ORAU Annual Report

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) provides scientific, health and national security expertise to federal, state, local and commercial customers. Our work advances scientific research and education, protects public health and the environment, and strengthens national security. We have reach-back capability to a consortium of more than 100 academic institutions, and we connect universities with research laboratories to advance science education and discovery.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

ORISE is a DOE 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.

PUBLISHED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT OF ORAU

Director of Communications and Marketing

Pam Bonee

Annual Report Editor

Wendy West

SELECT ACRONYMS

ARC Appalachian Regional Commission

CalEMA California Emergency Management Agency

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

DHS U.S. Department of Homeland Security

DOE U.S. Department of Energy

EERE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation

Annual Report Associate Editor

Nicole Merrifield

Annual Report Designer

The Bingham Group

Contributing Writers

Sarah Beene Jenna Blair

Rebecca Hopson

Nicole Merrifield

HBCU Historically Black Colleges and Universities

MEI Minority Educational Institutions

NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NNSA National Nuclear Security Administration

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission

ORAU Oak Ridge Associated Universities

ORNL Oak Ridge National Laboratory

ORISE Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

REAC/TS Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Table of Contents

SELECT ACRONYMS Inside Front Cover

STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT3

ORAU AT A GLANCE4

JAPAN DISASTER SUPPORT6

EXPERTISE AND IMPACT10

UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS20

ORAU SPONSORING INSTITUTIONS21

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT22

ORAU

ORAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS Inside Back Cover

Interactive, Online Version of Report

This printed report is released with a complementary, interactive micro site available at www.orau.org/annualreport The micro site provides expanded features, video or audio resources and links to additional content.

Photocredit:AP/KyodoNews

Statement from the President

The federal government and private sector look to companies whose capabilities are strategically aligned with their missions and whose solutions are delivered rapidly and efficiently. They look for companies with an ability to connect… to provide a tailored, multidimensional approach with comprehensive skills to generate an effective result. This is even more critical in times of uncertain budgets and scarce resources.

Throughout 2011, ORAU has remained strong in the face of our country’s economic challenges by strategically connecting our expertise with the needs of our customers and our nation and by integrating our diverse services to provide seamless support.

As reflected in reviews and assessments from our customers we achieved outstanding and sustained performance through a continued focus on performance quality and integrity. We have an exceptional reputation for producing quality work that supports customers’ missions and is backed by deep subject matter expertise.

This year, we also made great progress in refining the foundation that supports our business enterprise. We have strengthened our infrastructure through enterprise architecture, internal reorganization and capital investments and have documented and articulated our core competencies. In addition, we have institutionalized quality management practices to streamline processes, gain efficiencies and continually improve our services and deliverables.

Our customer focus enables us to be ready at a moment’s notice to respond to dynamic conditions, including the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant crisis that ravaged Japan in March. ORAU experts supported senior DOEofficials on the ground in Japan and provided 24/7 assistance back home with DOE’s Nuclear Incident Team. Our physicians and staff advised on hundreds of requests for information regarding potential health hazards and consulted with federal officials to plan for the possibility of radiation emergency medical treatment in Japan.

At the same time, ORAU assisted the CDC in hosting a national conference focused on public health and radiation emergency preparedness and disseminated information to the U.S. public to allay fears of atmospheric exposures. In the months following the crisis, ORAU experts also responded quickly to characterize possible contamination of maritime assets off the coast of Japan that likely traveled through the radioactive plume emanating from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

These examples and others throughout this report highlight not only ORAU’s ability to provide this type of quick and effective response, but further illustrate ORAU’s ability to provide the expertise, research tools, education and training to those who need to be ready to respond. These capabilities, coupled with our reach back to a deep community of university research

partners, are helping us address today’s challenges, as well as shape our future.

Andy Page ORAU President and CEO

REVENUE IN

YEARS IN BUSINESS

Financial Summary

Awards and

DOE Voluntary Protection Program Star Site

ISO 14001 registration for environmentally sound operations

Magazine

for safety;

second consecutive DOE Legacy of Stars Award

College of American Pathologists accreditation for ORISE Beryllium Laboratory

Exemplary Business Award from Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition for accommodation of employee disabilities

Expertise and Capabilities

Environmental Assessments

ORAU’s independent verification services help protect workers, the public and the environment from exposure to radiological and chemical contamination by assuring that contaminated sites are appropriately cleaned up. ORAU also performs independent characterization to help better define the scope of cleanup work, reduce overall project costs, and determine the appropriate waste disposition for radiologically contaminatedstructures, equipment and other materials.

