Test Research and
Training Reactors Meeting
Education, Outreach and Training:
NE’s Changing Role
Lincoln City, Oregon
John Gutteridge
Office of Nuclear Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
September 17-20, 2007
Items for Discussion
♦ Current/Future Status of NE University Program
• Program Development
• Enrollments
• Congressional actions/calendars
♦ Recent University Awards
• NERI-C
• GNEP Readiness
♦ Fuel Program
• Plans for 2007-2009
• Conversions 2006 →
♦ Outreach
• Harnessed Atom
• Recruitment Video
♦ Summary
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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Where We’ve Been – 1997-2006
♦ The Road to the University Program
• Support for research, reactors, students, faculty, outreach, fuel,
minority institutions, etc.
♦ Politically Popular Program
♦ Many Initiatives Along the Way
• INIE
• Radiochemistry
• “Harnessed Atom”
• Junior Faculty
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The Current Situation
♦ University Program “zeroed” for FY 2007 and FY 2008
♦ Fuel support continues ($3.0M in FY 2008)
♦ “Mortgages” fully funded with FY 2007 funds
♦ Worked with university community to develop a new basis
for supporting university nuclear engineering research
and infrastructure
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University Program (UP) Early
Developments
♦ Pre-UP (before 1992)
• Fuel for university reactors – NE
• International Student Exchange Program (ISEP)
• Fellowships/Scholarships – NE, others
• Support for reactor maintenance – Office of Science
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1992 → Today
University Program Activities Take Hold
1992
Matching Grants – Commonwealth Edison (Exelon)
Mid 1990’s
Reactor Sharing, Reactor Upgrades, Formal NEHP
Program, “Splitting Atoms” video (middle schools)
Late 1990’s
Nuclear Engineering and Education Research (NEER)
Program, Morgan State Bridge, Program,
Radiochemistry
Early 2000’s
University (Minority) Partnerships, Summer Lab
Internships, Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure and
Education (INIE), ANS Outreach (teacher workshops),
HP Fellows becomes stand-alone program, “Harnessed
Atom” Teaching Module (high school)
Junior Faculty Awards
2006
Video – “Nuclear Engineering – A Fulfilling Career”
(high school)
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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University Program Timeline
(Approximations)
Fuel
Purchased
Radiochemistry
• INIE
• ANS Outreach
NEER
Pre
1990
1992
Matching •
Grants
•
International
•
Student
Exchange
•
Program
(ISEP)
1997
1998
Junior
Faculty
1999
Reactor Sharing
Reactor Upgrades
Fellows and Scholars
“Splitting Atoms” video
2001
• University
Partnerships
• Summer
Internships
2002/03
2005
2006
Video
• HP Fellows
“Recruitment”
(separate
program)
• “Harnessed
Atom”
Module
Note: Several of these programs had been funded in the Office of Energy Research
(now Office of Science), but were dropped due to lack of interest/funding.
