Early-career awards to ORNL PIs

From an ORNL release, Feb. 4: "Four Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers are among the 69 scientists that will receive five-year research grants as part of the Department of Energy's new Early Career Research Program. The $85 million program, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by the department's Office of Science, is designed to support exceptional researchers during the crucial early career years, when many scientists do their most formative work. ORNL's grants will be at least $500,000 per year to cover year-round salary plus research expenses." Full release with scientists is here.

Digital simulation of combat

Exploding IEDs, trauma for gunners atop armored vehicles, computer and fun-ride techniques are makin' it real for soldiers in training. The NY Times reports.

Campus spin-out SAS braces itself

The New York Times' Sunday story of the top-workplace culture of SAS Institute Inc., based in Cary, N.C., is a good read, with lessons about freeing the workplace from distractions that create a drag on creativity...as well as how success in analytics and predictive modeling breeds new competitors, such as Big Blue. fPrivately owned SAS resulted from university faculty research and development.

Consensus Point taps Munn, notes GE alliance

Nashville-based Consensus Point today announced the appointment of Rebecca Munn (left) to the post of SVP-Sales, and disclosed its three-year-old relationship with GE, in which Consensus Points prediction markets services are tied to GE's Imagination Markets innovation effort.