During a recent visit to Idaho National Laboratory, UW students learned how integration
of virtual reality tools such as the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment,
better known as MOOSE, makes modeling and simulation more accessible to a broad array
of researchers. Here, Iresha Sooriyaarachchi, a UW Ph.D. student in chemistry, uses
the MOOSE headset while Thi Thu Trang Nguyen, a UW master’s student in petroleum engineering,
looks on. (Idaho National Laboratory Photo)
A cohort of University of Wyoming faculty, staff and students visited Idaho National
Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls, Idaho, last week as part of a collaborative effort
to strengthen connections and facilitate research opportunities between the two entities.
Hosted by INL and coordinated with the UW School of Energy Resources (SER) and the
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the multidisciplinary group represented
10 different departments, including the departments of Geology and Geophysics, Chemistry,
Mathematics and Statistics, Physics and Astronomy, and multiple engineering disciplines.
“Though we are diverse in our research, all of our missions call for us to advance
human knowledge to make a safer, cleaner world with a higher standard of living for
everyone,” says SER Academic Director Kami Danaei. “This was an exceptional opportunity
to experience the world-class facilities INL houses, learn about their operations
and build valuable contacts for both our students and our researchers.”
The visit began with a welcome networking reception with INL representatives before
a full-day tour of the lab facilities, including the Energy Systems Lab, Collaborative
Computing Center and Energy Systems Lab, where the UW team learned about the initiatives
led by INL in areas of nuclear engineering, cybersecurity and workforce development.
“We were proud to host faculty and students from the University of Wyoming at Idaho
National Laboratory,” says Marianne Walck, INL’s deputy laboratory director for science
and technology and chief research officer. “Our partnerships throughout the region
help prepare students for emerging career opportunities in the energy and security
sectors. Innovation in science and technology is vital as Wyoming and other states
diversify their energy economies.”
One of the U.S. Department of Energy’s 17 national laboratories, INL operations focus
on driving nuclear energy research, clean technologies and renewable energy systems,
with additional support directed to the critical infrastructure needed to deploy,
monitor and train a workforce for advanced technologies. INL houses an exceptional
array of scientific expertise, equipment and instruments to help shape extraordinary
new innovations into practical, everyday uses.
“We are so incredibly grateful to INL for inviting us to their facilities,” says Tyler
Grabner, director of career services for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
“SER and the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences have a long history of collaboration
with the national labs to advance novel research, but INL has been particularly engaged
with UW in the last couple of years.
“Nuclear is an emerging topic of interest in Wyoming and a real area of growth that
will play an even larger role into the future,” Grabner continues. “We want to make
sure that our students are set up for success to support that industry and be competitive
in employment opportunities. We are so thankful to INL for showcasing the variety
of careers and research opportunities available to UW.”
