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.
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DIRECTOR'S NOTE
EVENTS
SUMMER CAMP
DOE PUBLIC BUS TOURS
VOLUNTEERS
EXHIBITS
EDUCATION
STEM of HISTORY
DISCOVERY SHOP
PROGRAMS
SUPPORT
ENERGY & ELEMENTS GALA
MEMBERSHIP
HOURS OF OPERATION
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The AMSE Foundation Gala Celebrating Excellence in Energy and the Elements was held on April 22, and I am very pleased to report it was a tremendous success. We recognized Drs. Thomas Zacharia and Jim Roberto as the recipients of the inaugural AMSEF Excellence Award, while also announcing the winners of our first AMSEF STEAM Art Contest. Our keynote speaker was Pulitzer Prize-winning author Kai Bird who gave fascinating remarks about J. Robert Oppenheimer. Add to that mix a live auction with Bear Stephenson as auctioneer, the music of the Secret City Winds, a Van de Graaff generator shocking our guests, great food and drink, and an amazing audience of AMSEF supporters, and you have one terrific evening. | |
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AMSE and K-25 History Center Director:
Alan Lowe
| Thanks to all of you who attended and supported this event – it was a great step forward for our Foundation and the museums we are honored to oversee. Now we start planning for next year! | | |
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On May 4th AMSE Foundation educators will be participating in another regional STEM night, this time at Robertsville Middle School.
Did you know that our educators have a huge selection of mobile classes prepared to share with schools, community groups, churches, etc.? If you would like to know more, please check out this link and learn what we can provide for your organization or school.
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May 19th 5-7pm
Members are FREE!
Non-members: $5.00 per person
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AMSE’s Family Game Night is an evening filled with exciting, fun and if it’s your vibe, challenging games for everyone. Including classic favorites, a variety of board and skill games along with console games on the giant screen! Our third Family Game Night continues to evolve into a spectacular evening of laughs, friendly gamesmanship and wonderful memories for all. | | |
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AMSE ANT DAY
Saturday, May 20, 2023,
10 am-4 pm
Free with the price of admission
Come welcome the new Ant Cube colony in the AMSE classroom.
Learn how ants work together to survive in forests, grasslands & deserts.
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Ant Activities:
- Ant Expert, Gary Edwards, UT Entomology & TN State Plant Inspector
- Ant Video- (How an Ant Colony Begins)
- Build an Ant model (take-home)
- Ant Mazes (take-home)
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- Ant Word Searches (take-home)
- Play Doh Ant Modeling (take-home)
- Ant Life Cycle Challenge
- Ant Snacks
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On May 30th we will host another blood drive for Medic Regional Blood Center. Click the link below to schedule your time to donate. | |
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Sally’s Night – Looking to the Stars with AMSE
June 17. Time: TBD
Sally Ride lived her life with extraordinary energy, passion, curiosity and joy. All astronauts lead exciting lives, but some are larger than life even before they reach for the stars. Whether in the classroom or on the tennis court, in the lab or on the launch pad—it was clear from the start that Dr. Ride would reach great heights.
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Each June we mark the anniversary of one exciting episode of Sally’s extraordinary life—the first night she looked back at Earth from space and experienced the special exhilaration and joy that energy, focus, and passion can bring to those who reach for the stars. Early interests and clear role models can lead to excellence in any field—particularly science, technology, engineering, and math, where not even the sky’s the limit.
This June, in celebration of this anniversary, the AMSE Foundation is inviting everyone to visit the K-25 History Center to look up at the heavens and gaze into the stars to ignite your own curiosity. We will bring the telescopes and offer a panel discussion related to Women in STEM allowing guests to peer into space and discover the wonders of nature. This event is partnered with the efforts of the National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian. AMSE is a proud Smithsonian Affiliate.
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As NASA prepares to return to the Moon the American Museum of Science and Energy’s 2023 Summer Camp will explore and share what it’s like to survive in space and Martian terrain.
“To the Moon and Beyond” will allow campers to explore and immerse themselves in hands-on experiments and experiences to replicate the astronaut experience. Special guests, exciting experiences, captivating experiments, NASA trained instructors, and so much more!
Camp will be at the American Museum of Science and Energy from June 19th to 23rd from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. The cost will be $200 for non-members and $175 for members. There are a limited number of spaces available for this year's camp as there are some unique surprises on the schedule.
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Homer Drew Adkins of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, passed away on February 21, 2023, at the age of 94, leaving to mourn family and friends. Homer Adkins, was an avid student of science, and geography. He served 35 years as a Reactor Operator at ORNL’s Graphite, ORR and HFIR reactors. | | |
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Linda Adkins McBreaty, Homer’s daughter states, “My family and I are proud to announce the dedication of the Homer D. Adkins Science Scholarship. We hope to honor and continue my father’s legacy by providing scholarships to children attending AMSE’s Summer Camp, who may not otherwise have been able to afford the opportunity.”
The effort to create and extend the love of the sciences to future generations a phenomenal endeavor and an idea worth supporting.
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He was loved and cherished by many people including : his parents, Gordon Lindsay Adkins and Belva Lea Gaylor Adkins; his wife Peggy; his children, Alan and Linda Adkins McBrearty (Joseph); his grandsons, Austin Ponce (Diana Lowrie) and Christian Ponce (Nicolette Manilla Ponce); his great grandchildren, Zaedyn Ponce and Liam Ponce; his extended family, Audrey, James and Daniel Byrd; and also Homer. He was also cherished by nieces & nephews. In honor of Homer’s love of the sciences supported by these family members and numerous friends AMSE is proud to host a scholarship in his name. | |
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S
PUBLIC FACILITIES BUS TOUR
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The DOE Public Facilities Bus Tours are open!
