“Oak Ridge Associated Universities”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is a consortium of American universities headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with an office in Washington, D.C., and staff at several other locations across the country.

History

The organization was first established in 1946 as the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies (ORINS) with 14 university members. Its original purpose was to advance science and technology education and research by providing access to the atomic energy research facilities of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to faculty and students of universities across the South^[1]. The Institute also served to provide access to university faculty for ORNL researchers, arranging for University of Tennessee faculty to teach master's and doctoral courses in chemistry, math, and physics in Oak Ridge using ORNL facilities, equipment, and supplies.^[2] University of Tennessee faculty member William G. Pollard developed the institution from a suggestion by ORNL physicist Katharine Way; Pollard would be elected the Institute's first executive director, a position he would hold until 1974.^[1]^[2] The name Oak Ridge Associated Universities was adopted in 1966.^[3]

In 1950, ORINS opened a hospital where it conducted clinical research for the United States Atomic Energy Commission on the use of radiation and radioactive materials in cancer treatment. The hospital treated patients until the mid-1970s.^[4] ORINS also conducted training courses in radioisotopes and established resident training programs in nuclear medicine. In the 1980s, clinical research at ORINS was the subject of investigation by the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments.

The Institute for Energy Analysis was organized as a unit of ORAU in January 1974, under the leadership of former Oak Ridge National Laboratory director Alvin Weinberg. This institute's focus was evaluation of alternatives for meeting future energy requirements. From 1976 until it ceased operation with Weinberg's retirement in 1984, the Institute for Energy Analysis was a center for study of diverse issues related to carbon dioxide and global climate.

In the mid-1970s, ORAU operated the Training And Technology (TAT) Project, an effort at providing marketable technical skills to the disadvantaged unemployed. TAT taught basic sciences as well as technical skill concentrations, such as welding, machining, mechanical operations, drafting and physical testing. Employment search assistance was provided to trainees to integrate with regional industrial company opportunities.

The Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) was established by ORAU in 1976 to provide onsite emergency medical services, advice, and consultation for incidents involving radiation anywhere in the world.

Current mission and programs

ORAU's mission continues to be the advancement of scientific research and education. ORAU operates the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) under contract to the Department of Energy. ORISE provides operational capabilities and conducts research, education, and training in the areas of science and technology, national security, environmental safety and health, and environmental management.

Health physics and epidemiology continue to be major areas of activity for ORAU and ORISE. Activities include radiological surveys, dose reconstruction, and health screening for workers who may have been exposed to radioactive material, beryllium, or other toxins. The Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) continues to operate as a part of ORISE. A Cytogenetics Biodosimetry Laboratory has been established within ORISE to provide capabilities for measuring radiation dose and to conduct research to improve techniques for determining the doses received by victims of radiological accidents.

Members

ORAU defines two levels of membership, "sponsoring institution" and "associate member". Sponsoring institutions must be non-profit, accredited universities granting doctoral degrees in relevant fields ("complementary to the interests of ORAU members and/or the programs of ORAU itself"), and either among the top schools in the US by Carnegie Classification or National Science Foundation research spending, or have offered doctoral degrees in multiple STEM fields for at least five years. Associate members are not required to be non-profit, but must be accredited and offer graduate degrees in at least two science, engineering, or math fields; be recommended by an existing sponsoring institution or ORAU program; and receive a significant amount of NSF or other federal research funding.^[5]

The ORAU consortium comprises over 100 sponsoring institutions and 21 associate members, as of July 2017.^[6] Several institutions in both groups (24 as of July 2017) are additionally members of ORAU's Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Education Institutions (HBCU/MEI) Council, created to foster "relationships between these schools" serving historically disadvantaged communities in the US "and some of the larger laboratories and research universities in America", and increase participation by members of minority communities in scientific research.^[7]

Sponsoring institutions

Associate Members

Former Members

See also

References

1. ^¹{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=D. Ray|last2=Krause|first2=Carolyn|title=Historically Speaking: Katherine [sic] Way and her influence on Oak Ridge|url=http://www.oakridger.com/opinion/20161206/historically-speaking-katherine-way-and-her-influence-on-oak-ridge|accessdate=11 July 2017|work=The Oak Ridger|date=Dec 6, 2016|language=en|quote=[Katharine] Way suggested to William Pollard, a former colleague and physics faculty member at the University of Tennessee, that the extensive and unique facilities of ORNL should be made available to the faculty and students of Southern universities. Pollard, a nuclear physicist, author and Episcopal priest, embraced the idea and founded the institute.}}
2. ^{{cite news|title=Oak Ridge Post Filled|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/23/archives/oak-ridge-post-filled.html|accessdate=11 July 2017|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=23 June 1974|page=22|quote=Philip L. Johnson has been named executive director of Oak Ridge Associated Universities to succeed Dr. William G. Pollard.}}
3. ^{{cite web|title=The ORAU Story: a brief history of ORAU from 1946 to present|url=http://www.orau.org/about-orau/history/orau-story.aspx|website=www.orau.org|accessdate=11 July 2017}}
4. ^¹{{cite encyclopedia |last=Bonee |first=Pam |encyclopedia=Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture |title=Oak Ridge Associated Universities |url=http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1008 |access-date=11 July 2017 |date=February 23, 2011 |publisher=Tennessee Historical Society and the University of Tennessee Press |location=Nashville and Knoxville, TN }}
5. ^{{cite web|title=Criteria for membership in the ORAU university consortium|url=http://www.orau.org/documents/university-partnerships/membership-criteria.pdf|website=www.orau.org|accessdate=11 July 2017|format=PDF}}
6. ^{{cite web|title=Directory of ORAU Consortium Member Universities|url=http://www.orau.org/university-partnerships/members.aspx|website=www.orau.org|accessdate=July 11, 2017|date=2017}}
7. ^¹{{cite web|title=ORAU: HBCU/MEI Council Promotes Minority Research Programs and Partnerships|url=http://www.orau.org/university-partnerships/hbcu-mei-council.aspx|website=www.orau.org|accessdate=11 July 2017|quote=What America’s historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving education institutions may lack in material resources for scientific research, they more than make up for in talent, ingenuity and expertise. ORAU recognizes these capabilities and places a high priority on building relationships between these schools and some of the larger laboratories and research universities in America.}}