think a hurricane could not do any serious damage to their island home due to a deeply flawed understanding of how those storms work....

info_outline A reflection of the year 2000 show art A reflection of the year 2000

AMSEcast

A few thoughts about the technological development and advancement over the past 25 years.

info_outline Finding a Lab of One’s Own with Dr. Rita Colwell show art Finding a Lab of One’s Own with Dr. Rita Colwell

AMSEcast

Dr. Rita Colwell is a pioneering scientist and professor at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins who has made groundbreaking contributions to microbiology and public health. She joins AMSEcast to discuss her experiences being the first woman to lead the National Science Foundation as well as her advanced research on Vibrio bacteria and cholera while founding CosmosID to improve rapid pathogen detection. During the 2001 anthrax attacks, she led a cross-agency effort to identify the spores, revolutionizing DNA sequencing techniques. Overcoming sexism early in her career, Dr. Colwell's...

info_outline AMSE Science Report with guest Camper English show art AMSE Science Report with guest Camper English

AMSEcast

Whether you like to have an occasional drink or are a teetotaler, you will enjoy a conversation I had on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Camper English about his book Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails. Camper’s book is a fascinating look at how, over the centuries, many alcohols and various things we add today to cocktails originally had medicinal purposes.   For example, monks in the Middle Ages were at the center of research on agriculture and the distillation of alcohol. One thing they produced for medicinal uses can be found...

info_outline The Wonders of Psychological Science with Joel Levy show art The Wonders of Psychological Science with Joel Levy

AMSEcast

Renowned author and science historian, Joel Levy, shares his expertise on consciousness, intelligence, and the delicate dance between nature and nurture. Through his latest work, "Psychology for Busy People," the discussion traverses psychology's extensive history, from its origins to contemporary challenges and applications. Joel offers captivating perspectives on thought experiments, the core of consciousness, the nature-nurture debate, and the subtleties of mental health. Tune in as Alan and Joel guide us through the intriguing and complex realm of psychology.   Show Highlights...

info_outline AMSE Science Report with guest Sam Kean Author of the Bastard Brigade show art AMSE Science Report with guest Sam Kean Author of the Bastard Brigade

AMSEcast

Ridge, Tennessee. Our home of Oak Ridge got its start as a major part of the monumental Manhattan Project, the nation’s successful effort to build the first atomic bomb and end World War II. We talk a lot at AMSE and the K-25 Atomic History Center about the history of the Project, the science and engineering behind it, and the role of Oak Ridge and other locations in its successful outcome. But what is hard to teach is the atmosphere that surrounded that work. Our nation was at war, our soldiers and marines, our sailors and airmen, fighting and dying on the battlefields of Europe and Africa,...

info_outline AMSE Science Report with Carl Zimmer show art AMSE Science Report with Carl Zimmer

AMSEcast

I have a fundamental question for you – what is life? For something seemingly so basic, it is quite hard to define. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Carl Zimmer, took on that topic in his book Life’s Edge: The Search for What It Means to Be Alive. I spoke with Carl on our podcast, AMSEcast, and, among other indicators of life, he raised one that was a bit surprising – life is defined, in part, by decision making, and not just for us creatures who have brains. 

info_outline Finding Balance Between Tightness & Looseness with Dr. Michele Gelfand show art Finding Balance Between Tightness & Looseness with Dr. Michele Gelfand

AMSEcast

Dr. Michele Gelfand is a cultural psychologist and author of Rule Makers, Rule Breakers. She joins us to discusses how “tight” and “loose” cultures shape societies. Tight cultures, like Japan’s, respond to threats with strict rules and order, while looser ones, like the U.S., allow greater flexibility. Gelfand suggests a balanced “Goldilocks” approach, adjusting strictness and flexibility to suit each environment's needs, from families to organizations. She also explores online accountability, recommending "nudges" to promote civility, and sees AI as a potential tool for managing...

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