Price for buffet lunch is $15 (includes complimentary parking in the hotel garage).

If you plan to eat, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 If you choose not to eat, a charge of $7 will cover parking and event arrangements.

The formal meeting begins at 11:50 a.m.

Radiation is a phenomenon that has been studied for over 100 years. Scientists are very familiar with the subject.

Or are they? Medical practitioners in the audience are aware of what can be done during treatment protocols using radiation, but how do they convey this to their patients? Are their patients familiar with the topic, not just the treatment?

In my experience, bringing up this topic in a conversation is, at best, uncomfortable. The purpose of this talk is to break that mold. Radiation has a stigma associated with it, which is, at its core, based upon a negative emotional perception that it is “bad.” One only has to look at the media to see this.

I will introduce the audience to the perceptions the public has about radiation. Many of the people I have met have an overwhelmingly negative view of radiation. Why is the mention of radiation a toxic topic.

Radiation itself is what I like to call UBIQUITOUS. It is everywhere. Radiation 101 — Radiation comes from natural radioactive material (RM) or other sources (think nuclear medicine or X-Ray machines). Radioactive materials are everywhere and in most everything. Human beings are basically receptors — they are exposed to radiation in one form or another and receive a radiation dose.

Aside from natural sources, radiation comes from man-made sources (isotopes, radiation generating devices … especially medical applications, and potentially — emergencies). Human beings are immersed in a field of radiation including those in the body — most of it resulting in low doses.

So, how much radiation do we humans receive? How does this affect our bodies? What does the “science” tell us about these things? I will outline a very brief discussion in answer to these questions — mostly couched under the umbrella of health risk. I will not attempt to put you to sleep with copious amounts of statistics. I have looked over the relevant literature for you and will present it to you during our talk.

Finally, I will introduce you to another source (or potential source) of radiation exposure: Radiation emergencies/incidents. I will discuss examples of what truly high doses of radiation can do to the human body.

John Dixon has been a leader at the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP) for many years, sitting on its Board of Directors since 2023 and on the ABHP Part II Exam Panel — which certifies health physicists in the United States — since 2011, serving as its Examiners Chair in 2021. He received his own certificate as a Diplomate of the ABHP (CHP) in 2011 and was certified with the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists as far back as 1991.

Dixon started his professional career as a hazardous materials (HAZMAT) technician. He served over 8 years in the Navy as an engineering laboratory technician (ELT) staff instructor and a leading ELT and engine room supervisor on the USS James K. Polk nuclear submarine.

As a senior health physicist, he supported radiological engineering operations for nuclear power generating stations in Florida and Pennsylvania for more than 3 years before spending 14+ years at U.S. Department of Energy facilities, managing projects, training and budgets. That included incident response, senior radiological support staff and reactor operations of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

He worked 3 years with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) evaluating reactor plant emergency response operations according to regulations and collaborated with other agencies to solve issues concerning radiation and public health. Dixon was deployed to Waveland, LA for over 6 weeks during Hurricane Katrina response.

Working on top of the High Flux Isotope Reactor at ORNL

For more information on TSK and its meetings, please email TSK secretary, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 865-679-9854.

Price for buffet lunch is $15 (includes complimentary parking in the hotel garage).

If you plan to eat, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or text 865-546-9322 by Friday, March 6 at noon.

 If you choose not to eat, a charge of $7 will cover parking and event arrangements.

The formal meeting begins at 11:55 a.m.

This presentation provides a comprehensive technical analysis of fusion energy’s critical transition from a decades-long scientific endeavor to a commercially viable power source. It begins by establishing the context for fusion as the ultimate baseload, carbon-free energy solution, justifying the massive global investment.

We will explore the fundamental fusion physics, detailing how the energy is derived from fusing light nuclei (deuterium and tritium) and comparing fusion’s inherent advantages against fission technology.

The presentation quantifies the dramatic technological maturity achieved over the last 60 years, reviewing the engineering and scientific challenges that have been resolved, and the competitive approaches being pursued across various global projects. A core focus will be placed on the remaining challenges, particularly in advanced materials science and regulatory alignment, which are necessary to achieve continuous industrial operation.

Finally, we will examine the pathway to commercial fusion and the essential role of U.S. government supports and international public-private partnerships in accelerating deployment this decade.

Libin Babu is a mechanical engineer with 12+ years of industrial experience spanning ASME pressure vessels, heat exchangers and advanced nuclear systems.

Born and raised in Kerala, India — a region renowned for its spice trade and deep mathematical heritage — Libin earned a BE in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calicut and an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Energy Science and Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

He began his career in Rayong, Thailand, and later worked in Ohio and New York. Throughout his career, he has specialized in mechanical design and analysis, quality control, nondestructive examination and welding inspection, with broad knowledge of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Since 2018 he has actively participated in ASME code committee meetings and has led ASME joint reviews, helping multiple organizations achieve successful certifications.

