Department of Energy and Florida International University Cooperative Agreement Program Review

Miami, Florida April 6, 2015 – Florida International University

Since 1995, the Applied Research Center (ARC) at Florida International University (FIU) has provided critical support to the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) mission of accelerated risk reduction and cleanup of the environmental legacy of the nation’s nuclear weapons program. ARC’s applied research is performed under the DOE-FIU Cooperative Agreement (under Contract # DE-EM0000598) and provides technical support to DOE EM in the area of environmental remediation and STEM student workforce development.

ARC’s applied research, technology development, demonstration and testing, and STEM workforce development covers four major areas of environmental cleanup operations: radioactive waste processing, facility deactivation and decommissioning, soil & groundwater remediation, and information technology (IT) development for environmental management. These research projects develop technical solutions for the DOE sites such as Hanford, Oak Ridge, Savannah River, and Idaho. FIU STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) students are fully engaged during the development of these research projects as part of the FIU-DOE Science & Technology Workforce Development Program (DOE Fellows Program). The DOE Fellows are trained and mentored by ARC technical personnel in an effort to secure the next generation of scientists and engineers that will be responsible for solving the technical challenges of the DOE nuclear complex legacy due to seven decades of nuclear research & development and production of nuclear weapons.

During March 31 – April 3, 2015, a one-week program review via VTC was conducted between DOE’s Office of Environmental Management and FIU’s Applied Research Center as part of the DOE-FIU Cooperative Agreement. A total of six (6) technical presentations were conducted over a 4 day period. The DOE-FIU program review included participation from colleagues at DOE Headquarters (DC and Maryland Office), DOE national laboratories (Savannah River National Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and Idaho National Lab) and DOE contractors (Washington River Protection Solutions and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions).

Applied Research Center’s scientists/engineers and DOE-EM Leadership (Mr. Mark Gilbertson, Mr. Andrew Szilagyi) along with DOE Cooperative Agreement Technical Monitor (Mr. John De Gregory).

The presentations included one on the high-level waste/waste processing applied research, two on the soil and groundwater applied research being performed for Hanford and Savannah River Sites, one on the D&D and IT for Environmental Management applied research, and one on the workforce development and training of FIU STEM students (DOE Fellows Program).

Applied Research Center’s scientists/engineers listening to DOE-EM Leadership (Mr. Mark Gilbertson) during his remarks at the Wrap Up session

DOE-FIU Cooperative Agreement Principal Investigator (Dr. Leonel E. Lagos) presenting ARC’s accomplishments during the Wrap Up session

Remote controlled inspection tool for double-shell tank (DST) primary tanks

Robotic Climber platform developed by International Climbing Machine for application of site characterization and decontamination tools (can climb walls, tanks, ships, buildings, dams, towers, wind turbines, etc.)

Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM w/ EDS) imaging showing two regular morphologies for uranium-rich regions

Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM w/ EDS) imaging showing two regular morphologies for uranium-rich regions

3D geographic information systems (GIS) maps, digital elevation models (DEMs) and GRID files for development of hydrological models of the Tims Branch watershed at Savannah River Site

D&D KM-IT web application

DOE Fellows participating in 10-week internships across the DOE complex (80 internships completed)

Applied Research Center’s scientists/engineers and DOE-EM Leadership (Mr. Mark Gilbertson, Mr. Andrew Szilagyi) along with DOE Cooperative Agreement Technical Monitor (Mr. John De Gregory).

D&D and IT for Environmental Management: Waste Information Management System (WIMS) for visualization of forecasted waste streams in the DOE system (http://www.emwims.org)

In addition, 12 DOE Fellows presented during the technical (projects 1-4) and workforce development presentations to highlight the applied research they are performing for DOE EM as part of this Cooperative Agreement. A final Wrap Up presentation was given on Friday to highlight the major applied research accomplishments during the current year and to present the proposed research tasks for the new performance cycle, currently scheduled to start on May 18, 2015. All presentations are available for downloading on FIU’s DOE Research webpage at http://doeresearch.fiu.edu and additional information regarding DOE Fellows program can be found at http://fellows.fiu.edu

Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Principal Investigator, Dr. Leonel E. Lagos, at LagosL@fiu.edu or (305) 348-1810.

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