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University Program Budget History
FY 2003 – FY 2007 Budgets
($ in Millions)
FY 2003
Matching Grants
FY 2004
FY 2005
FY 2006
FY 2007
$ 0.8
$ 0.8
$ 1.0
$ 1.0
$0.0
1.2
1.2
2.0
2.4
0.0
University Nuclear Infrastructure
10.8
15.3
14.7
14.1
0.0
Nuclear Engineering Education
Research
4.3
5.0
4.9
5.0
0.0
Fellowships/Scholarships - HP
–
–
0.2
0.3
0.0
Radiochemistry
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.6
0.0
Nuclear Engineering Education
Opportunities
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.6
0.0
Idaho Earmark*
–
–
–
3.0
–
FY 2007 Mortgages
–
–
–
–
16.5
$23.0**
$23.5
$27.0
$16.5
Fellowships/Scholarships
(Includes University Partnerships)
Reactor Sharing
TOTAL
$ 17.8
*$3M was a one-time earmark for Idaho universities
**$2.5M was a one-time appropriation for spent fuel shipments
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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Enrollments Grew at a Rapid Rate
3500
2941
3000
3086
2612
2500
1110
1153
1092
2000
1500
1000
500
690
220
1520
1831
1933
2005-2006
2006-2007
470
0
1998-1999
2000-2005
Undergraduate
Graduate
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Nuclear Engineering Enrollments
Academic Year 2006-2007
109
Texas A&M
Georgia Tech
74
151
62
Tennessee
Florida
133
Michigan
82
Penn State
34
153
119
MIT
107
Wisconsin – Madison
46
67
130
57
51
Kansas State
17
35
48
33
65
63
12
South Carolina State
20
20
South Carolina
20
20
Ohio State
20
20
6 12
18
10
10
7
8
Maryland
8
0
45
27
27
Nevada – Las Vegas
86
72
63
Cincinnati
105
53
Missouri – Columbia
Texas – Austin
123
81
New Mexico
19
150
66
24
Idaho State
153
152
85
20
CAL – Berkeley
Utah
153
142
Purdue
Oregon State
162
156
105
11
RPI
185
99
51
Missouri – Rolla
185
103
63
Illinois
218
194
115
52
310
225
156
79
North Carolina State
Massachusetts – Lowell
201
8
Graduate
Undergraduate
1
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
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States With
Participating
Universities
Program Participants
Clark/Atlanta
Clemson University
Colorado State University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Idaho State University
Kansas State University
Livingstone College*
Linn State Technical College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Morgan State University*
New Mexico State University**
North Carolina State University
Ohio State University
Oregon State University
Pennsylvania State University
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico**
Prairie View A&M University*
Purdue University
Reed College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center
South Carolina State University*
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M Kingsville**
Three Rivers Community College
Tuskegee Institute*
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
University of Arizona
University of California-Berkeley
University of California-Davis
University of California-Irvine
University of Cincinnati
University of Florida
University of Illinois
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Michigan
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Missouri-Rolla
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
University of New Mexico**
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee
University of Texas
University of Utah
University of Wisconsin
Washington State University
West Point Military Academy
Wilberforce University*
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
*U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities; **Hispanic Serving Institution
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FY 2006/07 – New Approach
♦ OMB “PARTS” University Program
♦ OMB evaluated the University Program and determined
that enrollment levels of the program have increased and
students no longer needed encouragement to enter the
nuclear field. Federal assistance no longer necessary
♦ For FY 2007 Congressional add back ($27M) is used by
DOE to pay off existing mortgages and begin new
“research program” for universities (NERI-C)
♦ DOE/NE attempts to embed infrastructure support
(fellowships, reactor support, faculty support, etc.) into
research initiative (NERI-C)
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NE Supports Universities
The transition from a university program budget line item to
embedding university research and support within our mission
related NE R&D programs will provide:
• Greater research opportunities for universities while incorporating
infrastructure activities
• Increased funding corresponds to increases in NE’s research
program areas
Fellowships
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Why Change?
♦ DOE/NE R&D-related university-based research will be
beneficial to DOE and university community
♦ The Office of Nuclear Energy wants to support nuclear
engineering education (Stewardship)
♦ Research-based approach could help develop a better
education network among universities, laboratories, the
nuclear industry and government
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2007 NERI-Consortia Funding
Opportunity Announcement
♦ R&D focused program (NERI)
♦ University Program elements embedded
♦ Total award value $30 Million
♦ Maximum individual award ceiling $1M/yr for 3 years
($3M total)
♦ Provides an opportunity for U.S. universities to become
directly involved in an integrated teaming relationship with
DOE/NE
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2007 GNEP University Readiness
Funding Opportunity Announcement
♦ Provide an opportunity for nuclear schools to prepare
themselves to support GNEP R&D programs
♦ Open to all universities with nuclear programs
♦ Total award value $4 Million
♦ Maximum individual award ceiling $100K over one year
♦ One time award
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NE supports Universities
♦ Total support for university activities in FY 2006
was approximately $50M
♦ A funding level of $54M will continue in FY 2007
♦ Based on our FY 2008 budget request we expect
growth in our university funding commensurate
with the growth in GNEP
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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FY 2006-08 University Funding*
Program
FY 2006
FY 2007
26,730
16,547
0
Research Reactor Infrastructure
0
0
2,947
R&D Program Funded Research
24,391
38,252
58,572
Generation IV
6,067
5,463
5,772
Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative
5,116
4,300
4,300
Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative
13,208
24,489
48,500
Total Funding for Universities
51,121
54,799
61,519
University Reactor Infrastructure and
Education Assistance
FY 2008
*These actuals and estimates do not include National Laboratory directed funding for universities. Funding within individual
programs may vary depending upon the performance of individual program activities. Total funding for Universities is
expected to be as shown.
