AMSE Foundation Excellence
This year, the AMSE Foundation is hosting our first-ever Energy & Elements Gala, in which we’ll present the inaugural AMSE Foundation Excellence Awards, announce our AMSE Foundation STEAM Art Contest winners, and welcome keynote speaker Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
When we talk about excellence, we’re talking about the individuals who have contributed to a living, dynamic body of scientific and engineering knowledge that has shaped our societies and our history. Significant advances in science have been made because of the pursuit of excellence, from the development of pulleys and levers and units of measurement to the discovery of the atom and the power of nuclear energy. Because of scientific excellence, we have a better understanding of ourselves, the Earth and the universe, and that knowledge empowers us to discover, explore, and do the impossible.
This year, we are thrilled to announce that our AMSE Foundation Excellence Award recipients will be Dr. Thomas Zacharia and Dr. James Roberto. Not only have these brilliant individuals made an outsized impact within the scientific community by contributing to significant advancements in science and technology—not to mention the periodic table—they have strong connections to our community and are creating new opportunities for the next generation of scientists and leaders to continue their work right here in Oak Ridge and East Tennessee.
Dr. Thomas Zacharia
As the former director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Dr. Zacharia has overseen the incredible work being done at an institution that is changing our world for the better. On a recent episode of AMSEcast, Dr. Zacharia gave us an insider’s perspective on the fascinating efforts currently underway at ORNL, and how these projects are shaping the future of scientific discovery.
Dr. Zacharia joined ORNL in 1987 as a postdoctoral researcher and rose through a series of leadership positions in computing, including the establishment of the Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate in 2001. Before being named ORNL director, he served as Deputy for Science and Technology, overseeing all of the Laboratory’s R&D programs.
In his tenure as lab director, Dr. Zacharia spearheaded significant growth in ORNL’s staff and portfolio, established new research initiatives, and guided the lab through the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the press release announcing his retirement, Dr. Zacharia says “I am very optimistic about ORNL’s future and in its pursuit of excellence—to be among the premier research institutions in the world. I am very proud that mission and service continue to define ORNL on the eve of its 80th anniversary. We are stewards of an amazing legacy, and there comes a time when we all must pass that responsibility along.”
James Roberto
Dr. James Roberto is best known for leading the collaborative, international team that discovered element 117, a new addition to the periodic table which has been designated ‘Tennessine’ by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
“Adding a new element to the periodic table is very exciting and also a significant scientific accomplishment, but the discovery of element 117 was so much more than that,” Dr. Roberto said about the team’s discovery. In it, he details how elements 115 and 117 foreshadow the discovery of even more elements within the Periodic Table’s ‘island of stability.’
He noted how this result could not have been achieved without a team of over 100 physicists, chemists, and engineers in both the United States and Russia. Looking ahead, Dr. Roberto said future discoveries and “continued progress rests on the shoulders of a community of scientists and engineers harnessing the power of international collaboration.”
Dr. Roberto joined ORNL in 1974 after earning a B.S. in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in applied physics from Cornell University. A member of the ORNL leadership team since 1999, Dr. Roberto retired after serving most recently as Associate Laboratory Director for Science and Technology Partnerships. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a recipient of the 2004 National Materials Advancement Award from the Federation of Materials Research Societies.
In addition to recognizing the extraordinary accomplishments of these two scientists, we are excited to formally kick off our 117 Society and invite you to join this generous group of individuals.
The AMSE Foundation has created the 117 Society to further advance the mission of the American Museum of Science and Energy, as well as the K-25 History Center, to build upon the historical impact of Oak Ridge, Tennessee by inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
The 117 Society is AMSE Foundation’s highest membership level, designed to provide unique access to a range of AMSE and K-25 History Center programs and resources. In turn, members of the 117 Society provide vital support to the museums. You can read more about the benefits of membership in the 117 Society by clicking this link to our website.
The AMSE Foundation Energy & Elements Gala is slated for the evening of Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the DoubleTree by Hilton, in Oak Ridge. We invite you to join us for cocktails, dinner, presentations, and a live auction—but most of all, we invite you to share with us in the celebration of the people who have shaped our community through their scientific pursuits. The Energy & Elements Gala is, after all, a celebration of excellence!