Curtis Boles/ORNL   Malcolm Stocks, left, chairman of the board of corporate fellows at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Bill Shelton of the lab's Computer Science and Mathematics Division, work together on a research project.

Scientist's short list of concerns

Progress: 'Somehow I think the public thinks this occurs by magic.' - Malcolm Stocks on why scientists should do a better job of explaining the need for increased funding for physical sciences.

By: R. Cathey Daniels | Oak Ridger Staff cathey.daniels@oakridger.com

As plans fall in place for $300 million in construction of new facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, so must the funds to fill those facilities.

"I think that's still to be determined, the funding for the machines and the researchers to fill those buildings," said Malcolm Stocks, chairman of the lab's board of corporate fellows.

The corporate fellows are a hand-picked group of scientists at the lab, about 35 in number, who are widely recognized as leaders in their field. The lab depends upon their expertise for guidance.

Stocks said that the corporate fellows plan to meet with the new lab director, Jeff Wadsworth, in the coming days to "find out what's on his mind and for him to find out what's on the corporate fellows' minds."

Wadsworth's first day at the lab was Friday.

A lot of positive changes are occurring at the lab, said Stocks, group leader of the theory group in the metals and ceramics division.

"There's a lot of balls being thrown into the air," said Stocks. "I think the main concern is to make sure all of this is solidified and that the funding is here for people to do the research."

In addition, Stocks said that since the end of the Cold War "physical sciences has not made the case as to why it's important for the nation to continue spending." He stressed that physical scientists need to do a better job of selling their wares.

"What makes modern life tick came from the physical sciences," said Stocks. "Basically, I think that scientists tend to do a poor job of making that point."

For example, said Stocks, without the physical sciences there would be no high-end computer race, with speed and capacity of supercomputers doubling every 18 months, increasing the world's ability to model and understand neutron science, climate change, materials and more.

"Somehow I think the public thinks this occurs by magic," he said.

Stocks said another concern is the relationship between the lab and the University of Tennessee, and "how that relationship evolves down the road." He stressed that while there are many benefits to the collaboration, issues are coming to light that need attention.

An example would be the joint appointments and the need to ensure the lab is strengthened through those, said Stocks.

"While this relationship has the potential to be very good, there are some pitfalls that the lab staff and scientists and the corporate fellows probably want to talk about in detail," said Stocks.

In addition, Stocks said he hopes lab officials will continue to try to reduce the cost of doing business for scientists. But he noted that the problem of increasing costs would likely only be solved through growth.

Which brought him full circle to funding.

"We need to maintain a strong staff who can compete for funds," said Stocks.

"Of course our main objective is the science, to preserve these science missions at the lab and to expand them and to make it easier for the average scientist to get his work done unencumbered by administration.

"I think Jeff Wadsworth's main task, as is all of our tasks, is to make sure that funds come into the laboratory. That will take a big effort."

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