Health Communication and Technical Training

Blending communication and technical training skills with public health, epidemiology and environmental health expertise, ORAU develops comprehensive communication programs that inform decision making, equip health professionals and promote healthy behaviors. ORAU also develops customized, evidence-based solutions and incorporates Web technologies to maximize reach throughout the nation and abroad.

National Security and Emergency Management

ORAU prepares agencies to respond to a full range of natural and man-made threats to safety and security.

ORAU experts provide specialized expertise in counterterrorism preparedness, emergency management and response, operational readiness and forensic science.

ORAU also manages DOE’s Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site, which provides training and 24/7 radiation emergency response.

Science Education and Workforce Development

With 65 years administering internship, scholarship and fellowship programs— and withrecently expanded K-12 programs— ORAU is a leader in implementing research-based, science education programs. ORAU experts also analyze labor trends, assess classroom technologies and examine educational programs that develop U.S. scientific talent.

Scientific Peer Review

ORAU manages a credible and customizable peer review process by providing critical, independent validation of the quality of research proposals and the accuracy of scientific information. Through the use of independent, expert reviewers, ORAU ensures timely and fair assessments so that customers can confidently make informed funding decisions.

Worker and Public Health

When people are exposed to hazardous substances, ORAU helps provide accurate, timely answers to health concerns. Combining more than 30 years of experience in occupational exposure research and established partnerships with leading universities and medical centers, ORAu conducts health studies with the highest levels of quality and integrity.

Japan Disaster Support

On March 11, Japan experienced arguably one of the worst international disasters of modern times, when an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami pummeled the island and threatened a nuclear power plant meltdown. With devastation comparable to that of the Haiti earthquake, the Indian Ocean tsunami, and the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear accidents, Japan would require tremendous support from countries around the globe. As the United States responded to the rapidly unfolding crisis, ORAU provided diverse and comprehensive capabilities to support our federal agency partners and the U.S. and Japanese governments.

The following information provides a timeline of ORAU’s support in total as well as details of the specific emergency response, radiation emergency medicine, health communication and radiological survey expertise that ORAU contributed.

MARCH 11

ORAU team at REAC/TS received their first request for information related to the Fukushima incident.

MARCH 13

Setting out to East Asia, eight members of ORAU’s national security and emergency management team were dispatched to Japan to support DOE senior energy officials and liaison officers at the U.S. Embassy in Japan and the Yokota Air Base.

HOURS

MARCH 14

ORAU’s national security and emergency management team supplied 18 personnel to support the DOE Nuclear Incident Team at DOE headquarters providing 24/7 assistance.

MARCH 15

For tracking radiation exposure, DOE employed the Radiological Assessment and Monitoring System network, a pre-existing asset ORAU first developed — in collaboration with the NNSA Office of Emergency Response—to support the operations of DOE’s Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center.

Supporting U.S. Response to the Japanese Nuclear Crisis

As news broke of the natural disaster and threat of nuclear crisis in Japan,the U.S. immediately offered support. Among those tapped to assist was ORAU’s national security and emergency management team, which provided NNSA with technical and analytical nuclear incident support. Within 48 hours after the earthquake, ORAU emergency management experts accompanied the NNSA Office of Emergency Response in deploying to Japan to support DOE senior energy officials and liaison officers at the Yokota Air Base and the U.S. Embassy in Japan. A separate 18-person team from ORAU supported the NNSA Nuclear Incident Team (NIT), which had convened at DOE Headquarters, located in Washington, D.C. Responsible for deploying assets at the request of coordinating agencies, the NIT served as the point of coordination for support activities, both in Japan and in the U.S. ORAU staff rotated shifts among team members—to provide 24/7 assistance to the NIT. The ORAU team supporting the NIT received DOE Secretarial Honor Award, presented by Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

Photocredit:AP/KyodoNews

Photo credit: DVIDS

RADIATION EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Advising on Medical Aspects of Radiation Exposure in Japan

Because of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant suffered catastrophic damage— ultimately releasing dangerously high amounts of radioactive material that led to the evacuation of more than 170,000 Japanese citizens within a 12-mile radius of the crippled plant. Responding agencies were concerned about the medical impacts of radiation exposure, the effect on food and water safety and what actions individuals could take to protect themselves. To provide advice and consultation, the physicians and health physicists at REAC/TS were on call 24/7 and responded to more than 200 inquiries in the days and weeks that followed.

MARCH 16

The CDC, which activated their Joint Information Center within 24 hours of the crisis, realized they would need additional subject matter experts and asked ORAU health education specialists to help with the dissemination of radiation emergency information to the public.