This one-of-a-kind tour gives access to the K-25 History Center, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Visitors Center and the Y-12 New Hope Center and three hours of incredible history.
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Summer is right around the corner, and that means more guests visiting the museums while on vacation! Tony is currently working on putting together a schedule of exciting programs to offer through the summer (Game Night: May 19; Sally's Night: June 17, and more to follow.) Please remember to let us know if you have any updates to your schedule, any vacation plans, etc. so that we may schedule accordingly. We'll also send out a calendar of events and programs in case our volunteers would like to sign up for any after hour programs.
The Bus Tour has started this season and we are happy to report that we've hosted over 265 guests so far! Tours are starting to fill up, so if you're interested in serving as a guide or a guide assistant, please let us know! Remember, even if you're not a public speaker, you might be a great fit for our guide assistant role. If you're interested in becoming a guide or would just like to learn more, please reach out and let Tony know at tschnadelbach@amse.org.
| | Finally, we are always looking for more volunteers. We have 4 hour shifts each day at both the AMSE and K-25 History Center, as well as on the bus tour. We encourage anyone who is interested in getting involved to fill out our volunteer interest application. Come join the AMSE Foundation family! | |
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Visitors to AMSE will soon be able to see back in time with new donations to the collections. Three reflector telescopes from the Prendergast Boys of Germantown with mirrors ranging from 5 up to 10 inches, and a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope from our own Director give the museum a small arsenal of celestial tools. With these, AMSE can host evenings of stargazing and bring the ancient light of distant stars to our patrons' inquisitive eyes.
Through these telescopes and our space area of the museum, you can now see, hear, and smell the universe from right here in Oak Ridge.
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What were once acorns sequestered by squirrels beneath the rich fall humus are now emerging as green shoots to greet the spring. Likewise, exhibits conceived last year have now fruited in our exhibit galleries. In addition to last month's opening of our new James Webb Space Telescope exhibit, the museum now hosts "Let's Play, the Elements of Electronic Gaming". | |
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Visitors can learn about the evolution of games from the first addition of solenoids to pinball tables to modern online and virtual gaming. And they can have fun while doing it: the exhibit features playable versions of arcade cabinets, pinball, and handhelds like "Simon.” A Periodic Table of Electronic Games displays the most influential games of the last century. Be educated and entertained with "Let's Play" | |
The Observing with NASA (OWN) Kiosk is here through May thanks to the generosity of our friends at NASA. While this exhibit is in place, please check out the reflective mirror showcasing the James Webb Space Telescope exhibit. | |
AMSE Foundation educators participated in the Mosaic Art Festival in Clinton, Tennessee. We were proud to be a principal sponsor of the event and even more excited to share some great educational moments with kids and adults! | |
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The STEM of History (SOH) is a podcast produced by the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation (AMSEF) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee with funding support from Humanities Tennessee and the National Endowment for the Humanities. This series examines the intersection of science with history. It focuses on tracing how scientific inquiry is interpreted in the historical record, and in turn, the impact of historical analysis to informing scientific inquiry.
This fascinating glimpse into how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) has been present throughout history shows no great feat has ever been accomplished without the aid of these four key elements. Listen to an amazing list of guests and contributors in original interviews “talk shop” about how the world goes round and attempts to improve itself with every spin.
The STEM of HISTORY has been developed with a generous grant from Humanities Tennessee and the National Endowment for the Humanities. https://amse.org/stem-of-history/
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Check out the newest Science Totes offered in the museum gift shop.
These sturdy canvas bags are reversible with a zipper pocket in a soft grey or teal on one side, or you can flip it around and wear it with the printed Equations That Changed the World or Chemistry design!
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[Rn] 5f3 6d1 7s2 (A Photography Exhibition of Uranium Enrichment of Oak Ridge) is now available for viewing at the K-25 History Center. | |
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. | |
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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.
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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. | |
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May:
The Pope of Physics: Enrico Fermi and the Birth of the Atomic Age
by Gino Segre
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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. | |
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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.
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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.
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A short list of all the folks we need to thank for making this evening a success:
Jim and Priscilla Campbell, Lee Riedinger, Harold Conner, Joe and Linda McBrearty, Ray Smith, Dave Keim, Jim Dodson, Bear Stephenson, Pat Postma, Senator Blackburn and Chelsea, Nicole Allen, Kai Bird, Thomas Zacharia, Jim Roberto, Secret City Winds, Doubletree, Photographer Rob Welton, Aubrey's, ORNL, TVA, ORNL Federal Credit Union, Atkins, Isotek, Burns and McDonnell, UCOR, CNS/Y-12, Mirion Technologies, Strata-G, Merit Construction, Kiewitt, Tom and Danni Varlan, Alicia Swift, Joe Hoagland, AMSE Foundation board members, President Roosevelt, Leslie Groves, Sen. McKellar, and John Hendrix for helping to conceive Oak Ridge, and Dmitri Mendeleev for creating the Periodic Table...
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Guests in attendance will be receiving a link to view and download photos soon. | |
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AMSE Excellence Award Winners:
Thomas Zacharia,
Jim Roberto
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Keynote Speaker:
Kai Bird
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Homer D. Adkins Science Scholarship Fund | |
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.
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American Museum of Science and Energy
& K-25 History Center
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Monday through Saturday:
9AM – 5PM
Sunday:
1PM – 5PM
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AMSE address:
115 Main Street East
Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
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K-25 address:
652 Enrichment Street,
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
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You can always reach us by calling
+1 (865) 294-4531 or emailing us at
info@AMSE.org.
Check us out online at
amse.org and
k25historycenter.org.
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Come see us soon at AMSE and the K-25 History Center! | |
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American Museum of
Science and Energy
AMSE.org
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