Abstract

Oak Ridge is no stranger to world-changing innovation—from the Manhattan Project to today’s cutting-edge research. In this talk, I will showcase Oak Ridge High School’s groundbreaking iSchool and Wildcat Manufacturing programs. These initiatives immerse students in industry-aligned, hands-on learning using artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital manufacturing techniques. In this approach, a new generation of innovators are being prepared to tackle what national leaders call Manhattan Project 2.0”—the race for leadership in AI and advanced manufacturing. 

Attendees will learn how partnerships with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Y-12 National Security Complex, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Roane State Community College, and others are enabling real-world projects and workforce development, as well as how this model is helping meet critical national STEM workforce needs. I will connect my experiences as an ORNL researcher to this education revolution, inspiring the Friends of ORNL audience with deep insights into experiential learning, digital twin simulations, and agile innovation in the classroom.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Mark A. Buckner is a visionary educator and researcher with over 32 years of experience at ORNL before transitioning to lead innovative STEM programs in Oak Ridge Schools. At ORNL, he served as a senior research scientist and leader of the power and energy systems group. He pioneered work in signal processing, machine learning, and computational intelligence. He was named one of the “Smart Industry 50” top digital innovators for his efforts to apply Industrial Internet of Things, big data, and AI to real-world challenges. 

Today, he serves as the founder and lead Instructor of Wildcat Manufacturing at Oak Ridge High School, an award-winning program where students engage in advanced robotics, digital manufacturing, and agile innovation practices. He is well known in the Oak Ridge community as a mentor for FIRST Robotics and a champion of experiential learning, often implementing Scrum and agile methods in the classroom to mirror high-tech industry teamwork. 

In 2024, he delivered a keynote talk at the Digital Twin Consortium, sharing his approach to revolutionizing education and workforce development through industry-aligned, hands-on learning. His career exemplifies a unique bridge between cutting-edge research and education; as a Ph.D. engineer-turned-educator, Dr. Buckner is passionately dedicated to cultivating the next generation of innovators and maintaining Oak Ridge’s legacy of national leadership in science and technology.