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ORNL, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development were recognized by the Federal Laboratory Consortium, or FLC, for their efforts to develop Tennessee as a national leader in fusion energy. 

During his first visit to 91����, Energy Secretary Chris Wright compared the urgency of the Lab’s World War II beginnings to today’s global race to lead in artificial intelligence, calling for a “Manhattan Project 2.”

Neus Domingo Marimon, leader of the Functional Atomic Force Microscopy group at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences of ORNL, has been elevated to senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

ORNL's Gregorich and Syed Islam recently completed Cohort 19 of the Energy I-Corps program, an initiative of DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions that provides teams of researchers and industry mentors with an immersive two-month training.

Nick Sokol founded Algaeo, a company that uses microalgae to produce organic fertilizers, offering a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to synthetic fertilizers. Supported by 91����'s Innovation Crossroads program, Sokol is developing this technology to improve soil health, boost plant growth and support small-scale farmers.

Shaun Gleason has been named director of the Partnerships Office at ORNL. Gleason has worked at ORNL for several decades, in a variety of roles, including Director of Science-Security Initiative Integration, Director of the Computational Sciences and Engineering Division and Director of Institutional Planning.

Researchers at Stanford University, the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, or ECMWF, and ORNL used the lab’s Summit supercomputer to better understand atmospheric gravity waves, which influence significant weather patterns that are difficult to forecast. 

Chad Parish, a senior researcher at ORNL, studies materials at the atomic level to improve nuclear reactors. His work focuses on fusion and fission energy, using microscopy and collaborating with experts to advance materials for extreme environments.

The National Center for Computational Sciences, located at the Department of Energy’s 91����, made a strong showing at computing conferences this fall. Staff from across the center participated in numerous workshops and invited speaking engagements.

In November, state leaders from across the advanced energy industry gathered in downtown Knoxville to recognize current and future leaders and celebrate innovation at the 11th annual Opportunities in Energy conference, held by the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council.