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Fostering curiosity and passion for STEM
October 7, 2025
Twenty-seven 5th through 10th grade students visited the spallation Neutron Source (SNS) for a day of learning about the SNS by building a scale version in LEGO® bricks.
September 29, 2025
Robert presented to freshman students at West High School in Knoxville. The presentation was an overview of careers in East Tennessee and at the the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and included two of our activity kits (Resistors and Circuits).
September 17, 2025 -
We setup a table with the SNS Injection Region model built from LEGO® bricks providing opportunities for staff to learn about our programs. There were many great questions and interest in helping us in the future.
June 26, 2025
ORAU Professional Development program connects particle accelerators and LEGO® building to advance STEM education
April 29 - May 6, 2025
Our first outreach event took place at Robertsville Middle School (RMS) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee — and it was a huge success!
Partnering with 8th-grade science teachers Dr. Amy Lyttle and Ms. Mazzie Zawisza, we brought science, engineering, and creativity together through a week-long, hands-on LEGO® project inspired by real-world research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
We provided everything needed to make the experience seamless — lesson plans, LEGO® bricks and instructions, spare parts, and staff support — helping students dive into a world of discovery and design.
Photos Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
The mission of the B2BTN is to inspire the next generation of innovators by fostering curiosity and passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Through interactive learning experiences, including the design and construction of models of particle accelerators, the program seeks to engage and empower middle school students to explore the exciting world of cutting-edge STEM using particle accelerators and and other technologies.
Our vision of a program for fostering curiosity and passion for STEM will be accomplished by developing programs and curriculum for 6th through 8th grade students and giving them a path towards rewarding careers.
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Using LEGO® bricks, ORNL intern Stauffer Randa, middle, and his mentor, Chad Helland, left, work to create a model of the ring injection region of the SNS’ pulsed accelerator that features the new Proton Power Upgrade magnets and vacuum chambers. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Using LEGO® bricks, Robert Saethre has worked to create a model of the ring injection region of the SNS pulsed accelerator that features the new Proton Power Upgrade magnets and vacuum chambers. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Model of the ring RF region of the SNS pulsed accelerator.
Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Bricklink Studio® rendered image of the SNS Accumulator Ring.
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