Advisory Board Update – 2024
Advisory Board Update
The EPS Advisory Board (AB) had an active 2023, helping to sponsor a Career Day for students in February, convening for a spring meeting in May, and taking a field trip to Tellico Dam.
Over 100 students participated in an EPS Career Day, held on February 27 in the Strong Hall Atrium. Representatives from eight companies visited with students about career opportunities: ORNL, Geosyntec Consulting, Pilot Company, RSI EnTech, HydroGeologic, Atlantic Coast Consulting, Environmental Standards and SiREM United Cleanup Oak Ridge. It was a great opportunity for students from EPS and other departments to get early exposure to potential employers, and the AB also had a table for mentoring discussions. Thanks to those who organized the Career Day: Jake Benner, Amy Robinson, Ashley Ramsey, and Alexis Andershock.
Afterwards, four AB members gave presentations on their career paths and provided insight for students about the nature of their work (there was also free pizza!). Specific case studies were discussed, and a robust question-and-answer session followed. Greg Carlson, David Jackson, Ashley Ramsey, and Mike Coffey were fantastic presenters. The next career day is scheduled for 2–6 p.m. February 26, 2024, in the Strong Hall atrium.
Following the spring meeting on May 5, AB member Matt Huebner led a field trip to Tellico Dam at the mouth of the Little Tennessee River, 23 miles southwest of Knoxville. Huebner is the Dam Safety Geologist with TVA in Chattanooga, and led an informative trip that was attended by some AB members, faculty and EPS students.
Tellico Dam is a rolled-fill embankment dam with a concrete nonoverflow/spillway section that was completed in 1979. Huebner explained how geologists play a crucial role in risk-informed decision making for dam safety. Major risks that must be monitored include seepage and internal erosion through the foundation karst, as well as seismic stability.
The group was able to inspect the seismic instruments and learn about the geophysical and remote sensing data that TVA gathers in order to preserve dam safety. Thanks to Huebner for putting together a great afternoon field trip.
