Daily Journal

Saturday July 9, 2005

Students arriving at Knoxville airport were greeted by Jerry and Bill as well as fellow students. Jerry and Bill are resident teachers who assist with the summer program that gives students a chance to explore career possibilities and broaden their knowledge of research opportunities. Jerry and Bill cut tension with their humor and open personalities. As we met each other, there was anxiety of who our roommates were and how they would react to us. Most students and teachers made instant bonds with one another, and other friendships were formed on the bus ride to our hotel, or as we met our roommates. Unpacking was quick and blurred, because we rushed to talk to our new friends. Free time to settle in was short before the orientation meeting. It included exercises to ease tension and introduce everyone. This was the only meeting for the night and students and teachers swam in the hotel pool or talked to friends.

Sunday July 10, 2005

We woke early for continental breakfast at the Comfort Inn. Then we loaded the bus and departed for Maryville College. We were still feeling somewhat alone. We performed exercises in small groups, joined by a few teachers on a low ropes course. This involved a great deal of walking and bonding through various challenges and obstacles intended to create unity and trust and to encourage communication amongst all participants involved. From Maryville College we returned to the Comfort Inn for our individual pictures, as well as hearing from WBIR-TV 's Heartland Series host, Bill Landry. He spoke to us about the roots of the native Appalachian tongue and where certain sayings of this dialect originated. He also spoke of how Appalachia has evolved over time and how it affects us presently as well as our future. After our guest speaker, we had a group meeting in which the projects and groups were assigned. Most students met with their groups directly after the meeting. Before recreational time, students were excited about receiving their name tag badges equipped with proximity sensors which will allow entry into our work buildings. With recreational time left, students and teachers got to know each other more until curfew.

Monday July 11, 2005

We woke for continental breakfast and then headed to ORNL. The day began with a group photo and safety briefing. Following the meeting, we toured the ORNL supercomputer, which is soon to become the world's fastest and largest of its kind. After that we experienced the Everest Lab, which is a 30' by 30' room with a high resolution screen covering the front wall. The screen is made up of 27 smaller screens powered by fourteen computers. This puts the massive and powerful equipment in perspective. We watched the modeling of a super nova and the modeling of the world's climate during the 1990's focusing on the effects of a volcanic eruption. Following these tours, we visited the Graphite Reactor, code named the X-10 during the Manhattan Project. This is a historical landmark because it was the first reactor in the world to sustain a nuclear chain reaction. The reactor's main purpose was to create isotopes of various elements for research purposes and to create measurable amounts of plutonium-239 used for the first atomic bomb of World War II. After lunch at the ORNL cafeteria we met with our mentors and were introduced to more safety instruction and to our projects and responsibilities for the two weeks. Returning to the hotel, dinner was catered and served at the hotel. Free time was enjoyed for the remainder of the night.

Tuesday July 12, 2005

We began with our continental breakfast followed by a very interesting first day of work at ORNL. At 3:30, we left for The Lost Sea tour in Sweetwater, Tennessee. The Lost Sea is a cave which is, at its deepest point, about 500' underground. We began by entering a cottage-like building that appears normal but quickly turns into a concrete pathway and metal bolted cylindrical pass way that is 15-25 degrees in angle down into the cave. It’s a windy and steep three-quarter mile hike through the cave. The tour guide told stories of history, such as Indians and the Civil War. Upon return, some of the students and teachers went to Paragon Health Center to workout. Activities included weight lifting, running, stationary biking, and basketball.

Historic Lost Sea
Lost Sea Website
Lost Sea Photos

Wednesday July 13, 2005

Another continental breakfast started the day as we all struggled to wake up. It was an exciting eight-hour day of work that followed. Splashing through streams collecting snails and sediment was the job of some, whereas others were hard at work figuring out programs on the computer. At 4:00, we left to go back to the hotel. We had free time until dinner at 6:00, which was followed by a group meeting.  Afterwards, we had a bit more free time in which there was TV watching, relaxing, and a little whipped cream fight.

Thursday July 14, 2005

Today most of the students woke up at 6:00 a.m. to be ready to load the bus at 7:30. Once at the ORNL, some research teams went into the fields and streams to analyze data that would contribute to their projects; however, others stayed in the laboratories and worked on their projects. At noon, we ate at the ORNL cafeteria. After that, we worked on our projects until 4:00. At the hotel, we had about one and a half hours of free time before we ate dinner. Following that was a meeting in which all of the research groups gathered together and discussed their presentations. Later, students were able to stay at the hotel and play games or cards until 10:30.

Friday July 15, 2005

Today the students and teachers enjoyed being able to sleep in until 7:30. At 8:00 we loaded the bus to travel to the University of Tennessee (UT) and later to Pellissippi State Technical Community College (PSTCC). First, we toured the McClung Museum where we looked at artifacts from different cultures and from Indian tribes that were native to Tennessee. After that, we listened to a presentation on Anthropology which students agreed was the highlight of the day. After eating lunch, we toured UT. The last tour of the day was PSTCC. Back at the hotel, we had the usual free time, catered dinner, and evening activity. The curfew for tonight was 11:30 p.m. to start the weekend.

