Oak Ridge HS tops in Science, again

Oak Ridge High School won the Tennessee Science Bowl for the 3rd consecutive year and will soon represent the state in the National Science Bowl. KNS story here.

ORNL studies stay rates for ex-U.S. PhDs

Oak Ridge National Lab economist Mike Finn reports that foreign-born Ph.D. students are a bit more likely these days to stay longer in the U.S. after completing their studies here. The KNS' Frank Munger reports it. Finn's report is here.

VU in extraordinary push with Metro Schools

Vanderbilt University, its Peabody College of education and human development and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools announced yesterday free tuition is available for qualified applicants for a new Master's in teaching in urban schools, for those willing to teach at least three years in Metro Schools, to help improve literacy, math and-or science. The VU release is here.

Westbrook says TN STEM initiatives often miss mark

An Oak Ridge tutor, Janet Westbrook, pens a biting commentary on recent Tennessee STEM initiatives and says leaders should ask teachers what they really need. The KNS has it.

ORAU exec touts Energy opportunities

Energy drives the economy, thus Tennessee needs to gets its educational house in order, according to an ORAU official. The OakRidger has it.

Med Trade Center's public

As we reported yesterday, the Nashville Medical Trade Center is moving along, with management confident they'll get financing, based in part on Dallas-based Crow Holdings' track record. Right now, it seems the Center could be operational at some level ahead of competing facilities in Cleveland and New York City. An interesting angle that's emerged is that of public engagement -- how best to interest, inform and educate the general public about healthcare, medicine and technologies. One idea is that of an interactive museum. What do you think? Here's the article.

UTC, Armenia lab links

Faculty and students of University of Tennessee-Chattanooga now have a 24/7 link between their labs and labs in Armenia. The TFP reports it here. The work in Armenia is reportedly supported by a grant from NATO Science for Peace Program to UTC, the State Engineering University in Armenia, plus a grant from the Engineering Information Foundation.

CBU-Memphis spawn Geeks

Cooperation between Christian Brothers University and Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering may be producing future engineers for Tennessee. The CA reports.

Scopes Trial revisited

Three student-produced documentary films will debut this month, and all reportedly allow a deeper look at the issues and events associated with the 1925 "Monkey Trial" of teacher John Thomas Scopes at Dayton, Tenn. The TFP reports. TIME magazine's 1925 story is here. TIME said the "populace" that greeted William Jennings Bryan's arrival for the trail was his..."to a moron."

University expands math-sci

Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., has more than 4,000 undergrad students and is building a $14 million math-science complex. The TFP reports.

ORNL interships prep students for Nuclear Engineering

If Sen. Lamar Alexander and other advocates have their way, the nation will be needing tens of thousands of new engineers with nuclear experience. This 7-year-old Oak Ridge National Lab program now has 50 undergrads participating. Related WTVC story.

Memphis science academy gets new leader

Updated May 30: The Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, which is sponsored by the Memphis BioWorks Foundation, has selected its new leader, after a national search: Harold Wingood (at left) was previously associate provost at Clark University, Worcester, Mass. Memphis Daily News reports. Here in Nashville, a proposal to create a charter school focused on science and technology failed three consecutive years. A Metro Nashville Public Schools committee ruled the proposal subpar, each year. Update: The CA reports that the success of MASE is helping spur charter-school reform legislation in the General Assembly.