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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FY 2007 NERI-C Awards
Lead University
Collaborating Institutions
Project Title
Georgia Institute of
Technology
Abilene Christian University
California Polytechnic State University
Colorado School of Mines
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory
Ohio University
Oregon State University
An Innovative Approach to Precision Fission Measurements
Using a Time Projection Chamber
University of Tennessee
North Carolina State University
Pennsylvania State University
South Carolina State University
Westinghouse
Advanced Instrumentation and Control Methods for Small and Medium
Export Reactors with IRIS Demonstration
Washington State University
Hunter College (CUNY)
Idaho National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Tennessee Technological University
University of New Mexico
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Advanced Aqueous Separation Systems for Actinide Partitioning
University of Michigan
Alabama A&M University
Pennsylvania State University
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Cladding and Structural Materials for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems
University of California, Davis
California Institute of Technology
Northwestern University
University of California, Los Angeles
Radiation Damage in Nuclear Fuel for Advanced Burner Reactors:
Modeling and Experimental Validation
Pennsylvania State University
Argonne National Laboratory
Tulane University
University of South Carolina
Advanced Electrochemical Technologies for Hydrogen Production by
Alternative Thermochemical Cycles
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FY 2007 NERI-C Awards (cont.)
Lead University
Collaborating Institutions
Project Title
University of Missouri,
Columbia
North Carolina State University
Washington University, St. Louis
A Research Program on Very High-Temperature Reactors (VHTRs)
University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign
Georgia Tech
South Carolina State University
University of Michigan
Performance of Actinide-Containing Fuel Matrices under Extreme
Radiation and Temperature Environments
Texas A&M University
Argonne National Laboratory
Purdue University
University of Illinois, Chicago
Real-Time Detection of Actinide Compositions in the UREX+ Process
Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Columbia University
State University of NY, Stony Brook
Deployment of a Suite of High-Performance Computational Tools for
Multi-scale Multi-physics Simulation of Generation IV Reactors
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
Idaho State University
Ohio State University
Risk-Informed Balancing of Safety, Non-proliferation, and Economics
for the Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (SFR)
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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GNEP Readiness Projects – FY 2007
App. No. Application Title
08-004
University
Capability Upgrade for Measurement of Fundamental
Thermodynamic Parameters Supporting Advanced Fuel Cycle Clemson University
Chemistry Under the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
$ 98,584
Colorado School of Mines
Uwe Greife
$ 100,000
Cornell University
K.B. Cady
$ 100,000
Georgia Tech
Farzad Rahnema
$ 100,000
Michael Lineberry
$ 100,000
Kansas State University
Akira Tokuhiro
$ 99,616
Livingstone College
Michael Collingwood
$ 100,000
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
John Bernard
$ 99,985
North Carolina State University Paul Turinsky
$ 100,000
Ohio State University
T.E. Blue
$ 99,967
Oregon State University
Steven Reese
$ 100,000
Pennsylvania State University
Jack Brenizer
$ 100,000
08-006
08-008
GNEP Readiness at Georgia Tech
08-010
Readiness for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) Idaho State University
08-011
08-012
08-013
08-015
08-034
08-016
08-036
GNEP Readiness at Kansas State University --- Direct
Summer Internship Experience for Faculty Graduate and
Undergraduate Students
Strengthening GNEP related courses taught at Livingstone
College in conjunction with the University of South Carolina;
using the resources of both institutions to fortify Livingstone
College students
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership University Readiness of
the MIT Nuclear Research Reactor
Enhancement of Computational Facilities in Support of GNEP
Research and Training
University Readiness Program
Preparing Oregon State University to Meet the Research
Challenges of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
Penn State's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership University
Readiness
Budget
Timothy DeVol
Fission Fragment Distribution Detector Development for
Research and Education at the Colorado School of Mines
Improvement of Cornell Infrastructure for participation in
08-005
Contact
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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GNEP Readiness Projects – FY 2007
(cont.)
