FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 2004
FY05-08
ORISE, ORNL Host Third Annual Day of Science to Promote Scientific Research Partnerships with Universities
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—The third annual Day of Science, held last week, was full of opportunities for more than 200 students and faculty from universities and colleges across the nation, including several Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Education Institutions.
The Day of Science students, faculty members, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) representatives gathered for a breakfast at the Oak Ridge Mall, followed by a science exhibition at the ORNL and presentations by ORNL associate laboratory directors highlighting some of the “coolest” scientific research currently taking place at ORNL.
The Day of Science seeks to increase the number of minority students that apply and are selected for ORNL’s summer or semester undergraduate research participation programs. The Day of Science not only gives students a chance to learn about some of the laboratory’s most exciting research projects, but students and faculty also have the chance to meet many of the scientific staff members who serve as mentors in the internship programs.
For Dr. Pushpa Samkutty, a biology professor at Southern University, this was her opportunity to introduce her students and co-workers to the research programs sponsored by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) and ORNL. “I would love to get some of my graduate students involved in the research here,” said Samkutty, who has been an Office of Biological and Environmental Research participant for the past two summers.
Fayetteville State University junior Natalie Baker is majoring in chemistry, with a minor in biology. Although she is not looking for a research program for the coming summer, she would like to participate in a research program at some point in her education. She said this was really a great chance to learn of all the research options that exist in Oak Ridge . Baker was especially interested in ORNL’s genome research projects and was able to spend some one-on-one time talking with Dr. Dabney Johnson from ORNL.
The 2004 Day of Science was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Oak Ridge Operations Office, UT-Battelle, ORNL, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and ORISE.
ORISE is a U.S. Department of Energy institute focusing on scientific initiatives to research health risks from occupational hazards, assess environmental cleanup, respond to radiation medical emergencies, support national security and emergency preparedness, and educate the next generation of scientists. ORISE is managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).