EVACUATED

Answering Concerns about U.S. Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Health Response

Upon learning of the unstable condition of several Japanese reactors following the earthquake and tsunami, some U.S. citizens became concerned about whether radiation being released from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant would disperse across the Pacific Ocean. As the CDC prepared to assist in the U.S. response effort, ORAU provided the agency with onsite, staff support at its Joint Information Center, which operated 24/7 during the event and distributed radiation emergency information to the public. ORAU also had a lead role in the development and execution of the CDC’s first-ever “Bridging the Gaps: Public Health and Radiation Emergency Preparedness”conference, which was held just 10 days after the earthquake and served as a forum for discussing the current state of radiation emergency preparedness in the U.S. and the unfolding crisis in Japan. During the national conference, two White House national security senior officials personally thanked ORAU for its work in making the conference happen despite the challenges this international disaster posed for responding U.S. agencies.

MARCH 21-24

ORAU’s health communication team partnered with the CDC to host “Bridging the Gaps: Public Health and Radiation Emergency Preparedness,” a national conference with forums for discussing the current state of radiation emergency preparedness, including gaps and barriers, at the local, state and federal levels.

MAY 7

In the eight weeks after the Japan earthquake and tsunami, ORAU’s REAC/TS team responded to more than 200 calls related to the medical effects of radiation.

Photocredit:AP/DavidGuttenfelder

Photo credit: CDC

JULY 11-27

With only a few days to mobilize, ORAU’s environmental assessment team performed a comprehensive, three-week-long radiological verification survey of a maritime transport ship that had been located off the coast of Japan at the time of the disaster.

Characterizing Maritime Assets off the Coast of Japan for Potential Radiation Contamination

In the summer of 2011, ORAU’s environmental assessment team performed a radiological survey of a ship that was located off the coast of Japan during the days immediately following the March 11 disaster. With only a few days to mobilize, the team surveyed the ship’s high-traffic areas, air filtration systems— which use fans and filters to clean contaminated air outside a ship before feeding it into inner rooms — and all non filtered cargo areas. Most elevated radiation levels were found to be the result of everyday radiation that is present in the natural environment. Contamination was found within the filters; however, this finding indicated that the air filtration systems effectively trapped the vast majority of contamination.

AUGUST 23-25

At the request of Japan’s National Institute of Radiological Sciences, REAC/TS conducted training in Japan as part of the continuing U.S. response to the Japan radiation emergency medicine nuclear crisis. There were approximately 30 participants.

Photocredit:AP/GregoryBull

Expertise and Impact

At ORAU, our capabilities have grown in direct response to an effort to connect with and support our customers’ needs. We have built deep subject matter expertise in scientific research and education, environment, health and national security and have also integrated our skills across the board to provide comprehensive solutions for our customers. From providing services such as training and assessments to customizing tools and technology, ORAU’s expertise has strongly impacted critical national and international needs in 2011.

While ORAU has the capability to support an actual emergency response, such as the Japan disaster, we are also continually preparing others who need to be ready to respond through training and exercises…

Preparing California for Natural Disasters

ORAU has a lead role in planning and executing the California Emergency Management Agency’s exercise series Golden Guardian, the most comprehensive state-level program in the country.

Golden Guardian 2011 tested California’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from a catastrophic flood based in the Inland Region. The three-day exercise included more than

20 seminars, tabletop exercises and simulation cell training sessions and involved more than 5,000 participants representing local, regional, state and federal responders.

—CalEMAActingSecretaryMikeDayton

PARTICIPANTS

“These drills are essential to California’s overall prevention,responseandrecoverycapabilities.”

ORAU-led training and exercise programs for California have become a standard for other states in the U.S. ORAU trainers and exercise planners also lead emergency preparedness programs for countries around the world for natural disasters and incidents involving terrorism,radiation and other hazards…

Training Emergency Responders in Mexico for Pan American Games

In 2011, Mexico hosted more than 6,000 athletes from 42 countries for the Pan American Games in Guadalajara. In preparation for the games, the NNSA, in cooperation with Mexico’s National Commission of Nuclear Safety and Safeguards and the National Center for Disaster Prevention, took action to expand Mexico’s response capabilitiesin the event of radiological terrorism. The Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/ Training Site, managed by ORAU for DOE-NNSA conducted a four-day workshop on radiological contamination and accident casualties, which was attended by 220 physicians, nurses, hospital administrators, emergency personnel and representatives of the Mexican Red Cross.

TRAINED

“AspartofNNSA’scomprehensiveapproach tonuclearandradiologicalincidentresponse, emergency radiation medical training leveragesthedecadesofexperiencewehave atNNSAandatourRadiationEmergency AssistanceCenter/TrainingSite.”

