Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 2417 16 Academic&Research VISITORS ACADEMIC VISITORS/ VISITING RESEARCHERS University researchers who regularly meet with INL scientists and engineers (more than six weeks a year) may request a security badge through the Academic Visitors program. Academic visitors must meet INL security badge requirements and undergo additional training that may be required for specific facilities. An academic visitor does not receive any funding from INL but can interact with lab employees and discuss topics of mutual interest or potential research collaborations. Visiting researchers can participate in a variety of activities, including but not limited to: • Guest lectures •  Collaborations with INL researchers, funded jointly by INL and the university •  Providing education to INL staff •  Mentoring INL staff on new technology or academic research •  Discussing topics of mutual interest Academic Visitors came from the following universities: INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHERS The Department of Energy’s Visitor Program, in which INL takes part, provides international researchers opportunities to collaborate with INL researchers and scientists. By sharing ideas and research and having access to authorized INL facilities, international researchers are able to take full advantage of the lab’s resources. By participating in a cultural exchange in the United States, they can then share their experiences with friends, families and colleagues when they return home, helping further the U.S. State Department’s foreign policy objectives. DOE’s Visitor Program sponsors visitors on J-1 Visas in these categories: • Government visitor • Specialists • Short-term scholars • Research scholars The Visitor Program is incredibly valuable to INL’s scientific community; it encourages looking at research from diverse perspectives and fosters collaboration with international researchers, thereby providing a cross-cultural exchange which inspires creativity. In 2016, INL welcomed interna- tional researchers from the following places: Republic of Korea (South Korea) (10): Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Japan (2): Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) France (1): French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission People’s Republic of China (1): China Academy of Engineering Physics and China Agricultural University Interest in the International Researcher Program has continued to increase. To help visiting researchers feel more welcome, representatives from University Partnerships meet individually with each upon their arrival at INL, providing information about the lab and community activities. Likewise, exit interviews are conducted to gain information about what can be done to improve the program. INL’s Multicultural Employee Resource Group has been invaluable in the help it has provided, identifying and addressing practices and factors that might have caused international employees and foreign nationals to feel they were being treated in a less-than- inclusive manner. For example, a security plan can now be modified to permit international researchers to work with fellow researchers who may be in time zones abroad. ACADEMIC VISITORS CAMETO INL IN2016,DOUBLE THE NUMBER FROM 2015. 8 This program enables INL to bring several distinguished researchers and scientists to the lab to participate in vital programs and projects. INL’s Academic Visitors program promotes collaboration among university staff, research personnel and INL research organizations. NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ENERGY ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1 2 1 BrighamYoung University-Idaho University of Texas Weber State University 1 Weber State University MATERIALS & FUELS COMPLEX INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 1 Colorado School of Mines 1 Boise State University