• Ashes to Ashes
• Translating Tradition through Technology

1. MTSU researchers and students will begin collecting samples at the end of the spring semester from the sites of six TVA coal-fired power plants. Coal ash from the plants can contain silica, arsenic, cadmium and possibly lead. Dr. Warner Cribb, the geosciences professor leading the study, says silica represents more of a threat than most people know.

Ash1.mp3 :20 OC: "make that worse";

Some samples will be broken into powder, pressed into pellets and put into an X-ray fluorescent spectrometer to determine the concentrations of various substances in the ash.Cribb says the students hope to complete their analysis by the end of June and produce a final report by the end of July.

2. The December 2008 ash spill that destroyed three homes and damaged eight others in Kingston heightened awareness of a potential environmental nightmare waiting to happen. Dr. Warner Cribb, an MTSU geosciences professor, and his students will attempt to assess the extent of that potential when they start a study of the ash stored at six TVA coal-fired plants in May. Cribb says government oversight of coal ash is not as extensive as it is for some other waste substances.

Ash2.mp3 :15 OC: "a municipal landfill";

Cribb says students will assess the extent of substances like silica, arsenic, cadmium and lead in sediment and surface water in the Emory and Clinch rivers. Their research will be funded by a National Science Foundation grant to the STEPmt Program.

3. The TVA has submitted to state and federal agencies its plan for cleaning up the coal ash spill that destroyed three homes and damaged nine others near the agency's Kingston power plant in December. MTSU students will begin in May to collect sediment and water samples from the sites of six coal-fired power plants where ash is stored. But Dr. Warner Cribb, who is leading the study, says the focus will not be on the impact of catastrophes such as the Kingston spill but on the day-to-day impact of storing ash in the area.

Ash3.mp3 :17 OC: "into the environment";

In addition to the Kingston plant, the MTSU team will collect samples from impoundments at TVA's Allen, Gallatin, Johnsonville, Paradise, and Widow's Creek plants. Cribb says thorium might be found in samples from the Kingston plant because it is downstream from the Oak Ridge nuclear power plant.

4. The phrase "clean coal technology"; was used extensively during the presidential campaign when candidates were asked to explain their energy policy. But what is "clean coal technology,"; and does it really exist? Research to be conducted by MTSU geology students this summer might shed some light on that question. They'll collect sediment and water samples from six coal-fired power plants where coal ash is impounded to determine the extent of toxic metals in the environment.Dr. Warner Cribb, an MTSU geosciences professor, says researchers are interested in distinguishing among how the various metals travel in water.

Ash4.mp3 :14 OC: "and stream system";

Cribb says studies of whether so-called "clean coal technologies"; are actually safe probably will increase in scope due to the Obama administration's opposition of new coal-fired power plant construction and the December 2008 Kingston ash spill.

5. The theme of this year's Music from Japan concert at MTSU is "Tradition/E-novation."; Here's part of the "E-novation."; (anchor plays a few seconds of the cut, then talks over remaining music)

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This is some of the work of Tomomi Adachi (toh-MOH-mee ah-DAH-c hee), one of the artists who will appear in concert at Hinton Hall at 1:30 p.m. this Sunday. Adachi's recent work focuses on solo performance for voice, sensors, computer and self-made instruments. Violinist Mari Kimura, who also works with computer-generated music, is slated to perform. Mojibei Tokiwazu V, who teaches at the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music, will provide the more traditional Japanese music by playing a shamisen. Music from Japan is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. E-mail mfj@mtsu.edu for details.

6. (ANCHORS: THE TEXT BELOW IS TO BE READ OVER THE FOLLOWING CUT.)

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Violinist Mari Kimura (MAH-ree kee-MUH-rah) is hailed by The New York Times as "a virtuoso playing at the edge"; and the "plugged-in Paganini for the digital age"; by All Music Guide. She will bring her revolutionary combination of classical and innovative techniques to MTSU for this Sunday's Music from Japan concert at 1:30 p.m. at Hinton Hall. Murfreesboro is one of only six stops on this year's North American tour, which includes Washington, D.C., and New York City. In addition to violin and electronics, this year's "Tradition/E-novation"; concert will include works for shamisen, a three-stringed traditional instrument similar to a guitar. The concert is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. E-mail mfj@mtsu.edu for details.

7. (ANCHORS: THE TEXT BELOW IS TO BE READ OVER THE FOLLOWING CUT.)

Nippon3.mp3 :15 OC: (music out)

This is a shamisen, a stringed traditional Japanese instrument. One of the masters of the shamisen will perform at 1:30 p.m. this Sunday as the prestigious Music from Japan concert returns to MTSU. Mojibei Tokiwazu V (moh-ji-bay toh-kih-WAH-zoo the fifth) has received special recognition from the National Theatre of Japan for his work. His father and grandfather, both shamisen players, were designated "Living National Treasures"; by the Japanese government. Tokiwazu will join violinist Mari Kimura and electronic musician Tomomi Adachi in Hinton Hall. The concert is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. E-mail mfj@mtsu.edu for details.