App. No. Application Title
University
Contact
Budget
08-018
Preparing for GNEP Research at Purdue
Purdue University
Rusi Taleyarkhan
$ 99,981
08-022
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Education
Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Li Liu
$ 99,525
08-023
URI and RI Nuclear Science Center will upgrade the Small
Angle Neutron Diffractometer, including a Two Dimensional
Position Sensitive Detector, increasing data collection rates.
Rhode Island Nuclear Science
Center
Anthony Nunes
$ 100,000
08-024
08-026
08-029
08-040
08-046
08-048
08-050
Enhancement of Nuclear Programs at South Carolina State
University
Proposal for Texas A&M University - Kingsville Global Nuclear
Energy Partnership Capability Expansion
Fuel Cycle and Materials Laboratory Capability Upgrade:
Themophysical Property Analyses for Advanced Fuels
GNEP Research Infrastructure Upgrade
University of Cincinnati Program for Global Nuclear Energy
Partnership Readiness
Enhancement of the UFTR for Effective Contribution ot the
GNEP Program
Acquisition of a 'Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer' for GNEP
Research and Training at Univeristy of Idaho
South Carolina State University Kenneth Lewis
$ 100,000
Texas A&M UniversityW. Kinnison
Kingsville
Texas Engineering Experiment
Sean McDeavitt
Station
University of California,
Brian Wirth
Berkeley
$ 100,000
University of Cincinnati
Henry Spitz
$ 99,889
University of Florida
Alireza Haghighat
$ 99,960
University of Idaho
Indrajit Charit
$ 99,945
$ 98,300
$ 100,000
08-032
Fast Converter Reactor Analysis Laboratory
University of Illinois
Brent Heuser
$ 100,000
08-051
Enhancements to the University of Maryland Nuclear
Engineering laboratory to support the Global Nuclear Energy
Partnership
University of Maryland
M. Al-Sheikhley
$ 99,975
08-052
GNEP University Readiness Grant
University of Massachusetts
Lowell
Leo Bobek
$ 100,000
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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GNEP Readiness Projects – FY 2007
(cont.)
App. No. Application Title
08-058
08-033
08-007
08-003
08-020
08-053
08-054
08-043
Assuring GNEP Readiness at the University of Michigan
A proposal for Acquistion of Laboratory Equipment and an
Advanced Computer Cluster for Research on Very High
Temperature Reactors (VHTRs) and Advanced Burner
Reactors (ABRs)
Internet-Accessible Spectroscopy of Irradiated Specimens in
a Heavily Shielded Cell at the UMR Reactor
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership University Readiness
Needs for UNLV
A Nuclear Detection Laboratory for GNEP Readiness in
Nuclear Nonproliferation Education, Training and Research
Inside the Nuclear Plant: A Visual Inspection
Laboratory Enhancements for Advanced Nuclear Fuel
Development
Improvement in Capabilities for the Nuclear Engineering
Department of the University of Tennessee to Support GNEP
Research and Development Programs
University
Contact
Budget
University of Michigan
William Martin
$ 99,919
University of Missouri,
Columbia
S. Loyalka
$ 100,000
University of Missouri, Rolla
Arvind Kumar
$ 99,988
University of Nevada Las Vegas Anthony Hechanova
$ 100,000
University of New Mexico
Gary Cooper
$ 100,000
University of Pittsburgh
Michael Lovell
$ 96,327
University of South Carolina
Travis Knight
$ 100,000
University of Tennessee
Ronald Pevey
$ 99,981
08-044
GNEP Readiness at The University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
S.R. Biegalski
$ 99,997
08-055
Diagnosing Structural Health in Advanced Nuclear Energy
University of Utah
David Slaughter
$ 100,000
08-002
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership University Readiness
Program
University of Wisconsin
Michael Corradini
$ 99,000
08-057
Enhancing GNEP Readiness at Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute &
Kenneth Ball
State University
average
minimum
$ 100,000
$ 99,755
$ 96,327
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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FY 2008 and Beyond
Future Plans
♦ Have two types of Funding Opportunity Announcements
per year
• NERI for Individual Principal Investigators
• NERI for Consortia
♦ Both funded by NE R&D Programs
♦ NERI funding levels are dependent upon level
of GNEP funding approved by Congress
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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Research Reactors and Fuel
♦ Provide fuel to any of the 26 reactors that require it
♦ Work with NNSA to convert university reactors from HEU
to LEU
•
•
•
•
•
•
Texas A&M – 2006
Florida – 2006
Purdue – 2007
Oregon State – 2008
Washington State – 2008
Wisconsin – 2009
♦ Working with NNSA to meet Secretary of Energy’s
mandate to convert all research reactors to LEU by 2014
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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Research Reactors and Fuel (cont.)
