SRSCRO September 2021 Update

Assisting NNSA & HBCUs

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is taking a step to further develop the nuclear workforce pipeline in support of expanding missions, particularly those NNSA missions at the Savannah River Site (SRS) - the mission known as the Plutonium Modernization Program, or PuMP.

As fiscal agent, the SRSCRO was recently awarded incremental funding in the amount of $3,500,000 to its existing Workforce Opportunities in Regional Careers (WORC) II grant program. PuMP will be added as a fourth component to the existing NNSA-specific WORC II Program that already involves components to support NNSA’s expanding workforce development needs.

The additional work/scope will focus on establishing post-secondary training and education programs for eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) located in South Carolina to enhance job skills needed to support the National Nuclear Security Administration’s PuMP mission.

The PuMP grant will provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math ) student scholarships and enhance equipment that align with training programs that meet NNSA enduring workforce demands.

Lack of adequate scientific and research equipment has been identified as a serious handicap for many HBCUs. Access to scholarships and training equipment will help the HBCUs offer programs that align with NNSA long-term talent needs to their students. Of potential focus are scholarships in critical skill areas identified as a workforce priority, and any equipment that could enhance training programs in support of the Pu Modernization initiative.

WORC Grant Supports Student Research

The University of South Carolina Aiken (UofSC Aiken) College of Sciences and Engineering showcased its top scholars in the fourth annual Summer Scholars Institute Summer Symposium on July 28, 2021, on the university campus. Twenty-seven STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) students, including seven Aiken Scholars Academy students, presented their research to faculty and guests.

In his address, Dr. Chad Leverette, Dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering, said:

"We want to provide our students with professional experiences while they are still students. One of the best ways to do that is through the nationally recognized, high-impact practice of undergraduate research, which happens to be a strength of our college. We want to develop students' critical thinking; we want them to dive deep into their disciplines alongside our faculty - and that's definitely what took place this summer."

The annual Summer Scholars Institute (SSI) is underwritten in part from grants including the Workforce Opportunities in Regional Careers (WORC) program. Other partners include ADP, Inc., and South Carolina IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE).

WORC is a STEM initiative through the Savannah River Site (SRS) Community Reuse Organization funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration. In addition to grant-funded research opportunities, WORC provides a number of scholarships to qualifying students.

UofSC Aiken student, Ian Murray, participated in SSI by investigating chemical interactions that could eventually improve advanced manufacturing techniques. Ian plans to continue his undergraduate research at UofSC Aiken that began with support from the WORC grant.

Mindy Mets, director of regional workforce programs at SRS Community Reuse Organization, spoke of the program's success:

"UofSC Aiken uses some funds from the WORC grant program to support student research. These students are developing scientific and professional talents that align directly with the workforce needs of our greater region, particularly those that relate to the Savannah River Site. That is precisely the intent of the WORC grant, and I am so pleased to see this successful SSI program in action."

Déjà vu - Continuing Resolution (CR)

Congress is focused this month on long-term infrastructure spending but the clock is also quickly winding down on the end of the fiscal year deadline to keep the basic functions of government working. Since 1997, Congress has never passed all 12 major appropriations bills by the deadline. Without a budget, Congress must pass a Continuing Resolution (CR), which is a temporary stopgap spending bill that allows the Government to continue operating at prior fiscal year budget levels until a full budget is passed. CRs can be government-wide or aimed at specific appropriations – such as defense, energy, agriculture, health, and human services, etc.

CRs have been utilized for at least one appropriation bill each year since 1997. According to an analysis of Congressional Research Service-produced CR data by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Congress has used CRs more than 124 times covering each fiscal year (FY) since 1998. That’s an average of five CRs per year since.

We’re almost certain to start FY2022 under a continuing resolution. How long it lasts and whether we might face a government shutdown later this year are bigger questions. Also in play is a decision if the continuing resolution includes another suspension of the debt limit or not.

The current fiscal year ends September 30, and Congress must pass a temporary short-term continuing resolution to keep federal agencies operating with current funding levels beyond that date.

What does this potentially mean for SRS funding and missions?

New Start Programs — the start of new program/missions that were not funded last fiscal year must wait until a full budget is passed.
Existing Programs — funding normally begins to flow in November and December if appropriations bills are passed on time; but in a CR, funds may not flow until January or February because funding levels are prioritized and meted out in monthly allotments aimed at continuing operations.

In This Issue

Assisting NNSA & HBCUs

WORC Grant Supports Student Research

Déjà vu - Continuing Resolution (CR)

Spotlight

NEW! SC Lowcountry STEM Careers 101

Seventeen students from Allendale, Barnwell, Colleton and Hampton counties in South Carolina completed the inaugural STEM Careers 101 course at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie this summer. The first-of-its-kind elective college course was created by Holly McCrary as part of the WORC II grant program. The course includes hands-on experiences in Environmental Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Computer Science, soft skills development, and career pathway information. All students stated that they had new insights into regional STEM careers, employer expectations and next steps for their education and training. Learn more about USC Salkehatchie STEM.

South Carolina & Georgia

Fun Facts

South Carolina

One hundred and thirty-seven battles were fought in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War.

Contrary to what you might think, South Carolina ranks higher in terms of annual peach production than Georgia. In fact, it produces and ships the most peaches of any state east of the Mississippi.

In South Carolina's Black River Swamp Preserve, the water moves so slowly that is actually appears to stand still. It is also stained a dark tea color because of its naturally high organic carbon production.

Before becoming known more commonly as the Palmetto state, South Carolina was known as the Iodine state and residents even had the title on S.C. license plates. The state got the nickname because of the high concentration of iodine found in fruits and vegetables grown in the state.

Spartanburg, South Carolina is home to Duncan Park Baseball Stadium, the oldest minor league stadium in the country.

Georgia

Georgia is home to numerous types of industries including chemicals, marble, apparel, timber, textiles, and of course many types of agriculture including peaches, corn, tobacco, soybeans, eggs, peanuts, poultry and cotton.

Georgia was named in honor of King George II of England.

Hundreds of species of wildlife and birds (some endangered) call the 400,000 acres that makes up the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia home. It is one of the states big attractions.

The only place the sweet Vidalia onion is grown is in Vidalia and Glennville, Georgia.

Coca-Cola was invented by Dr. John S. Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia in 1886.

The small town of St. Marys, Georgia is the second oldest city in the United States.

In 1829, thirty years prior to the California Gold Rush, the Georgia Gold Rush took place in the mountains of the Appalachians.

Women were not allowed to vote in Georgia until 1922, two years after it became a federal law.

The 2021 SRSCRO meeting schedule is available here.

Closing Thoughts

"A newspaper consists of just the same number of words, whether there be any news in it or not."

-- Henry Fielding

"Try to learn something about everything and everything about something." -- Thomas H. Huxley

"A good friend can tell you what is the matter with you in a minute. He may not seem such a good friend after telling." -- Arthur Brisbane

"Household tasks are easier and quicker when they are done by somebody else." -- James Thorpe

"A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire."

-- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

"It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety." -- Isaac Asimov

"Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody." -- Franklin P. Adams

"If you live long enough, the venerability factor creeps in; first, you get accused of things you never did, and later, credited for virtues you never had." -- I. F. Stone

Contact Information

SRSCRO, PO Box 696, Aiken, SC 29802

Staff:

Rick McLeod | President/CEO | 803.508.7402

Mindy Mets | Director of Regional Workforce Programs |803.508.7403

Amy Merry | Administrative & Business Manger | 803.508.7401

Kim Saxon | Assistant Coordinator | 803.508.7656

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