Neutron Sciences in the Community

How is SNS involved?

• Education & Outreach
• Fundraising & Giving
• Kids Corner

Education & Outreach

SNS representatives frequently visit local schools to help educate students about neutron science and its importance and relevance to their lives. As part of Community Day and other special events, we prepare educational materials designed specifically for kids. Currently, we're developing a Kid's Corner as part of our web site. Our goal is to show how science can be fun!

In addition, staff often give talks at meetings of local organizations, such as the Rotary and Sertoma clubs and local universities. SNS outreach efforts are an extension of its educational efforts to explain to the community the purpose of SNS and why it's important.

Fundraising and Giving

SNS staff routinely volunteer for community events that benefit local charities and people in the East Tennessee area. The activities below are just a few of the many activities that SNS staff are involved in every year.

• Since 1999, SNS staff have participated in Angel Tree programs in the area. Every holiday season, the project has adopted at least 25 families to help by providing gifts for the children, as well as needed provisions such as clothing and food for the children and adults in these families.
  
  

  
  NS Angel Tree coordinator Loretta Simpson.

• SNS participation in the the annual Dragon Boat Races has grown every year since the first race in 2003. The Dragon Boat Races originated in ancient China as a tribute to a beloved poet A modern version is held in Knoxville each year to raise money for the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries and Second Harvest Food Bank. These organizations provide food, shelter, and recovery training to less fortunate individuals in the area. In 2005, SNS participation grew from one team to two and collected ~$6,500 toward the $50K raised by the entire event. The SNS teams were made up of 42 volunteers who donated ~200 hours to the event.
  
  

  An SNS team warming up for the first race of the day.

  One of the SNS teams.

  An SNS team warming up for the first race of the day.

• SNS employees are active participants in the annual Susan G. Komen Race in Knoxville, which benefits breast cancer research. In 2005, SNS staff were part of the 241 volunteers who represented ORNL as a whole and who raised $7,500 for the cause.
  

  Representing ORNL in the 2003 Susan G. Komen race are, from left to right: Jaime Fernandez-Baca, Nydia Gallego, and Ian Anderson--representing SNS.