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Student Projects

Build a Supercomputer

Students will build a supercomputer! Well, almost.  Supercomputers typically use thousands of processors running in parallel to solve problems in science, finance, and other areas.  They will build a smaller supercomputer to gain insight and understanding in how supercomputers are organized and then how to program them.  Students will build a Beowulf cluster using ordinary computers.  Students will then write a parallel program, compile the program, and execute that program on the cluster.  Areas that will be covered during this project are:

  • Computing basics
  • Computer networking
  • Linux operating system
  • Computer programming

Project review and summary

Students will be introduced to Extreme Programming concepts such as pair programming.  Upon completing this project, the students will present what they have learned.

Hosting Division: National Center for Computational Sciences

Mentor:  Robert Whitten

Assistants:  Mitchell Griffith, Rosalie Wolfe and Sherry Hempfling

Students:

  • Bryan Clark
  • Daniel Johnson
  • Leandra Parker
  • Ted Rakes, Jr.
  • Austin Shawver
  • Abram Weeks

Creek Awareness Project

One often-overlooked aspect of science is the need to communicate results of technical studies and changing environmental policy effectively to management and to the public.  If communication is not effective or does not occur, practices are unlikely to change.  The Creek Awareness Project directly addresses this problem. Team members will first become familiar with technical aspects of White Oak Creek and its tributaries (ORNL is sited within the White Oak Creek watershed).  Then, the team will design and determine locations for White Oak Creek Watershed signs along Bethel Valley Road to promote watershed awareness and increase employee curiosity about ORNL’s impact on this watershed.   They will work with ORNL graphic artists to accomplish this. The team also will design interview questions and distribute questionnaires, in advance to key employees, asking for their insight and opinions about the significance of creeks and streams at ORNL.  The subsequent interviews will be videotaped. As the team learns in the field about research and compliance activities in the White Oak Creek ecosystem, they will communicate what they have learned by designing riparian educational signage for pedestrian stream crossings.  They will work with Environmental Compliance and Graphics staff to develop these ideas into signage.

Mentors:  Elizabeth Wright and Wes Goddard

Hosting Division:  Environmental Protection & Waste Services Division

Students:

  • Tamika Collins
  • Julie-Ann Drake
  • Andrew Friesen
  • James Harrell
  • Alison Jordan
  • Darrell Wyatt

Measurement of Intrinsic Viscosity of Polyacrylonitrile Copolymers and Blends

Intrinsic viscosity [?] of a polymer is a characteristic that depends on it average molecular weight.  The Mark–Houwink equation gives a relation between intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight (M).  Thus, sometimes the properties of a polymer depend on its intrinsic viscosity. Usually [?] is measured using very dilute solutions of the polymer in a suitable solvent.   This ARC project will investigate effect of soluble small molecular weight additives on overall intrinsic viscosity of various compositions of polyacrylonitrile homopolymers and copolymers.  ORNL researchers will measure the mechanical properties of these polymer compositions and correlate those to their intrinsic viscosity data.

Mentor:  Amit K. Naskar

Assistants:  Ken Yarborough and  Soydan Ozcan

Hosting Division:  Materials Science & Technology Division

Students:

  • Narshika Campbell
  • Eric Cole
  • Sara Fervan
  • Karlee Jaynes
  • Kendall Rogers, Jr.
  • Courtney Wyatt

Air Traffic Control and Analysis

The problem of air traffic control is the basis for this project.  We will learn why air traffic control is a difficult problem. Then we will use real FAA data to look at air traffic in the country's busiest air-traffic sector (over Cleveland, Ohio). Because the data are incomplete and inaccurate, we will first devise models to fix them. We will need to learn how to program our computers to create and explore these models, but the emphasis will be on thinking. Then, on to the final step:  air traffic will be simulated in a game. The simulation will let us play with the variables that affect the problem: the sector size, the number of planes, any bad weather, etc.  We will also visit the Tower at the Knoxville Airport, too, to see “real world” air-traffic control in action.

Division: Computer Science and Mathematics Division

Mentor:  John Cobb

Facilitator:  James Rome

Students:

  • William Cunningham
  • Jessie Green
  • Quinn Matney
  • Isaac Snuffer

The World of Nanoscience

The world of nanoscience is a diverse and rapidly expanding field that incorporates various scientific disciplines.  This summer’s ARC students will be exposed to a myriad of activities during their time at The Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), where some of these disciplines will be unveiled.  The objective of the project is to educate the students on the world of nanoscience, and to show them how many fields of study work together to allow scientific advancements.  Students will participate in Socratic style lectures/presentations, hands-on activities, and tours of CNMS and Spallation Neutron Source (SNS).  They also will complete a project that encompasses their experience at CNMS.  Topics to be covered in depth include polymers and glassblowing, cleanroom activities at CNMS, catalysis, microscopy, noise, radiation, indoor air quality, and aerosol particle-size characterization.  Additional topics may be covered in less detail, as well. Our goal is to engage the minds of the students and open their eyes to the many avenues they can take to make a contribution to the world of science.