—NNSAAssociateAdministratorforEmergency OperationsandretiredAdmiralJosephKrol

Photo credit: CalEMA

As important as it is to ensure emergency readiness at the national,international and state levels,local community responders need special training because they are often faced with an onslaught of victims immediately following a disaster and many times do not have the resources or capacity to handle those situations.ORAU provides the tools and training necessary to ensure communities are well prepared…

Enhancing Mass Casualty Radiation Emergency Preparedness with 3-D Virtual Training

Following a radiation emergency, public health professionals will help screen peoplefor contamination, assess radiation exposures and arrange treatment for those who need it. These combined services are known as population monitoring, and many health departments are not prepared to conduct them by using a network of community reception centers.

To aid health departments in their radiation response planning, CDC and ORAU developed the Virtual Community Reception Center— a Web-based, training tool that uses a simulated, 3-D environment to educate users about the reception center process. Since launching in September 2010, the free site has been accessed by more than 5,700 users, and ORAU has distributed more than 2,000 CDs of the program.

During the March 2011 Japan crisis, heavy usage spikes were noted as the U.S. reacted and responded to this international event.

“…agreatcontributiontotheCDCandstateandlocal[radiationandnuclear]preparednessplanning.”

—Dr.JimSmith,formerbranchchiefoftheCDCRadiationStudiesBranch

When the incident is a result of a terrorist attack involving chemical threats, having ready access to the medicines to counteract those nerve-damaging agents is critical.ORAU’s expertise positions us to help agencies inventory,track and prepare to quickly make available the needed antidotes to local governments and health care providers…

Tracking Nerve Agent Antidotes Online Ensures Faster Response Time

In a terrorist attack involving chemical nerve agents, the timely use of medical countermeasures is essential. However, local governments and hospitals often have limited or no supplies ofthese antidotes. ORAU experts assisted the CDC’s CHEMPACK program by creating the Cache Locator Application, which allows for online tracking of accessible supplies,or caches, of nerve agent antidotes. CHEMPACK, managed by the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response’s Division of Strategic National Stockpile,

CASES

previously tracked these antidotes in inventory management systems that did not support access by the user community. Now through a password-protected Web portal, nearly 450 authorized users view cache site information via Web mapping technology.

“CHEMPACKhasreceivedravereviewsregardingthisnewcapability…performancewas exceptional…”

—MichaelAdams,CHEMPACKFieldingSectionLead/EmergencyManagementSpecialistfortheCDC

Threats to national security have steadily increased,and the U.S.has responded with a wide array of counterterrorism measures, including fingerprint analysis and other forensic science techniques.ORAU is one of the largest employers of forensic laboratory professionals in the U.S.,and our experts have decades of experience,ranging from law enforcement to military agencies and the FBI…

Putting Terrorism Under the Microscope

As terrorist activity increases around the world, ORAU is using its full arsenal of expertise in latent fingerprint, toolmark analysis, trace evidence and forensic photography disciplines to analyze evidence and help identify and prosecute terrorists. These are two of our experts:

Imogene Van Buren, a group manager for ORAU’s latent fingerprint group, leads a team that is analyzing the surfaces of evidence to develop, recover and identify fingerprints— even fragments of prints — that may lead to a criminal’s identity. With a career in the FBI that spans more than 30 years, Van Buren contributed to the development of the national fingerprint and criminal history data system, known as IAFIS or the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, and helped identify victims in the wake of some of the nation’s worst mass-fatality events, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina.

ORAU Forensic Group Manager James Cadigan has worked more than 4,500 cases in a career that included 31 years with the FBI and investigations into some of America’sdarkest events — including the Oklahoma City and World Trade Center bombings. Today, Cadigan’s team analyzes components of evidence to identify unique imprints or tool marks left by a bomb maker in the fabrication of explosive or other devices. This evidence can reveal a pattern in the attacks of a single group, which can help prosecute and convict the criminals whenthey are captured.

At the heart of science and technology is a strong foundation in the understanding and practice of research.For 65 years,ORAU has been helping prepare future science and technology leaders for tomorrow’s challenges by administering robust science education and research participation programs…

From Schoolroom to Science Lab, Helping Prepare Tomorrow’s Science and Technology Leaders

Expanding the nation’s pool of talent to ensure global competitiveness in science and technology is a significant priority for the U.S. Supporting 330 federal laboratories and research centers, ORAU has 65 years of experience in science education. We administer internship, scholarship and fellowship programs for students, faculty and postdoctoral researchers, such as University of Tennessee student Tyler Pannell, a participant in the DOE-EERE research program, pictured here with his ORNL mentor Abhijeet Borole,Ph.D. Borole explored ways to use food waste to develop microbial fuel cells aimed at helping industry to re-use its wastewater.

In 2011, 96% of these research participants held program appointments in STEM fields.