In 2021, Libin shifted his focus to nuclear fusion. He served at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the U.S. ITER project under the U.S. Department of Energy and now works in the private fusion sector on Type One Energy’s Infinity Two stellarator, one of the most promising pathways to practical fusion power. Beyond engineering, Libin teaches yoga and enjoys mentoring early-career engineers. He resides in Farragut, Tennessee, with his wife, Jessica Ramos, a registered nurse.

Illustrative rendering of Type One Energy’s Infinity One stellarator device under development at TVA’s Bull Run plant in Clinton, TN.

* This meeting is offered as a professional development hour for Tennessee-licensed architects, engineers, landscape architects and registered interior designers who attend in person. 

The presentation meets the TN State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners’ continuing education requirements. It will consist of at least 50 minutes of prepared presentation with discussion reserved for the time after the meeting. TSK does not guarantee approval, but meets the Board-specified requirements and issues a Certificate of Attendance. (Certificate must be requested before or immediately after the presentation. Not available for virtual attendance or viewing of the recorded presentation.)

The State Board does not pre-approve such hours. It is the responsibility of each PE or architect to determine whether the topic conduces to proficiency in her or his field of professional practice.

For more information on TSK and its meetings, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Price for buffet lunch is $15 (includes complimentary parking in the hotel garage).

If you plan to eat, please RSVP This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday, February 6 at noon.

 If you choose not to eat, a charge of $7 will cover parking and event arrangements.

The formal meeting begins at 11:55 a.m.

Innovation management is no longer optional — it’s a strategic imperative. Yet many organizations struggle to turn bold ideas into measurable results consistently. This interactive session explores practical, proven approaches and technology for creating sustainable value by aligning leadership’s purpose with high-performance innovation ecosystems.

Participants will discover how systematic innovation management can transform intent into outcomes, leveraging ISO 56001 — the first international requirements standard for Innovation Management Systems, published in September 2024. We’ll examine the core elements of an innovation management framework and how they apply across industries to accelerate innovation, reduce risk and maximize success.

Drawing on Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s insight that every system drives its results, this session demonstrates how purpose-driven leadership and structured innovation processes can become your organization’s ultimate differentiator. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to embed innovation into their culture and deliver results that matter.

Philip Donihe is a distinguished leadership strategist, innovation architect and systems expert with over three decades of experience driving transformative results across industries.

A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a former U.S. Army officer, Phil’s leadership journey was shaped by direct mentorship from global pioneers in quality and innovation. He worked with Edwards Deming, serving as lead facilitator for Deming seminars in the General Motors Corporation, and deepened his expertise in robust design, the application of statistical methods in engineering, under Dr. Genichi Taguchi and Mr. Shin Taguchi. His work with Professor Stuart Pugh introduced him to the power of structured creativity and systematic engineering, laying the foundation for his groundbreaking innovation frameworks.

Phil’s career spans leadership roles in diverse sectors, where his strategic application of innovation systems has delivered multimillion-dollar improvements in revenue and profitability, as well as quality improvement and operational excellence.

Through Innovekt’s Innovation Management Platform and his proprietary Certinn® System, Phil equips leaders to leverage the ISO 56001 standard to create extraordinary value by maximizing the success rate, speed and effectiveness of innovation. He explains how to align creativity, strategy and systems to unlock breakthrough performance and drive sustainable prosperity. His insights challenge conventional thinking and inspire bold action. As President of Innovekt®, Phil empowers organizations to unlock extraordinary value through tailored innovation systems that accelerate strategic planning, transformation and continual improvement.

Phil is directly contributing to the ongoing development of the ISO 56000 family of global standards as a member of the American Network for Innovation and the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to ISO Technical Committee 279 for Innovation Management.

* This meeting is offered as a professional development hour for Tennessee-licensed architects, engineers, landscape architects and registered
interior designers who attend in person. 

The presentation meets the TN State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners’ continuing education requirements. It will consist of at least 50 minutes of prepared presentation with discussion reserved for the time after the meeting. TSK does not guarantee approval, but meets the Board-specified requirements and issues a Certificate of Attendance. (Certificate must be requested before or immediately after the presentation. Not available for virtual attendance or viewing of the recorded presentation.)

The State Board does not pre-approve such hours. It is the responsibility of each PE or architect to determine whether the topic conduces to proficiency in her or his field of professional practice.

See additional details about this presentation.

For more information on TSK and its meetings, please email TSK secretary, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 865-679-9854.

The Annual Meeting of The Technical Society of Knoxville begins at 11:00 a.m.