NNSA’s Role
♦ Provide all necessary funding for designing, constructing
and starting up the new fuel fabrication capability required
for manufacturing the new, low-enriched uranium fuel
♦ Provide funding for the initial low-enriched uranium lead
test assemblies for the converted reactors necessary to
obtain regulatory approval for regular operation and for
LEU fuel for the reactors to replace any HEU fuel
removed prior to the end of its normal service lifetime and
that was also removed to facilitate conversion to LEU
fund
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
(26)
Research Reactors and Fuel (cont.)
NE’s Role
♦ Provide all necessary funding for the operation and
maintenance of the new fuel fabrication capability
♦ Provide all necessary funding for the shipment of
HEU fuel to the proper disposal sites, the fabrication
and shipment of all subsequent new fuel and the
subsequent shipment of spent fuel from the operation
of these reactors
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
(27)
Research Reactors and Fuel (cont.)
♦ Future Conversions – Post 2009
• MIT, MURR, NRAD, HFIR, ATR, NIST
♦ NNSA is responsible for development of the new U-Moly
dispersion fuel for these reactors
♦ Fuel development work is expected to be completed in
2010 to allow for fuel fabrication in support of core
conversions
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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The New Harnessed Atom and
Outreach
♦ Harnessed Atom module introduced in:
• Pittsburgh; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Columbia and Rolla,
Missouri; Idaho; North Carolina; Virginia
• Want to offer it to everyone once pilot program is completed
• Searching for funding mechanism to ensure Harnessed Atom is
available for those who desire to use it
• Updating to include GNEP concepts during FY 2007/08
♦ Video – “Nuclear Engineering – A Fulfilling Career”
• Many copies distributed
• More available
• Web streaming coming soon
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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Teaching/Outreach Success:
The Harnessed Atom
The Original Harnessed Atom
♦ Science educational curriculum developed
20 years ago by DOE Office of Nuclear
Energy for junior high classrooms
♦ Includes a Teacher’s Guide, Student
Reader, experiments and activities, and
a video in mini-CD format (originally
a filmstrip)
♦ Though designed for junior-high age
students, it tested successfully on
non-science major students through
Junior College level
♦ 10,000 classroom sets produced by DOE
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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The Harnessed Atom
The Harnessed Atom’s Success
♦ Used by over 1.5 million students
and translated into at least 4 foreign
languages
♦ Recommended or promoted by
leading teacher associations –
NSTA, ASCD, NEA
♦ Called “the gold standard” in nuclear
educational material by ANS PA staff
♦ Widely reprinted by utilities, school
systems, private sector, and other
countries
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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The Harnessed Atom
What teachers told us
♦ Students are being short-changed
on essential information about
nuclear science, health physics,
and engineering
♦ In major textbooks, still presented
inaccurately or in biased language
♦ Often skimmed over or not taught
at all in high school physics
classes
♦ Many teachers feel ill-prepared to
teach topic, and do not have good
classroom materials
♦ Need a high school version
Typical high school physics does
not include nuclear science
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
One Dimensional Motion
Projectile Motion
Forces
Momentum
Work-Energy
Planetary Motion
Electricity
Magnetism
Waves (water, sound, light)
Optics
Relativity
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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The Harnessed Atom
High School Honors Edition
Now, a Re-designed High School
Curriculum . . .