University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee Website
Unitveristy of Tennessee Photos
PSTCC
PSTCC Website

Saturday July 16, 2005

Today we had the most fun that we have had so far!! We started out by going to Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg. Here we saw stingrays, jellyfish, seahorses, venomous frogs, horseshoe crabs, giant crabs, and hundreds of species of fish. Some students were able to watch a show where a diver fed the stingrays and sharks. After the show, the students were then able to pet the stingrays. As we were leaving the aquarium, a trio of bluegrass players played requested songs from the audience. Then we went to Dollywood and ate lunch. From about 12:30 until 7:30 the students enjoyed many games, shows, and rides. Everyone liked the day, but we were tired and glad to return to the hotel.

Ripley's Aquarium
Ripley's Aquarium Website
Ripley's Aquarium Photos
Dollywood
Dollywood Website
Dollywood Photos

Sunday July 17, 2005

Today was pretty laid back. Those who wanted to attend church did so, and those who wanted to sleep in were able to. Those who attended the Methodist church experienced a teen choir which just got back from touring the country. After brunch, we went to the American Museum of Science and Energy. Everyone seemed to have a good time and enjoyed the demonstration on electricity given by the orator. There was a scavenger hunt at the museum that got everyone to get involved. Students worked hard at the group meeting preparing their presentations. After that, students relaxed before turning in.

American Museum of Science and Energy
AMSE Website
AMSE Photos

Monday July 18, 2005

Today was pretty much like any other day in which we had a continental breakfast starting at 6:45. We loaded the bus and started on our way to another exciting day at ORNL. While at the lab, we all worked on group projects and prepared for our final presentation which will be presented on Friday. We remained at the laboratory until 4:00. We got to the hotel around 4:30, so we had a little free time. Most people just hung around in each other's rooms in anticipation for dinner. Our choices were between eating at Taco Bell, Fazzoli's, or Chick-fil-A. The majority of the group ate at Taco Bell. After dinner we had a research group meeting to work on our presentations. The meeting lasted about an hour, so we had some free time afterwards. We sat around and talked to each other until 10:30.

Tuesday July 19, 2005

As usual, we started our day with a continental breakfast and headed to ORNL. There, everyone tried to finish up their research projects as best they could, only having one full day left to get through all of the work. Some groups had a more eventful and busy day, as the local media sent reporters to the computer and robotics groups. Also, ARC officials visited the research sites. Tired after a day's work, we went back to the hotel and spent a little time relaxing. The dinner choices were McDonald's, Ruby Tuesday's, Ryan's, or Subway. Upon returning from dinner, we met in our groups to add to our final presentations. Some groups made a lot of progress; others were more prepared, spending the time perfecting their work. We enjoyed some free time for the rest of the evening.

Wednesday July 20, 2005

Today, we awoke to the usual continental breakfast and then left for the lab around 7:30. Groups realized time was running out and started to feel the pressure mount. Final touches on presentations had to be completed for tomorrow's deadline of 3:00. Groups ate lunch at ORNL Cafeteria, which was cut short to rush back to the lab and continue work. The afternoon session was even more hectic. Upon return to the hotel, we left for dinner, as we have for the past few nights, to eat at a few restaurants right around the hotel. We came back from dinner and went to work finishing our presentations. Once we thought we were ready and comfortable with our material for the presentation, we had some free time before going to bed at 10:30.

Thursday July 21, 2005

After breakfast, we went to ORNL to hurry to complete our projects. Today, we only had three hours to work, as we were eating lunch at the cafeteria with our mentors an hour earlier than usual, at 11:00. Once we were done with lunch, we left the lab for the last time and went to the hotel to rehearse our presentations in front of the resident teachers. The afternoon ended with a trip to the Museum of Appalachia. Even though all of the participants live in the Appalachian region, it was very interesting to learn about the culture from a different point of view. It was an experience that everyone enjoyed. We ate dinner afterwards. When we returned to the hotel, we had some free time to spend a last night with our friends and then pack. Everyone went to bed at 10:30, sorry to leave friends, looking forward to seeing family again, and nervous about the presentation the next day.

Museum of Appalachia
Museum of Appalachia Web site

Friday July 22, 2005

Today, our final day, was a busy one. Procrastinators awoke early to finish packing and everyone joined for our last breakfast together. All groups presented their projects. Everyone was very interested in the work of our peers. Following the ending session, everyone gathered their belongings and headed to the lobby to say their goodbyes. It was hard to leave our new friends, but we all will take the experiences of our time in Oak Ridge back to our schools and communities. Everyone will agree that the 2005 ARC Program was a success and it benefited us all.