DIRECTOR'S NOTE

Contents: 

DIRECTOR'S NOTE  

DOE PUBLIC BUS TOUR  

EXHIBITS  

EVENTS  

EDUCATION  

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION 

DISCOVERY SHOP   

K-25 HISTORY CENTER  

PROGRAMS  

117 Society 

SUPPORT  

MEMBERSHIP  

VOLUNTEERS  

VISIT 

The bus tours continue to fill up and the reviews of the tours are excellent. Our team of Volunteer guides has organized the experience to showcase the incredible work begun during the Manhattan Project that has evolved into today’s technological advancements. September dates are available and filling up quickly. 

David Thompson (L) & David Hackett (R) stand beside the Little Boy replica at Y-12's New Hope Center on the DOE Public Bus Tour.

Check out AMSE.org and our social media pages regularly for updates.

October dates will be opened soon.

Check here to check this great link from the Department of Energy’s Energycast!

The museum continues to move forward on its new deep space area featuring art and exhibits about the new James Webb Telescope and its discoveries. Additionally, AMSE is planning next year's exhibit for the Innovators Gallery located nearby. While not giving too much away, the main thrust of the exhibit will also maintain that momentum by featuring space exploration, but with a slightly different drive. 

School has begun and AMSE’s Virtual STEAM classes sponsored by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are being scheduled. Title 1 elementary school systems around the region can sign up for the class options for no charge! Supplies for these classes are provided and include an interactive experience with AMSE educators. Best of all, each of the classes meet Tennessee State Standards. Please help us get the word out by sharing this with your favorite Title 1 elementary school. For more information click here:

Scheduling will be limited and done on a first come first serve basis. 

The reviews are in for the first in the series of our STEAMer Trunk program. The "Sense- stational Trunk" has been used with several classes and has been an amazing success. "The kids love this," said one teacher, "it's very engaging." The lesson plans are easy to follow with enough activities to concentrate on the subject matter for more than a week. 

Each of the inquiry-based activities included has all the materials needed to conduct the experiments (except for the food for taste). The experiences are varied and can be used in numerous settings. The trunk is most useful for PS- beginning of 2nd grade, however, with some modifications, e.g., adding the anatomy of the body parts associated with each sense, upper elementary age students will be intrigued. Highly recommended by teachers; kid approved!

SAVE THE DATE: October 22, 2022 from 10am – 4pm at AMSE 

Introducing our recurring Sip of Science series: Pollen Power showcases one of the world’s most valuable and endangered class of animals: Pollinators! We will feature fantastic hands-on activities for all ages, guest speakers, vendors, foods, a few surprises, and so much more all designed to expand awareness of the amazing little critters that are responsible for nearly one third of the planet's food supply! 

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION:

Though each of AMSE’s volunteers should receive individual recognition narrowing the selection to a single person was nearly impossible. Sifting through the time spent as a volunteer, days, hours, and week spent in service paired with the location and tours Glenda Bingham, AMSE’s Volunteer coordinator chose Jerry Hopkins.  

Jerry joined the Volunteer Program at AMSE in November 2016.  He volunteers at AMSE, the K-25 History Center, as well as working as a Tour Guide and Assistant Tour Guide for the DOE Public Bus Tour, facilitated by AMSE. 

Adding to our list of exceptional representatives we are proud to welcome two new volunteers. Please say hello and welcome: Rona Hereford and Richard Kerchner. 

If your day needs a bit of a boost and maybe a big serving of caffeinated inspiration, check out these mega mugs of greatness with Great Beards of Science and Great Women of Science. 

The K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant was the world’s longest roofed building in early 1945, stretching a mile long. K-25 was not only exceptional for its size, but also for the groundbreaking technology inside. Scientists pioneered gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment technology at the K-25 building. Visit the K-25 History Center today to learn more about this incredible industrial feat. If you’re using the Google Maps app or the web browser enter: “K-25 History Center” or the address: 652 Enrichment Street, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 in the directions search engine. 