ORAU also promotes the STEM education of K-12 students and teachers through programs such as ORAU’s Extreme Classroom Makeover, DOE’s Tennessee and National Science Bowls, summer science academies with the ARC, and the Siemens Teachers as Researchers program.

In 2011, participation in ORAU-administered programs totaled 7,700, with participants representing every state in the nation. Expenditures for these programs and other educational initiatives managed by ORAU totaled $200 million.

Researcher Helps Find Ways to Reduce Costs of Producing Alternative Energy

Student’s Explosive Analysis Could Lead to Safer Skies

Fellowship Helps Researcher See the Big Picture in Microbial Communities

Charlee Bennett,Ph.D., served from 2009 to 2011 as the associate lead in developing the Center for Advanced Thin Film Systems lab at ORNL. Through the Postdoctoral Research Associate Program, managed by ORAU, she studied solar technologies to help companies reduce costs of producing alternative energy. Bennett holds master’s and doctorate degrees in materials science and engineering from the University of Florida.

Hope College undergraduate Eric Dulmes measured the impulse of test aircraft explosions by using a highspeed video as part of his summer 2011 internship with theDHS Transportation Security Laboratory. The tests examinedthe strength of explosives at specific sizes and distances and helped predict the severity of damage that could potentially be caused to an airplane. The DHS program is administered by ORISE, which is managed by ORAU.

Angela Hartsock,Ph.D., a research fellow at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, is analyzing ways to treat and reuse wastewater associated with oil and gas drilling. Hartsock’s 2011—2012 fellowship is part of a National Energy Technology Laboratory-Funded research program, which is administered by ORISE and managed by ORAU. Hartsock earned her doctorate degree in microbiology from Cornell University.

As students and faculty tackle research challenges alongside scientists at national laboratories,ORAU experts are tackling environmental challenges at legacy facilities and adjacent property…

Tackling Environmental Challenges with Specialized Techniques and Tools

Throughout FY11, ORAU applied specialized techniques and knowledge of industry tools and technologies to address environmental project challenges. For DOE, ORAU characterized the nature, extent and specific locations of radiological and chemical contamination within DOE’s 2.8-million-square-foot legacy facility, K-33 in Oak Ridge, Tenn., where uranium enrichment had once taken place. For a portion of this work, ORAU developed software that enabled off-the-shelf land survey technology to communicate with a standard radiation rate meter to map the contamination in 3-D. ORAU also used a technique called waste lot profiling on more than 164,000 tons of hazardous material from K-33 to characterize the content and help determine proper disposition, which helped save project costs and schedule. Additionally, ORAU incorporated X-ray fluorescence technology, in the form of a handheld device, to analyze more than 900 individual soil or other measurements detailing the nature and extent of mercury contamination at the former mercury recovery and storage site, 81-10, at the Y-12National Security Complex.

TONS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL

Helping Reduce and Repurpose DOE Lands through Environmental Assessment Expertise

DOE is undergoing a multiyear effort to substantially reduce its 33,700-acre National Priorities List footprint within the Oak Ridge Reservation. The ultimate goal is to reduce it to less than half its current size and give DOE the ability to repurpose the land for industrial and other uses in the community. DOE sought ORAU’s expertise in environmental characterization to collect soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water samples and analyze them for metals, semivolatile and volatile organic compounds, pesticides, PCBs and radionuclides.In 2011, ORAU completed assessment of 22,000 acres, and report development and submittal is in process.This work will continue into 2012.

While ORAU’s specialists are helping to ensure the environmental health of DOE facilities and lands, our epidemiologists,health physicists and industrial hygienists are working to help the government track,trend and improve the health of its current and former workforce…

Expanding Scope for Worker Health Data and Training

Leveraging more than 30 years of technical expertise in epidemiology, industrial hygiene, health physics, record and data management, and system design, ORAU has established a proven track record as a comprehensive resource for addressing worker health needs. In FY11, work expanded in two key areas: growing our databases to support worker health records, which tripled in number to approximately 26.5 million records this year, and developing epidemiologic training courses, a new service requested by the NRC. The worker health records now cover more than 3.5 million de-identified, active and former workers from hundreds of DOE sites and NRC-licensed facilities around the country. Information in the databases has

been used in academia for teaching, by ORAU and other epidemiologists and researchers as reference material, and to validate other studies.

Reconstructing Worker Dose Exposure Histories for Illness Compensation

For nearly a decade, NIOSH has contracted with ORAU to reconstruct the dose exposure histories of more than 30,000 DOE workers and contractors. This effort has helped to ensure that energy employees who may have radiation-related cancers are compensated. In 2011, ORAU and partners — MJW Technical Services, Inc., and Dade Moeller and Associates successfully addressed nearly 5,000 complicated radiation dose reconstructions that werepreviously unresolved due to intricate technical issues associated with the historical operation of 300+ sites in the nation’s nuclear weapons complex. The result was the ability to address the concerns of claimants who had been waiting to learn whetherthey would be compensated.

