SRNL Connect June 2024
SRNL Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Designation as National Laboratory
Tuesday, May 7, 2024, marked the 20th anniversary of Savannah River National Laboratory being designated as a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory. To help mark the occasion, Laboratory Director Vahid Majidi, Deputy Director of Operations Sharon Marra, and Deputy Director of Science and Technology Sue Clark celebrated with SRNL employees at three different SRNL locations.
“Thank you for everything you do for the laboratory to make us great in what we do,” said Majidi. “Thank you for having the best interest of the American people in mind every day you come to work and thank you for being a great member of the community.”
“We have a bright future ahead in this laboratory,” said Marra. “Glad you all are a part of it. I hope you feel a part of it and will continue to contribute to our mission for 20-plus more years to come.”
“Whether you were here 20 years ago or you just arrived two days ago, you all are essential to everything we are doing here at the lab,” said Clark. “We all are in pursuit of excellence in science and technology. That’s what we’re here for: serving the nation.”
More about the celebration is in the Digest article here.
You can also view a video of the celebration here.
Savannah River National Laboratory Family Scholarship Award Winners Announced
Battelle Savannah River Alliance awarded SRNL Family Scholarships of $3,000 to Kaylee McElwain, Grace Nuessle, Riley Nuessle, Elizabeth Farquhar, and Sebastian Krementz.
SRNL Laboratory Director Vahid Majidi presented each scholarship recipient with a certificate of achievement and a $3,000 check during a ceremony held Thursday, May 2, at the Applied Research Center in Aiken, South Carolina.
“The bright young minds of the students we honor here today will help shape tomorrow’s promising future,” said Vahid Majidi, SRNL laboratory director. “We are honored and privileged to recognize their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to each student and their parents.”
See the full news release here.
Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic Visits Advanced Technology Proving Ground
SRNL hosted a visit on April 29 with leaders from the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC).
The purpose of NIWC Atlantic’s visit was to discuss ongoing projects and collaboration to advance technology solutions for each organization. In addition to separate discussions with NIWC Atlantic, the visit also included a tour of SRNL’s Advanced Technology Proving Ground (ATPG) at the Savannah River Site. The ATPG supports technology development and training for a wide variety of national security missions.
Officials from U.S. Army Cyber Command and the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence in Fort Eisenhower, Georgia, the South Carolina Army National Guard, and the U.S. Army and Air National Guards from Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina also participated in the tour.
Two SRNL Researchers Recognized as Fellows
Two Savannah River National Laboratory researchers were recognized recently as fellows in each of their chosen disciplines and societies.
Brenda Garcia-Diaz, SRNL advisory program manager, Fusion Energy, was chosen as a 2024 ASM International Fellow and Chris Bannochie, senior manager, Nuclear & Chemical Processing, is among the 502 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) members elected as Fellow.
Brenda is recognized for “the development and application of electrochemical approaches to solve materials problems in solar, fusion, fission, battery, and fuel cell applications.” Chris is recognized for his efforts in advancing science or its applications in service to society.
SRNL Packaging Group Ends Successful Year with USC
The SRNL Packaging Technology Group ended another successful year of working with students from the University of South Carolina (USC) Mechanical Engineering Program.
SRNL engineers worked with the students who were tasked with conceptualizing, designing, and constructing specialty tooling for closure of one of the group’s prototype packages, the X-3. The X-3 will be a versatile, compliant Type (B) package capable of shipping tritium and other radioactive materials.
Read the full Digest article here.
Science At Work Podcast
The latest episode of SRNL’s podcast Science at Work is now available here. In this episode we talk with Steven Demers, an SRNL physicist and staff scientist in the Nuclear Effluent Analysis Group. His research involves working with sensor materials using spectroscopic techniques. Steven enlightens us with the details, but the bottom line is that threat sensors enable first responders to save lives.
SRNL in the Community
Manager and Operator of SRNL Named Aiken Chamber Large Business of the Year
The Aiken, South Carolina, Chamber of Commerce named Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA), the manager and operator of SRNL, Large Business of the Year during their Annual Gala held at University of South Carolina-Aiken’s Etheredge Center, Friday, April 19.
The Aiken Chamber stated the BSRA/SRNL core values of integrity, teamwork, innovation and service create lasting societal and economic impacts for the Aiken community.
In presenting the award, the Aiken Chamber highlighted the commitment of SRNL employees to help make Aiken better, stronger and more sustainable through community outreach programs, employee-led giving campaigns, and cooperative volunteer work throughout the community.
The Chamber also mentioned SRNL’s research and development activities to safeguard the country and the world by leveraging scientific advancements in international security, environmental preservation, and energy sustainability.
Read more here.
