It was a great way to end the year. The STC-ETC co-hosted its December 8 program with the Friends of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (FORNL), bringing author Timothy Joseph, PhD, to the American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) to speak on his collection of historic photographs from the Manhattan Project.

Attendees from STC, FORNL, UT, writers' guilds, photographers' clubs, and the general public met to experience a journey back to the birth of the atomic age. Tim recounted staggering statistics associated with photos—the square feet of building space constructed before there was even a spec, the number of people employed in a single building, the rare series of events that culminated in an act of faith that calculations done with slide rules and captured on paper would produce the intended result. Not until the actual explosions were theories proven to be fact. Tim's key point was the wish that nuclear energy be put to use for peaceful purposes and that the net result of the Manhattan Project be for the good of mankind and the world.

STC-ETC and FORNL members met afterwards at the DoubleTree to enjoy dinner and each other's company. It was a great time.

We also want to acknowledge the support of The Soup Kitchen in Oak Ridge, who supplied snacks before the presentation; BBB Communications, who helped with publication materials; UT-Battelle and Y12 Federal Credit Union for funding; The Oak Ridger for their coverage; and the AMSE, who were helpful in getting our two groups together and in staffing the museum for the evening to ensure the program's success. Thank you too, to Fred O'Hara, STC Fellow, who was the evening's photographer and who has been a great help with programming throughout the year and continues to be a continuing guide and resource. Thanks to Connor Matthews from FORNL who graciously agreed to co-hosting the program and offered all means of support. Whenever bumps appeared, he smoothed the path. Thanks to Marla Vinson who handled book sale transactions. And thanks to everyone who attended, especially those who drove miles in the rain to a city that once again must have appeared hidden if not actually secret. (Photo by F. O'Hara)