Representatives from Murray State University recently toured the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) Paducah Site as the two entities launch a collaboration supported by a $1.5 million grant the cleanup program awarded to the institution.
Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office
October 8, 2024
minute read time
Representatives from Murray State University tour the C-333 Process Building area control room during a recent visit to the Paducah Site. Earlier this year, the university received a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management grant to facilitate future use of the site and generate public involvement in outreach activities.
PADUCAH, Ky. — Representatives from Murray State University recently toured the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) Paducah Site as the two entities launch a collaboration supported by a $1.5 million grant the cleanup program awarded to the institution.
The partnership entails advancing environmental cleanup, facilitating the eventual reindustrialization of the site and conducting community outreach initiatives.
The tour provided university officials an in-depth understanding of ongoing cleanup work and future plans for the site. It also offered a firsthand experience to support the university's efforts to gather information on the site and community that will aid EM and its stakeholders as they plan future use of the site, advancing the decision-making process for the site’s cleanup and eventual reindustrialization.
“Murray State University brings a valuable perspective to our mission of a safe and successful cleanup at the Paducah Site,” Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Manager Joel Bradburne said. “Their efforts will be crucial as we move forward with the environmental remediation and eventual reindustrialization of the site.”
From left, Alex Sherwood, Sherri Powers, and Candace Alvey with Murray State University tour the C-300 Control Building to familiarize themselves with the Paducah Site as they begin work to support the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management mission at the site.
The university’s role in the project will focus on fostering community engagement and developing educational programs.
“The collaborative work made possible by this grant allows us to learn from the community, build partnerships and engage in research that will make a meaningful difference in workforce development and site repurposing efforts,” said Renee Fister, the university’s associate provost. “We are committed to ensuring that our work benefits the entire region, particularly in the areas of education and economic development.”
The grant supports a range of activities, aligning with key aspects of the cleanup program’s mission at the site, including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiatives in local high schools, public outreach programs and creative project opportunities for faculty and student research.
-Contributor: J.T. Crawford, Dylan Nichols