Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is an asset of the U.S. Department of Energy that provides expertise in STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination.

Mission areas include recruiting and preparing the next generation of the United States scientific workforce;[3] promoting sound scientific and technical investment decisions through independent peer reviews; facilitating and preparing for the medical management of radiation incidents around the world; evaluating health outcomes in individuals exposed to chemical and radiological hazards; and ensuring public confidence in environmental cleanup through independent environmental verification activities.

[4] REAC/TS provides emergency response and subject matter expertise on the medical management of radiation incidents for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation.

This vision became a reality on October 17, 1946, when the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies received a charter of incorporation from the state of Tennessee.

Although the name later changed to Oak Ridge Associated Universities, the organization's mission generally remained the same as the programs it managed evolved over time.