Bio: Kotcon, James – Research Internship (1976)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kotcon

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 11/11/1976

Local Youth in Research Study (Kotcon - 1976)

James Kotcon, a recent graduate of the U-W Stevens Point, is participating in a new research internship program at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The program provides undergraduate students with practical experience in environmental research.

The program, which is administered by ORNL’s Office of Professional and University Relations, is part of the Laboratory’s continuing effort to assist educational institutions in training students in the various areas of research and development.

ORNL is one of four installations operated by Union Carbide Corporation’s Nuclear Division for the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA). The Laboratory’s Environmental Sciences division, one of ERDA’s largest environmental research units, has major programs designed to study and assess the effects of nuclear and non-nuclear energy technologies on man and his environment.

Participants in the internship program must be pursuing a major in the environmental sciences or other academic areas involving the management, protection, or use of outdoor resources. Selection of student is made by the University.

Under the agreement, each student spends approximately 14 weeks working fulltime with members of the Environmental Sciences division-staff. A small stipend and travel expenses are provided by the Laboratory.

Kotcon is one of six students from the University’s College of Natural Resources participating in the first session of the program. They began work at the Laboratory in late August and are scheduled to complete their internships by December 1976.

Participants are involved in a variety of research activities in which they analyze specific aspects of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Individual projects have been assigned on the basis of the students’ research interests.

Kotcon’s major field of study is biology. His research projects involves performing toxicity tests to determine the effects of gaseous effluents from coal conversion technologies on terrestrial vegetation.

His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Felix Kotcon, reside on Rt. 1 Neillsville.