Oct 9, 2024
Alan Lowe, director of the American Museum of Science and
Energy (AMSE) introduces a live audience to the first-ever AMSEcast
Conversation. Held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the event featured a
panel of experts discussing the historical significance of the
Military Industrial Educational Complex and the book Critical
Connections. The panel, which included Lee Riedinger, Ray Smith,
and William Bugg, explored the development of Oak Ridge and the
University of Tennessee (UT) during the 1940s.
Guest Bios
Lee Riedinger has held numerous leadership positions during
his distinguished career at the University of Tennessee (UT). He
has served as the Director of the UT-ORNL Science Alliance, Head of
the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Vice Chancellor for
Research. Additionally, Lee has held key roles at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory (ORNL), including Deputy Director for Science
and Technology, and Associate Laboratory Director for University
Partnerships. His contributions have strengthened the collaboration
between UT and ORNL, fostering groundbreaking research and
educational initiatives.
Al Ekkebus has a long history with Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, where he previously served as Head of the Research
Library and Assistant to the Laboratory Director. He is currently
the outreach leader for Neutron Science at ORNL, where his work
supports the lab’s scientific community. Al was a crucial research
assistant for the book Critical Connections, adding his extensive
knowledge to the project.
Ray Smith, the City of Oak Ridge’s official historian, has
dedicated years to documenting the rich history of the city. For
over a decade, he has written a weekly newspaper column on Oak
Ridge’s history and contributed significantly to preserving its
legacy. Before retiring in 2017, Ray worked at the Y-12 National
Security Complex, where he was a key figure in chronicling its
historical significance.
William “Bill” Bugg is a retired high-energy physicist and
former Head of the Physics Department at UT, where he served from
1959 until 2006. An Oak Ridge High School graduate from the class
of 1948, Bill’s personal and professional journey has been deeply
intertwined with Oak Ridge’s scientific community, making him a
living testament to the city’s storied past.
Show Notes
- (04:19) Guest introductions
- (06:13) UT and Oak Ridge as they were in 1940
- (10:03) The role UT played in the construction of Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project
- (19:48) How Oak Ridge was able to continue existing after WWII
- (21:00) The role Dr. Hertel played in continuing the connection between UT and ORNL
- (23:48) Who Bill Pollard was and his central role in the relationship between UT and ORNL
- (32:35) Alvin Weinberg’s role in making connections between ORNL and UT
- (35:32) The role politicians and other political servants played in connecting ORNL and UT
- (41:18) How their partnership has benefited the lab and the university
- (45:23) What’s in the immediate future for UT and ORNL
- (48:38) The connection between UT and Y-12
- (50:54) Q & A
- (59:58) What the panelists think is missing from the partnership between UT and ORNL