Once a month we will update you with snapshots of the many exciting things happening at AMSE and the K-25 History Center. Please read the sections below and click on the links provided to find more information, and thanks as always for your support of our museums.

We hope to see you soon and often.

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

DOE PUBLIC BUS TOUR

EDUCATION

DISCOVERY SHOP

PROGRAMS

MEMBERSHIP

SUPPORT

VOLUNTEERS

HOURS OF OPERATION

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

At the end of this month, Glenda Bingham will retire from AMSE after many years of truly wonderful service. As our Volunteer Coordinator, Glenda has built and overseen a tremendous team of volunteers. In so many ways, Glenda has been the ultimate team player at AMSE, always going above and beyond for an institution she believes in. Her dedication, intelligence, warmth, and humor will be missed, but I hope Glenda knows we expect her to visit us often, and maybe even sign up to be a volunteer! Thank you, Glenda, from all of us – you will be missed!

Glenda Bingham, Volunteer Coordinator and a most excellent friend.

AMSE and K-25 History Center Director:

Alan Lowe

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S

PUBLIC FACILITIES BUS TOUR

There are only two more weeks of this year’s bus tour. Sign up today or wait until next spring for more dates.

Another full group loads the DOE Public Facilities Bus Tour.

DOE Public Bus Tour Tickets

Check out this great link from the Department of Energy’s Energycast new program: DOE Public Bus Tour Returns with New Attractions

The last tour of the year is November 11th.

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

EDUCATION

Corwin “Corky” Witt, AMSEF Lead Educator, had the opportunity to speak to the Seniors for Creative Learning group at the O'Connor Senior Center (Oct 13).

Corky Witt took this picture recently

Lenell Wright had the opportunity to speak to over 2300 scouts at Scout Fest in Blaine, TN. AMSEF’s topic was in support of Nuclear Science Week.

Glenwood Elementary STEM night, Lenell Wright & Corwin Witt presented the AMSE Bee Pollination program to 100 students.

Outreach Educator Kris Light has been showcasing her Skins and skulls class as part of an ORNL grant to students at Green Magnet Academy. Nearly sixty kids in two different classes participated in STEM activities. Best of all we received a new batch of local wild animal pelts.

Pollen Power was a great success. AMSE presented a bees wax candle making station, fresh dipped bee’s wax luminary decorating, wildflower seed paper making and kinetic energy toys in one classroom. Another classroom was filled with pollination activities, the Queen’s court, scent challenges, and explanations of a bee’s “waggle dance.” This year featured a section designated for vendors including two local artists, bee keepers and their honey, and tables for our guest speakers. Lastly, Savannah Bee Company brought in a selection of meads and flavored honeys to sample.

Everyone had a great time and we’re looking forward to sharing news of our next event soon!

AMSEF participated in the annual Oak Ridge Halloween party this past Thursday. It was a wonderful time with hundreds of ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and the occasional creepy character.

Thank you to everyone who has supported or received one of our ORNL grant funded virtual classes. Last year we received a federal grant allowing us to take our three virtual classes into Oak Ridge and various Title 1 schools throughout the region. We are nearly at the end of our sixty-four classroom and several hundred kids virtual program commitment. Our most popular classes are Solid, Liquid & Gas and Bee Pollination classes.

Super huge thanks to Oak Ridge National Laboratory for recognizing and supporting the efforts of the AMSE Foundation and our tremendous educators and technical team.

DISCOVERY SHOP

These are the reads you didn't know you were missing...

It's never too early to think about the upcoming gift giving season.

PROGRAMS

AMSEcast

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

Nov 14, 2022

Nov 28, 2022

There's a lot to learn in this world and AMSEcast is a feast for the curious.

Race to Space

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 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.

Did you know you could walk Oak Ridge’s North Boundary Greenway once

(about 12.7 miles) to earn your Troposphere medal (reach 10 miles)? Explore

an older part of Oak Ridge and stop by AMSE’s sister Museum, the K-25

History Center just down the road. Or explore the Ijams Nature Center and

walk the Gravel Rd, Hayworth Hollow, and Imerys Trails to be on your way to

earning your Troposphere medal.

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.

Race to Space Registration

Online Book Club

November 2022

The Reason for the Darkness of the Night Edgar Allan Poe and the Forging of American Science

by John Tresch

We recently recorded an interview with John Tresch for AMSEcast.

SPONSORED BY 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, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Libraries, and the Manhattan Project National Historical Park 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.

Need a few classic tracks from the birth of the Manhattan Project, click here!

MEMBERSHIP

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.

Become a Member

SUPPORT

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. 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.

Make A One Time Gift

VOLUNTEERS

On October 27th AMSE was able to celebrate one of the museum's most valuable elements. Our volunteers. These remarkable individuals are the heart and soul of everything we do. They serve in so many ways, greeting guests, walking them through the exhibits, sharing personal stories, and creating a sense of historical relevance. Our volunteers help bring our exhibits and our programs to life.

We are always looking for new volunteers, both for service at AMSE and the K-25 History Center, and for the DOE Bus Tours. For the latter, if you think you would be the perfect fit for this unique, historic tour, please reach out to us. When we have confirmed the start date of the tours, we will designate dates for the Bus Tour Training, which is a requirement for our Tour Guides and Assistant Tour Guides. Please consider volunteering at one of our museums – you can find more information here.

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.

Interesting in Volunteering