CHATTANOOGA ENGINEERS CLUB

NEXT WEEK_______________________________________________

Monday, February 23, 11:30 am

Chattanooga Convention Center, 1100 Carter St.

Topic: E-Week Kickoff Luncheon- “Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor"

- Congressman Zach Wamp

As part of our National Engineers Week Kick-off Luncheon, we are pleased to join the Chattanooga Technology Council in a special program event at the Chattanooga Convention Center. On the agenda are John Riddell, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth, Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, and Key Note Speaker, Congressman Zach Wamp, Mr. Wamp will speak to us about the fast growing Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor.

The special cost for CEC members is $15 per person. Please RSVP by calling Tiffany Gibby at (423) 755-7481 or email: tjgibby@tva.gov. You must call for reservation to obtain the $15 rate.

More information about the meeting can be found at: http://chattanoogatechnologycouncil.org/events/current/

OUR PREVIOUS MEETING____________________________________

Topic: "Update on Oak Ridge Technology Transfer" - Dr. Terry Payne, P.E., Director of the Economic Development Program at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

An update on ORNL was given by Dr. Payne. Beginning with the Manhattan Project in 1941, the nuclear weapons research lab transformed into a multipurpose energy related research lab. There are presently 3800 employees with a $1 billion budget and is the largest energy research lab in the world. UT-Battelle manages ORNL and it is a cooperative agreement between the University of Tennessee and Battelle. They are presently in a $300 million modernization plan.

ORNL emphasizes three research areas: 1) BIO, what can we learn from the human geno; 2) NANO, spallation research, capturing neutrons for research; and, 3) INFO, computing to handle advanced research efforts. The largest supercomputer is being built at ORNL and it will be 9X faster than the human brain. Research entities in the technology corridor will have access to this computer with UT-Chattanooga being a partner.

ORNL’s goal is to make this region the next hot-spot for technology. And what does it take to make this happen? 1) World class technology, which they believe is developing at ORNL. 2) University Support, which they believe is there with the University of Tennessee system. 3) State support, which has been demonstrated through recent investments by the State of Tennessee. 4) Community support, which they believe is developing in the region. Other items to make it happen but are now in the developing stages are broad entrepreneurial growth, more venture capital, and expanded lab access. They are working to make these happen.

Some of the initiatives that ORNL is developing in Hamilton County are industry recruitment, technopreneurial program with UTC, SBIR support, and the Center for Entrepreneurship in Chattanooga.

Our thanks to Jim Barrott for the meeting summary.

FUTURE MONDAY MEETINGS_________________________________

March 1: TBD

March 8: TBD

March 15: X-37, David Jacobson, Marshall Space Flight Center

EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS___________________________________

The Chattanooga Engineers Club would like to begin allowing recipients of this email newsletter to have control over their account. What this means is that you will be in charge of changing information about your email address as you see fit. If you would like to start using another email address for these bulletins, you will need to subscribe a new email address and unsubscribe your old one. The email server will be instructed to send out a password reminder email to each recipient. We will send out monthly password reminders for approximately three months. This email will contain instructions on how to log on and change your password (if you want). This allows you to administer your own email account, and allows you to set a few preferences as well.

WHERE WE MEET __________________________________________

In March, we will be meeting at the Cellar Restaurant in the Tallan Building in downtown Chattanooga. We may continue to park at the Days Inn on Carter Street (being sure to leave a notice on your dashboard that indicates you are attending the Chattanooga Engineers Club meeting).

QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS? ______________________________

If you have any questions or suggestions about program items please call Tiffany Gibby at 423-751-3168 or email her at tjgibby@tva.gov. You can find references to other Chattanooga Engineers Club members at our web site: www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org.