Division:  Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences

Mentor:  Michaela Hall

Assistants:  Burton Ogle, Tracy Zontek, John Jankovic, Matthew Harrison, Michelle Pawel, Joe Pickel, David Uhrig, Laura Edwards and Scott Hollenbeck

Students:

  • Raeann Balfour
  • Cassandra Calhoun
  • Luke Creppel
  • Durinda Logan
  • Max Hautaniemi
  • Rita Seal

Robotic Systems and Engineering Development

Robots are used in industry to do thing while protecting humans from hazardous environments, or to protect humans from highly repetitive work that requires high precision.  The objective of this project is to (1) expose students to robotics projects underway at ORNL, and (2) provide hands-on experience in designing, constructing and programming a small robot.  The project involves two groups of students and will be conducted within the Remote Systems group of ORNL’s Nuclear Science and Technology Division.

The focus of this project is on developing the mechanical and programming skills that are needed to design, build and operate a robot.  The students will build a robot that can navigate an obstacle course using sensors (light, ultrasonic and/or touch).  The project will explore which sensors are best suited for which purposes, and what logic is appropriate for controlling the robot’s trajectory.  The project will use the Lego Mindstorm Robotics kit for designing, building and testing robots, but a more advanced robotic system (VTEC) will also be considered.

ORNL Research Division:  Nuclear Science and Engineering

Research Mentor:  Venugopal Varma

Research Facilitator:  Carl Mallette

Students:

Team I 

  • Chandria Bennett
  • Bradley Powers
  • Seth Shelton
  • Nicholas Miller 
  • Chevy Fondren

Team II

  • William Cole
  • Hannah Graham
  • Katelyn Carlson
  • Jona-Lyn Partlow

Teacher Projects

The Oak Ridge Reservation Natural Area Evaluation Project

In this project, teachers will gather information about one or two Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) natural areas.  ORR natural areas have natural features needing protection.  In particular, most ORR natural areas have populations of species which are listed by the state of TN for protection.  During the last year, ecologists have been developing methods to evaluate the natural areas and the forests of the ORR.  The teachers will try out field approaches that these ecologists have suggested.  The teachers will be trained to identify certain plant species and measure the vegetation in various ways.  The information they gather will be useful in making management decisions about the natural areas studied. Also, the feedback from the teachers and staff will aid in refining the field methods to be used elsewhere on the ORR.  This project requires the teachers to work in the field through early afternoon, then collate data, plan, and listen to speakers the rest of the day.  The teachers must be able to deal with slippery slopes, heat, rain, ticks, poison ivy and snakes. Generally they will be working in steep areas with no trails.

Division:  Environmental Sciences Division

Mentor:  Neil Giffen

Facilitator:  Larry Pounds

Content Specialist:  Bill Johnston

Teachers:

  • Alison Ayers
  • Donald Brown
  • Christine Cotter
  • Carol King
  • Michael Stover

Bioenergy Sciences, Molecular and Computational Biology

The importance to our nation’s future is emphasized with upcoming fossil fuel shortages and dependence on foreign imports.  Bioenergy production using ethanol from sugar and corn are in progress.  The possibility of using switchgrass is being studied at ORNL at a DOE-funded Bioenergy Center.  Molecular genetics and computational modeling are an important part of this project.  Our group will  research bioenergy and other energy-saving technologies. Several guest speakers will be available as well as the as the latest in computer graphics and computational biology.

Division:  Biosciences Division

Mentor:  Loren Hauser

Facilitator:  Brian Hingerty

Teachers:

  • Cynthia Bryant
  • Kathy Martin
  • Lynne Mueller
  • Shelly Turner
  • Jatoria Washington

Nanoparticles – Production, Characterization and Uses

This research project will be conducted in ORNL’s Chemical Sciences Division (CSD), and is designed to allow participants to better understand processes required to conduct a research project on nanoparticles.  The teachers will research a nanotechnology project and be trained on processes and safety procedures used for nanoparticles research.  They will then work with a research scientist to prepare samples of nanoparticles, evaluate analytical data characterizing the nanoparticles, and draw conclusions from the data they collect.  The teachers also will learn potential applications of some of the nanoparticles being produced and investigated at ORNL. During the two-week program, the teachers will meet other researchers within the laboratory community and learn about nanoparticles-related projects currently being researched at ORNL.

Division: Chemical Sciences Division

Mentor:  M. Parans Paranthaman

Facilitator:  James R. Davis

Teachers:

  • Lisa Bradley
  • Jane Fidler
  • Thomas Hill
  • Christina McDaniel
  • Don Williams

X-Ray Analysis of Materials

In the absence of new certified standards, the withdrawn National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards for 2, 5, 15 and 30 v% retained austenite are being re-examined using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and orientation imaging microscopy.  In this project, teachers will collect and analyze data from these samples using XRD with a Cobalt radiation source.  Analysis of these data, plus data collected earlier, will be accomplished using the Rietveld method.  Participants will receive hands-on experience with X-ray diffractometer and Rietveld data analysis.

Mentor: Thomas R. Watkins

Facilitator: O. Burl Cavin

Teachers:

  • Sonya Boyles
  • Susanne Dana
  • Tauheedah Hasan
  • Benjamin Miller
  • Jeremy Westbrook