Lipscomb student designs graphic for new element named after Tennessee
Grace Mestad |
Phillip Jones, a sophomore mechanical engineering major at Lipscomb, has been invited to attend the Oak Ridge National Laboratory recognition of the discovery and naming of element 117 Tennessine on Friday, January 27, after designing the graphic that will be used to represent the new element.
Jones says he was not commissioned by the ORNL to design the graphic, but instead, did so out of enthusiasm for this new discovery and his passion for science.
“I was very excited about their discovery and the fact that it was named after Tennessee,” said Jones. “I wanted to make a t-shirt for myself that had the element on it, and after I designed the graphic, I thought that I should email it to ORNL just to see what they thought. I never expected them to be interested in the design or even respond to it.”
Jones says his fascination with the periodic table and how new superheavy elements are synthesized and discovered began back when he was in high school. His interests in these discoveries led him to research Oak Ridge’s work in nuclear and neutron sciences, eventually leading him to the impending discovery of Tennessine.
After Jones emailed the design to ORNL, they contacted him back and requested permission to use the design. The design itself was done by Jones, but ORNL changed the font and shifted the colors slightly so they could be exact with the red and blue of the Tennessee flag.
The graphic will appear on t-shirts, pins and other items celebrating the recognition of the new element. Jones was formally invited to the lecture and recognition ceremony for Tennessine for his role in designing the graphic.
“I am very proud that I could be a part of the exhibition of a new element, however small that part may be,” Jones said. “I never expected recognition from the design. I’m thrilled to be able to see something I created be actualized in a meaningful way.”
The ceremony will be held in the Iran Thomas Auditorium at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Yuri Oganessian will deliver a scientific lecture on discovering superheavy elements. His lecture will be followed by the formal recognition of the ORNL element discovery and support team as well as additional remarks by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.
For more information on element 117 Tennessine, visit: www.ornl.gov/news/tennessine-acknowledges-state-institutions-roles-element-s-discovery.