New AMSEcast episodes premiere this month. Click below to listen before the episodes are released to the public. 

Join the American Museum of Science and Energy's exciting virtual Race to Space and receive a custom t-shirt. This race encourages everyone to walk or run to reach the International Space Station virtually! As participants log and report distances to AMSE, we will send out fun 3D-printed medals at each atmospheric milestone. The race is completed at the participant’s pace. 

We encourage folks to get to know our Race to Space sponsor, GEM Technologies, Inc., and visit our Race to Space partners, the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department and the Ijams Nature Center. 

Did you know you can explore the North Ridge Trail and Melton Lake Greenways to earn the Troposphere and Stratosphere medals? Explore the historic city of Oak Ridge’s trials and greenways and stop by AMSE’s sister Museum and the K-25 History Center just down the road. Or explore the Ijams Nature Center and walk the Burnett Ridge, Hickory, and Tharp Trace trails to be on your way to earning your Troposphere medal. 

September 2022

Across the Airless Wilds

by Earl Swift 

We recently recorded an interview with Earl Swift. Click the button below to listen.

SPONSORED BY Terra Integras. 

AMSE is very proud to have Terra Integras, LLC. as a sponsor for AMSE’s Online Book Club! We sincerely appreciate their support, and we hope that all of you join the book club and check out the amazing things going on at Terra Integras.  

AMSE is proud to partner with the Oak Ridge Public Library, Clinton Public Library, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Libraries, for our online Book Club. We encourage our Book Club members to visit AMSE’s online “The Discovery Shop” to buy this month’s book or borrow a copy from our Oak Ridge Public Library or Clinton Public Library partners.  

Please check out this great video showcasing our award-winning virtual classes. 

Created in the midst of the pandemic and supported by initial funding from our partners at ORNL, our virtual, hands-on classes have been recognized by the Tennessee Association of Museums with a Certificate of Excellence. Since we began offering these innovative classes, nearly 700 students have taken part. Our original topics are States of Matter, Electricity, Bees and Pollination. 

The newly established 117 Society allows each member to donate one of the original, virtual hands-on Periodic Table classes we are creating to a school of the member’s choice, free of charge. There will be a Periodic Table class for middle school students, and another appropriate for high school students. These classes will be available starting in the fall of 2022. 

Please consider a gift to the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation (AMSEF), a 501(c)(3) organization. Last year was a big year for AMSEF – we proudly operate both the American Museum of Science and Energy and the K-25 History Center. We need your help to ensure the success of both those wonderful institutions and to help us accomplish our vital mission of STEAM education.     

There are many ways to give – please consider a one-time gift, an individual or family membership, or becoming part of our new 117 Society. You can find those options and more by going to https://amse.org/support/. Or you can always send your gifts to 115 Main St. East, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Thank you for your support and we hope to see you often in 2022 at AMSE and the K-25 History Center. 

Why? Seriously, being a member of the ASTC Travel Passport Program gives members free general admission to participating science centers and museums outside their local area. Join the savviest of science-loving families and adults and visit more than 350 science centers and museums in 20 countries around the world! As an AMSE Membership holder you also can get huge discounted rates at ANY Smithsonian Affiliate Museum. Learn more here! 

Norm Dobbs leads the Public Bus Tour Volunteers through training.

We are always looking for eligible volunteers for AMSE/K-25 History Center as well as the DOE Public Bus Tours, if you are interested, please contact Glenda Bingham at (865) 294-4517 or gbingham@amse.org. 

American Museum of Science and Energy

& K-25 History Center

Monday through Saturday:

9AM – 5PM

Sunday:

1PM – 5PM

AMSE address:

115 Main Street East

Oak Ridge, TN 37830

K-25 address:

652 Enrichment Street

Oak Ridge, TN 37830

You can always reach us by calling +1 (865) 294-4531 or

emailing us at info@AMSE.org.

Check us out online at amse.org and k25historycenter.org.

Come see us soon at AMSE and the K-25 History Center!