TSK’s annual reports will be presented and members in good standing will elect officers and directors of the board.
Please make sure to arrive early if you have not already paid your 2026 dues.
If you wish to pay by credit card, please do so through this website as we are not set up to accept credit cards at our meetings.

The Luncheon Buffet opens at 11:30 a.m. 

Price for buffet lunch is $15 (includes complimentary parking in the hotel garage).

If you plan to eat, please RSVP This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday, January 9 at noon.

 If you choose not to eat, a charge of $7 will cover parking and event arrangements.

The featured presentation by Professor Lyons begins at noon.

Prof. Lyons will provide a brief introduction to the history of dimensional prints and book forms, works that engage not only the use of the printed sheet, but also involve three and sometimes four dimensions. An early example includes volvelles from the 13^th century which consisted of a series of drawn or printed discs which could be rotated to predict calendrical or astronomical phenomena.

In the 16^th century Andreas Vesalius used paper engineering to teach anatomy in books that had multiple layers to reveal the structure of the human body. This use of flaps — which could be used to reveal new scenes — was a common approach in books where the turning of flaps could reveal a story’s narrative.

In the 19^th century the production of dimensional and movable books was greatly enhanced through the use of color-lithography, especially by German publishers. Some of the forms I will present include “peep show” books, which are a form of tunnel book; carousel books, which also allow for a layered presentation of space; and what we often call pop-up books today, which use both parallel and converging folds to create dimension and movement when the book page is opened.

Beauvai Lyons has taught at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville since 1985. His one-person exhibitions have travelled to over 80 museums and galleries, and his lithographs are in the collections of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art (Washington, DC) and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, PA). In 2002 he received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach at the Fine Arts Academy in Poznañ, Poland, and in 2014 he received the Santo Foundation Artist Award. 

The Anatomy of a Frog from The Encyclopedia of Nature, 1907

For more information on TSK and its meetings, please email TSK secretary, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 865-679-9854.

Price for buffet lunch is $15 (includes complimentary parking in the hotel garage).

If you plan to eat, please RSVP This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday, December 5 at noon.

 If you choose not to eat, a charge of $7 will cover parking and event arrangements.

The formal meeting begins at 11:55 a.m.

Dr. Hardin will start with a general overview of Wacker. The heart of his presentation/discussion will focus on the hyperpure polysilicon production process. He will share basic insights into the downstream aspects of how Wacker’s material is used to make wafers for the solar and semiconductor world.

He hopes his presentation will be as interactive as possible. No death by PowerPoint!

He enjoys a back and forth when giving presentations.

He will bring items and examples to be seen in real life.

Wacker Chemie AG — a German multinational corporation founded in 1914 — has 28 production facilities and 21 Technical Competence Centers on 5 continents.

The Wacker Polysilicon North America, LLC plant in Charleston, Tennessee was the company’s largest single investment of some $2.5 billion. It became fully operational in 2016. It also was the largest-ever single private investment in the state of Tennessee. It still is the largest one that actually has been completed.

The site has even been expanded to produce HDK^® brand pyrogenic silica since 2019. And, in 2022 Wacker announced plans to invest more than $200 million to add production plants for high-consistency silicone rubber and silicone sealants.

Robert Hardin earned MS and PhD degrees in plasma physics from West Virginia University. He has extensive work experience in experimental nuclear physics. He developed a real time analog feedback/damper system for mitigation of proton beam instabilities in the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) accumulator ring and led many accelerator experiments at ORNL and other labs in the U.S. and Europe.

Last April, he was appointed President of the Board of Directors at the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC), which was among the organizations instrumental in attracting Wacker and many other global companies to the Volunteer State. TABEC promotes the growth of an advanced energy economy to strengthen Tennessee’s reputation as a leader in innovative technologies.

“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy.
What a source of power!
I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”
— Thomas Edison, 1931

Distillation columns for the production of trichlorosilane at Charleston, TN. Wacker has been producing high-purity polysilicon there since 2015, and HDK® brand pyrogenic silica since 2019.

For more information on TSK and its meetings, please email TSK secretary, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 865-679-9854.

Price for buffet lunch is $15 (includes complimentary parking in the hotel garage).

If you plan to eat, please RSVP This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday, November 7 at noon.

 If you choose not to eat, a charge of $7 will cover parking and event arrangements.

The formal meeting begins at 11:55 a.m.

• permits and inspects all flammable and combustible storage tanks (Class I, II or III) greater than 60 gallons, including aboveground storage tanks, underground storage tanks and liquified petroleum gas tanks
• permits and monitors pyrotechnic displays
• enforces all state and local codes involving fire safety and prevention
• inspects and monitors special events for cooking tents and large public gatherings and
• provides an on-call inspector for emergency situations.

Sonny Partin is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist who has been with the Knoxville Fire Department for 30 years.