Hello, curious minds and enthusiasts of innovation! Even if you weren't among the attendees at the recent 2025 ORAU Annual Meeting of the Council of Sponsoring Institutions, I want to share the excitement and brainstorming that emerged from this gathering. This year, the spotlight was on Advanced Manufacturing 4.0, and the discussions were both enlightening and motivating.
The ORAU Annual Meeting offers a platform for university consortium members to have meaningful discussions with council representatives and ORAU staff, all centered around a yearly theme. If you’re wondering what the ORAU Consortium is, we wrote a blog about that!
ORAU’s Research and University Partnerships Office does a wonderful job of creating opportunities for members to network with key players, industry leaders and one another around a compelling topic. Their dedication to fostering collaborations with government, research labs and businesses is unmatched. These partnerships are important, giving universities the chance to dive into projects that fit their research expertise, boost their visibility, offer real-world solutions for government and industry, and unlock opportunities for their institutions, educators and students.
Allow me to take you through the highlights of both days, filled with educational panels, keynotes, a poster session and a surprising challenge.
Deep dives and dynamic discussions
The event opened with a keynote from Mike Molnar, with the Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He shared that advanced manufacturing creates economic competitiveness, assists national security as well as energy security, and introduces innovative products into the marketplace. Molnar’s insights set the stage for a day dedicated to exploring technology, sustainability and education in advanced manufacturing.
The first panel, moderated by Alan Icenhour, Ph.D., dove into the clean energy manufacturing landscape, which is focused on producing technologies and products that will reduce overall energy consumption and therefore enhance sustainability. Panelists, including Howard Grimes, Ph.D., of CyManII, William Peter, Ph.D., of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Ira Moskowitz of Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM), shared their perspectives on how we can innovate while keeping our planet in mind. For example, Moskowitz outlined the focus areas of ARM, which include healing the robotic interface, with the overall vision of humans and robots working together.
Clean Energy Manufacturing Panel, moderated by Alan Icenhour, Ph.D. (seated far right).
The momentum continued with a keynote from United States Space Force (USSF) Colonel Omar Perea on innovation within the USSF and Space Systems Command, reminding us of the limitless potential in space, including even commercial activities like the Global Positioning System (GPS).
USSF Colonel Omar Perea opened the second day with a keynote on innovation within the U.S Space Force and Space Systems Command.
The panel discussions that followed tackled everything from manufacturing supply chain challenges to redefining manufacturing jobs and transitioning innovation to market. Each panel brought together thought leaders who provided rich insights and actionable solutions, fostering a sense of unity and purpose.
A Sketch Effect artist was present throughout the event to capture each important note in a fun, memorable way. (Sketch effect artists specialize in capturing visual notes during a meeting or event.) Check out all the notes at the end of this blog!
A Sketch Effect artist was present throughout the meeting to capture notes in a fun, memorable way.
The power of collaboration and innovation
What stood out to me throughout the meeting was the emphasis on collaboration. The Research and University Partnerships Office showcased how they're paving the way for our universities to collaborate with government agencies, national labs and industry partners. Their efforts amplify the belief that a rising tide indeed lifts all boats.
One way these efforts were presented was through the ORAU-Directed Research and Development poster session. ORAU subject matter experts and researchers from member institutions shared their projects, funded by ORAU, igniting a spark of innovation. One ODRD poster, on which ORISE researcher and lead biologist Maria Escalona along with Adabayalam Balajee, Ph.D., Director of the ORISE REAC/TS Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Laboratory, collaborated with researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was titled “Advancing Biodosimetry with AI: Detecting Dicentric Chromosomes Using Convolutional Neural Networks.” It highlighted research into the impact of training data and the future potential of using artificial intelligence in dicentric chromosome detection. It was a tangible reminder of the impact we can make through shared knowledge and collaboration.
Statues, figurines and other creative builds were entered into a friendly competition.
Engage, connect, build
Attendees were welcomed with a scattering of interlocking mini puzzle blocks on each table and were encouraged to build with them during breaks. This was a fun way to engage attendees while illustrating the kind of design thinking that can result in innovation and breakout ideas. As a self-proclaimed LEGO® connoisseur, I was thrilled! Starting with orange and white puzzle blocks, I decided I would build something near and dear to my heart – the Neyland Stadium football field, complete with two yellow goal posts and an orange and white checkerboard end zone.
Abbey Becker proudly displays her Neyland Stadium creation.
At the beginning of the second day, a friendly competition to build the most creative structure using these blocks was announced. As the day progressed, small statues and figures in an array of colors began to appear on tables. This led to further networking and conversation for those who were using the pieces to build and to compete. Knowing I had to step up my game with friendly but fierce competition, I decided to gather more puzzle blocks and stick to what I know and recreate the last time Tennessee football defeated Alabama, complete with a score board and date, purely for historical purposes of course! Though I was declared the winner, I commend all who participated and innovated.
What a fun way to engage and connect!
Wrapping up with a promise
As the meeting drew to a close, it was clear that the promise of the future of advanced manufacturing is bright and that we are all the architects of that future. The discussions, insights and connections made over these two days have set the stage for a year of innovation, collaboration and growth. Check out the visual notes from this two-day meeting!
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Check out all the sketches from the 2025 Annual Meeting!
Explore the creativity captured in the 2025 ORAU Annual Meeting through our photo gallery. To see the full collection of sketches, simply scroll to the bottom of the page. Don't miss out on this visual journey!
Next year’s ORAU Annual Meeting of the Council of Sponsoring Institutions promises to be just as exciting. The meeting theme will be focused on building a collaborative framework for disaster resilience and a culture of preparedness.