In FY11, ORAU was awarded an additional contract from NIOSH for industrial hygiene work, including dose reconstruction for radiation, chemical and other exposures. Potential work from this contract will include data gathering and management, statistical analysis and other investigative work related to occupational exposures.

From answering worker health concerns to assisting with efforts to find alternative energy sources,ORAU’s support to the energy industry is helping to address critical national needs…

Facilitating First National Energy Research Summit Leads to More Talks

In an effort to explore answers to critical energy challenges, the DOE Office of Science sponsored the inaugural “Science for Our Nations Energy Future: Energy Frontier Research Centers Summit and Forum” in Washington, D.C., in May 2011.

For the three-day meeting, ORAU provided all up-front planning, as well as other on-site logistics, and facilitation of 36 parallel technical sessions and three poster sessions involving more than 300 posters.

This support allowed Secretary of Energy Steven Chu,Ph.D (pictured here), members of Congress and more than 1,000 policy and science leaders from government and industry to come together to discuss these energy challenges and promote collaborations throughout our nation’s energy enterprise. Given its success, the summit will be reconvened by the Energy Frontier Research Centerson a semiannual basis.

“Thesummitseemedlikeaflawlessvictorytome.Lotsofgoodscience.Seriouslymotivational. Manythankstoyouandtheother…staffwhomadethismeetingworksowell.”

—PaulLahti,co-directorofthePolymer-BasedMaterialsforHarvestingSolarEnergy-EnergyFrontierResearchCenter

Photo credit: DOE

Streamlining Peer Reviews for DOE-EERE with Improved Tools and Processes

DOE-EERE must review each year the progress and results of hundreds of funded research projects in hydrogen, fuel cells and advanced vehicle technologies. For the 2011 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation, more than 500 presentations of such projects were evaluated for merit and continued funding with the help of ORAU’s peer review expertise.

To address the challenges of a review of this ORAU customized off-the-shelf software to streamline the review process with more 325 reviewers.

ORAU also provided peer review support to EERE’s Geothermal Technologies Program, which this year reviewed the most projects in its history — approximately 170 — representing a DOE investment of more than $350 million.

To enhance the peer reviews of programs for DOE and other agencies,ORAU has developed and continued to improve various technology-based tools,such as our PeerNet system,to streamline the review and evaluation process…

Giving a Functionality Facelift to ORAU’s Peer Review System, PeerNet

ORAU’s PeerNet is a secure, effective Web-based tool for peer review management. The system operates on a straight forward concept of providing documents for review, compiling reviewers’ feedback, calculating scores and providing extensive reporting of the evaluation results.

Despite regular updates, the system design had become out of sync with current Web-based standards. In 2011, integrating usability expertise along with reviewer and customer input, ORAU gave PeerNet a major facelift, which included a complete redesign of the look, navigation and overall functionality of the system.

More than 2,300 reviewers and 300 customers using PeerNet can now create and manage their own password-protected accounts, be assigned access to online evaluations and review documents 24/7. In addition to several other

upgrades, system accessibility for those with disabilities is now greatly enhanced and Web browser compatibility has also been improved.

20

University Partnerships

POWE AWARDS

Today’s universities face increasing pressure to secure research funding and attract the brightest students to ensure our country’s global competitiveness. As a nonprofit, federal contractor and university consortium, ORAU is working with our member institutions to pursue collaborative, externally funded research projects involving university researchers and ORAU experts. These opportunities are being fueled by a targeted effort to more tightly connect withand tap the university research talent present in our membership to build the right partnerships and expertise needed to win this funding. Our history of providing meaningful opportunities for the professional development of university faculty and students supports this new value proposition for our university members.

Partnering To Expand Research Boundaries

In an effort to expand research boundaries beyond that of any single university, ORAU is identifying opportunities that blend the talent found in our member universities as well as our own programs. One example of this type of collaboration in 2011 was with the University of Kentucky College of Communications and Information Studies and the University of Alabama in Huntsville Information Technology and Systems Center.

UK recently unveiled a Digital Content Analysis lab that provides media monitoring services through on-demand access to televisionbroadcasts with the ability to search, view, analyze and manage content from 20 television stations within a half-hour of broadcast. The UK team has conducted risk and crisis-related analyses of the H1N1 virus and salmonella outbreaks with the goal of analyzing broader coverage so that this innovation can help health and safety professionals respond in risk and crisis situations.

A satellite, digital content analysis server will be placed at UAH to expand the scope of the current system and demonstrate market variation. As development continues, ORAU plans to involve other member universities on this project as well as related risk and crisis research.