♦ For advanced students grades 11-12
♦ Updated content and format
♦ Worked with public schools to review
and validate through Pilot Test of the
curriculum
♦ ’07-’08 Field Testing a revised edition
in regions across the U.S.
♦ Next: Distribute curriculum nationally
in partnership with Labs, academic
institutions, public and private sector
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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The Harnessed Atom
High School Honors Edition
The Curriculum . . .
♦ Increases awareness at the
pre-college level for students
interested in sciences and
engineering, nuclear engineering,
and health physics
♦ Helps high school students make informed choices
about college majors and career options
♦ Supports Department of Energy
mission to foster education and
understanding of energy
technologies and options
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The Harnessed Atom
High School Honors Edition
This partnership is important
♦ Connects public school educators,
professional societies, DOE, research
facilities, and private sector to
strengthen the teaching of nuclear
science
♦ Helps students to become informed
decision-makers on energy issues and
policy as they become adult citizens
♦ Perhaps most importantly: expands
students’ awareness of choices for
college majors that they might overlook,
including exciting career options in the
health physics, nuclear energy, nuclear
medicine, research, and engineering
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CHAPTERS
3) Atoms and Isotopes
4) Radiation
5) Nuclear Reactions
6) Nuclear power
7) Nuclear By-products and Waste
8) Assessing Risk
Cloud Chamber trails
Seeing is believing
Experiments with radioactive material
♦ Geiger counters
♦ Background radiation
♦ Sources--gas light mantles, uranium ore
MOST IMPORTANT LESSON –
These materials can be handled safely
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Walking around Penn State
after the tour of the reactor
Ben was extremely excited and said “Mr. Iasella, you’ve messed everything up! I
was planning to travel, take off from school, but this stuff is really cool. I want to
know how it all works! I never would have though I would have liked physics in the
beginning of school.”
Teachers don’t know what topics would light a fire for individual students
These 2 students are going into the
nuclear field
Without this unit, they would never
have considered it
2 out of 70 at Schenley High School
Seems small? Typically only 2-5 would even
consider engineering or science.
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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Non-Program Factors That Contributed to
Broader Support of Nuclear Engineering
Education
♦ Formalized Organization of NE Department Chairs (NEDHO)
♦ Formalized Organization of University Reactor Directors (TRTR)
♦ Employing Professional Organization Infrastructure to help
communicate message (American Nuclear Society)
♦ Hiring full-time representative with strong Congressional resume to
carry the message forward
♦ Engage international community and organizations (IAEA, NEA) in
bringing issues (workforce development/ manpower shortages) to
world stage
♦ Intangibles
• Having the head of the Office of Nuclear Energy thoroughly engaged in
university nuclear engineering support
• Champion within the sponsoring agency
Gutteridge/Sep17_07 TRTR – Oregon.ppt
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Summary
♦ University Nuclear Engineering Support Program, built
steadily, achieved success and is now “evolving”
♦ Administration’s desire to support universities via NE
mission-related research is a current political reality that
could change in a year or two
♦ Much skepticism in NE community – many prefer NE
education programs of the past decade since the
perception is that infrastructure, not research, is at risk
with revised approach
♦ FY 2008 will be a pivotal year as Congress debates the
best way to support nuclear engineering at universities
• House has funding for NRC ($15M)
• Senate has funding for DOE ($15M)
• Outcome? – No one can predict
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Summary
♦ Within NE, fuel support continues unhindered with
additional funds being considered over the next few
years to enable NE to continue to support HEU to LEU
conversions and rebuild fuel inventory for university
research reactors
♦ MOU between NE and NNSA has now been agreed to
outlining responsibilities for future conversions and fuel
fabrication efforts
♦ GNEP Readiness ($3.8M) and NERI-C ($10.3M) funding
will be made available to universities by the close of
FY 2007 (September 30th)
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