CHATTANOOGA ENGINEERS CLUB

www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org

NEXT Meeting (The Read House)_____________________________________________

Monday, November 22, 2004 - noon, The Read House, Continental Room

Topic:  “What’s all this fuss about nanoscience?  ORNL’s new Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)” - Doug Lowndes, Scientific Director, CNMS, ORNL

To advance the United States’ National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is currently constructing a network of five new Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs) that will be operated as user facilities for the national scientific community.  The Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), will be the first of the five NSRCs to begin operation, with construction to be completed in April 2005 and initial operations in October 2005. User access to the CNMS’ state-of-the-art facilities and staff expertise will be free of charge, based on brief externally peer-reviewed research proposals.  Mr. Lowndes will provide an introduction to the NNI, the scientific and potential economic importance of nanoscale phenomena and research, and why the NNI is occurring now.  The talk will then focus on the CNMS’ scientific program and unique capabilities, which have been developed through workshops with the national community, with the goal of creating a highly collaborative research environment that will accelerate discovery and drive technological advances.

Invocation/Pledge Chair:  Ron Burton

Menu:  Grilled chicken with cranberry confit, spaghetti squash, whole steamed green beans

CHRISTMAS PARTY____________________________________________________

Our Christmas Party and 80th Anniversary will be on Thursday, December 9, 2004, at 6:30 pm at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the Chattanooga Room of the University Center.  Our speaker will be Mayor Bob Corker and afterward we’ll induct new officers and have music, dancing and door prizes.  Get your tickets now for $30 per person.  RSVP to Tiffany Gibby at (423)751-3168 or Judy Driggans at (423)751-7616.

Don’t miss it!!!

OUR PREVIOUS MEETING________________________________________________

Topic:  “Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Security:  Keeping Us Safe at Home and Abroad” - Michael Whitaker, ORNL's Nuclear Science and Technology Division

In the past, nuclear nonproliferation recommendations came from persons with political science backgrounds.  Today, scientists and engineers are involved.  Established in 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquartered in Vienna, Austria, has as its mission to monitor all international atomic energy activity and promote peaceful applications of atomic energy.

One of six IAEA departments is the Safeguards Department.  There are over 900 atomic energy facilities in 69 countries and the Safeguards Department inspects these facilities and accounts for all their nuclear materials.  The Department’s mission is to “provide technical support for international verification of nuclear materials through technical assessments, methods development, operational testing, training, nondestructive analysis, and on-site support.”  With a small budget, the Department has many needs such as better measurement equipment, better information collection and evaluation methods, and better analytical capabilities.  Recent work to recover materials and equipment of concern has occurred in Bulgaria, Libya, Iraq, North Korea, and Iran.  Some of the Department’s future projects include increasing enrichment plant verification capabilities, international training on nondestructive assay techniques, and recovery and return of special nuclear materials to the United States.  Mr. Whitaker made a plea to industry to support nonproliferation initiatives.  More information can be gathered from the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management’s webpage at www.inmm.org.

Thanks to Jim Barrott for the meeting summary.

SPECIAL NOTE - OFFICER ELECTIONS AND LOGO SELECTION____________________

Officer elections are coming up on November 22.  If you would like to serve as an officer or nominate someone (with their consent), please contact any member of the Election Committee.  Members are Lulu Copeland (lcopeland@aol.com, 697-3212), Jack Wagner (892-4593), and Uwe Zitzow (uwe@chattanooga.net, 756-4123).  We will also vote on an update to the CEC logo on this date.

FUTURE MONDAY MEETINGS_____________________________________________

November 29:  TENTATIVE - Nanotechnology - Jayesh Doshi, E-Spin

December 6:  Dr. Rick Keyser and UTC Senior Design Group Presentation

December 13:  Chattanooga Engineers Club Business Meeting & Spouse Appreciation Luncheon

December 20 & 27:  No Meetings

TBD:  Fusion Technology - ORNL

WHERE WE MEET _______________________________________________________

We meet at The Read House, and lunch is $11.  Parking is free at the Days Inn across MLK Blvd. but you’ll need a note in your windshield that you’re with the Engineers’ Club.  Valet parking (by AAA, the manager of the Read House Hotel parking garage) is $3 for lunch events.  The Read House Hotel garage entrance is now on Broad Street.

QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS? ______________________________________________

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