Awarding Research Grants to Junior Faculty from Member Institutions

In 2011, ORAU awarded a total of $150,000 to 30 individual faculty members as part of the Ralph E. Powe Awards. The annual grants provide funds to enrich the research and professional growth of junior faculty. Nicolas Zegre, Ph.D.

(pictured here, third from left), of West Virginia University, received a 2011 Powe award to continue his studies on the causes of flooding in southern West Virginia by tracking the length of time that rainfall is retained by watersheds in the region.

Looking for a More Reliable Alternative to GPS

Each year, ORAU and ORNL cosponsor summer research appointments for HBCU and MEI faculty. In 2011, Brian Kelley,Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, spent 10 weeks collaborating with ORNL mentor Stephen Smith, Ph.D. The purpose of his research was to develop nextgeneration radio location systems with superior characteristics to conventional GPS. Kelley had a theory of a new style of radio location that could operate in environments where GPS is not functional, and ORNL provided the opportunity to put his theories into practice. “Though I collaborated with many brilliant technologists in industry,” said Kelley, “I had not had an opportunity to conduct research in a federal research lab since graduate school. ORNL’s staff has an amazing reputation. The experience has been fantastic.”

ORAU INSTITUTIONS

Exploring the Research and Education Needs Driven by U.S. Security and Intelligence Objectives

ORAU welcomed more than 100 attendees to its 66th Annual Meeting of the Council of Sponsoring Institutions. The meeting brought together representatives from leading universities and national laboratories for a two-day workshop focused on the unique challenges and opportunities related to research and education in the security and intelligence fields. University program leaders also shared successful models for research programs, strategies for conducting classified research and guidance for developing forensic science programs.

Convening Top Graduate Students from the U.S. with Nobel Laureates

Since 1951, Nobel Laureates have annually convenedin Lindau, Germany, to have open and informal meetings with students and early career researchers from around the world. Laureates and students exchange ideas, discuss projects and build international networks throughout the week. This year, ORAU sponsored more than 25 students to attend both the 2011 Lindau physiology/medicine meeting and the 2011 Lindau meeting on economics. Nearly 600 studentsfrom 77 countries attended the two week long meetings in Germany. Participating Laureates both lectured and participated in less formal small group discussions with the students.

Alabama A&M University

Appalachian State University*

Arkansas State University*

Auburn University

Berea College*

Carnegie Mellon University

Catholic University of America

Clark Atlanta University

Clemson University

College of Charleston*

College of William and Mary Duke University

East Carolina University

East Tennessee State University

Eastern Kentucky University*

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Emory University

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida International University

Florida State University

George Mason University

George Washington University

Georgetown University

Georgia Health Sciences University

Georgia Tech

Georgia State University

Howard University

Idaho State University

Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London

Indiana University

Jackson State University

Johns Hopkins University

Johnson C. Smith University*

Lincoln Memorial University*

Louisiana State University

Maryville College*

Meharry Medical College

Michigan State University

Michigan Technological University

Middle Tennessee State University

Mississippi State University Missouri University of Science and Technology*

Morehouse College*

Morgan State University

New Mexico State University

Norfolk State University*

North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina State University

The Ohio State University Oklahoma State University Penn State University

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico* Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Orlando*

Rice University Roanoke College*

Rutgers University

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Southern Methodist University

Southern University and A&M College

Tennessee State University

Tennessee Technological University

Texas A&M University

Texas Christian University

Texas Tech University

Tulane University

Tuskegee University

University of Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham

University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

University of Central Florida

University of Cincinnati

University of Delaware University of Florida University of Georgia University of Houston University of Kentucky University of Louisville University of Maryland University of Memphis University of Miami University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of Mississippi Medical Center*

University of Missouri-Columbia

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

University of Nevada, Reno

University of New Mexico

University of New Orleans

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Dakota University of North Texas University of Notre Dame

University of Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

University of Pittsburgh

University of South Alabama

University of South Carolina

University of South Florida

University of Southern Mississippi

University of Tennessee

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

University of Tennessee Health Science Center **

University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Dallas University of Texas at San Antonio*

University of Texas-Pan American*

University of the District of Columbia*

University of Tulsa University of Virginia Vanderbilt University

Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia State University*

Virginia Tech Wake Forest University Washington University Wayne State University West Virginia University Western Carolina University*

Western Kentucky University

102 Sponsoring Institutions (Ph.D.-granting)

*20 Associate Members

** 1 Branch Campus

Community Involvement

Always mindful of the need to strengthen the research and education enterprise of our nation, ORAU never loses sight of the importance to also invest at the local level. ORAU’s 2011 outreach activities are evidence of our mission to advance science and education, starting with our own community and reaching out from there.

ORAU Extreme Classroom Makeover

For the 2011 Extreme Classroom Makeover, ORAU named Herman Sutton, Jr., a fifth grade math teacher at Green Magnet Math and Science Academy in Knoxville, Tenn., the grand prize winner. Sutton’s winning video highlighted one child’s transformation from a mediocre math student to a “math hero.” As grand-prize winner, Sutton received a $25,000 grant to use toward the purchase of technology enhancements for his classroom/math laboratory, which is used by an estimated 300 students. His grant purchases included Apple iPads, laptops and a desktop, an interactive response system and a new television.

Stacy Honabach, a 5th grade math teacher at Northview Middle School in Sevier County, Tenn., was named first runner-up and received a $20,000 grant created with $12,500 in funds from ORAU and additional contributions from three local businesses totaling $7,500. Fifth-grade North Middle School science teacher Kayla Canario was second runner up, receiving a $5,000 grant to outfit her Loudon County, Tenn., classroom with technology.

Imagination Library

ORAU has served as a corporate sponsor for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in Anderson County, Tenn., since 2001. Since the program’s inception, ORAU has mailed more than 216,000 books to area children from birth to age five.

ORAU Education Grants

In its 10th consecutive year, the 2011 ORAU Education Grants program provided $36,000 in cash awards to 23 teachers from 13 area schools for educational projects, materials and other needs not funded by the local school systems. Since 2002, ORAU has provided more than $275,000 to schools in our community for projects that complement ORAU’s mission of enriching STEMprograms.

United Way and Community Shares

The 2011 ORAU Giving Campaign had another record-breaking year, with employee and corporate donations totaling $146,300.

Tennessee Science Bowl

ORAU continued its support in 2011 for DOE’s Tennessee Science Bowl, an annual competition to encourage high school students to pursue careers in science and math. As a major corporate sponsor, ORAU contributed $35,000 to the event and provided overall management of the competition for DOE. The Oak Ridge High School team (pictured here) won top honors and received a $1,000 cash prize, a first-placetrophy and an all-expense paid trip to compete in DOE’s National Science Bowl in Washington, DC.

Other Organizations ORAU Proudly Supports:

ORAU

16. WAYNE L.STEVENSON,Ph.D.

Vice President and Director, Science Education Programs

17. MARCUS A.WESEMAN

Vice President and Director, Health Communication and Technical Training Programs

18. ALBERT L.WILEY,M.D.,Ph.D.

Medical/Technical Director, Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site

19. ROSE J.NAPIER

Director, Employee Relations and Diversity

20. RANDALL W.SPINNEY,Ph.D.

Director, Integrated Management and Assurance

21. ROBERT J.KAPOLKA

Director, Environment, Safety and Health

22. THOMAS P.AMIDON

Director, Safeguards and Security

ORAU Board of Directors

ALICE ASTAFAN

General, U.S. Airforce, President and CEO AAstafan & Associates

ANTHONY(Tony) P.DeCRAPPEO President Council on Governmental Relations

R.LARRY DOOLEY,Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Clemson University

KELVIN K.DROEGEMEIER,Ph.D. Vice President for Research University of Oklahoma

W.ROSS ELLINGTON,Ph.D. Associate Vice President Research Florida State University

TERRY L.HERDMAN,Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Research Computing Virginia Tech

KAREN A.HOLBROOK,Ph.D.

Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Global Affairs University of South Florida

GERALD D.HOLDER,Ph.D.

U.S. Steel Dean and Professor, School of Engineering University of Pittsburgh

JOHN M.HORACK,Ph.D.

Vice President for Research The University of Alabama in Huntsville

DAVID C.LEE,Ph.D. Vice President for Research University of Georgia

TERRI L.LOMAX,Ph.D.

Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Economic Development

North Carolina State University

NANCY C.MARTIN,Ph.D.

Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Louisville

CHRISTINE M.MAZIAR,Ph.D.

Vice President and Senior Associate Provost University of Notre Dame

ROBERT T.McGRATH,Ph.D.

Vice President, Georgia Institute of Technology Director, Georgia Tech Research Institute

CHRISTOPHER D.McKINNEY,Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Technology Transfer Georgia Health Sciences University

CURT M.PETERSON,Ph.D.

Vice President for Research & Economic Development West Virginia University

WINFRED M.PHILLIPS,Ph.D.

Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer University of Florida

J.PAUL REASON

Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired) Independent Consultant

ORLANDO L.TAYLOR,Ph.D.

Professor and Dean Emeritus Howard University

JAMES H.TURNER,JR.

Senior Counsel and Director of Energy Programs

Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities

ZACH WAMP

President Zach Wamp Consulting