Proposed partnership between Politechnika Warszawska
and Oregon State University, with possible support of
the Fulbright Foundation
Tomasz M. Giebultowicz
Department of Physics, Oregon State University
and Fulbright Scholar, 2009/10 academic year
This presentation can be accessed at the Web address:
http://urlcut.com/CH2MHill_Seminar
Provisional project title:
PLUS ULTRA
P L U.S.
U L TR A
which stands for:
o
niversities
ish and
inked for
Energy Specialists
Provisional
project logo:
aining
tomic
Motivation:
After the Polish Government in 1991 vowed never to build nuclear
power plants on Polish soil, training of nuclear engineers at all Polish
universities was discontinued.
In 2009, that “ban” has been lifted – Poland now plans to build two
nuclear power plants of total output of 3 GW by 2020. Because of
the 20-year “gap” in educating nuclear engineers, the country now
is in urgent need to restore those programs, and to start educating
new cadres at a vigorous pace. Needless to say, foreign assistance
will be most welcome!
Oregon State University is proud of its Department of Nuclear
Engineering, ranked 10th in the US, and still developing. Sharing
one’s expertise with others who may benefit from it is traditionally
regarded as a strong “moral obligation” by the American scientists
This is one reason why the OSU Department is willing to help the
Polish colleagues – however, it may also benefit from it. For inststance, research is being done in Poland on Very High Temperature
Reactors – and this is also an object of strong interest at OSU
(more reasons will be given later).
Let’s now introduce the members
of the proposed partnership….
Let’s first introduce the American partner:
OSU Major Nuclear Related
Initiatives:
POLISH PARTNERS:
Warsaw Polytechnic:
Strengths:
• Excellent reputation,
attracting top students;
• “Infrastructure” for
teaching;
• Strong commitment to
launch a vigorous program;
• Many experts in related areas (e.g., thermal
instalations & engines);
• Convenient location.
Weaknesses:
• Lack of any larger oncampus nuclear instruments or installations
for practical training – a
serious drawback for
potential exchange
students from the U.S.
Therefore, in my opinion, another Polish partner
is essential for the success of PLUS ULTRA:
Warsaw
Polytechnic
The Institute of Nuclear
Problems at Świerk
The victims of the1991
“nuclear ban” were
academic shools –
however, nuclear research was continued in
Poland at National Labs,
the largest of which is
located at Świerk,
about 30 km from
Warsaw.
The Świerk Institute
has an educational
division, which has the
same rights as graduate schools at Polish
academic institutions –
i.e., it can award Ph.D.
degrees.
Świerk was the only institution at which education and training of reactor specialist was
continued after 1991. At a small scale – nonetheless, the Institute is very well prepared
for such tasks. It has a number of installations that can be used for practical training –
of these the most important is certainly the 30 MW MARIA reactor.
The 30 MW MARIA Reactor
(unique design: Beryllium +
light water moderator)
MARIA is a “multi-purpose” reactor, used for:
• Production of isotopes (primarily, for medical applications).
• Reactor physics research;
• Reactor safety research;
• Radiography, Neutron Activation Analysis;
• Condensed matter studies (using external neutron beams);
• training reactor operators, reactor engineers and
reactor physicists – here the “real” MARIA is used in
combination with a unique computer “MARIA simulator”,
enabling one, for example, to simulate normal operation
as well as dangerous and even catastrophic situations an experience how to deal with
them was what Chernobyl
operators lacked.
Swierk* (the Institute of Nuclear Problems):
Strengths:
• In addition to the “Maria” reactor, many other instruments and installations
that may be interesting for exchange students for gaining “hands-on”
experience;
• Highly qualified staff with experience of supervising Ph.D. projects in
reactor physics and technology;
• Innovative research conducted in areas that are also of interest for OSU
scientists (e.g., Thorium fuel, or Very High Temperature Reactors).
Drawbacks:
• Limited possibilities of on-campus accommodation; the need of daily
commuting from Warsaw by bus may pose an inconvenience for
visiting students and scientists.
* “Swierk” in Polish means “a fir three”.
Well, and last – but, definitely, not least:
A crucial factor in such a project that we outlined here
is sponsorship.
Some funds will be needed to set the project in motion…
Good news:
The Polish-American Fulbright Commission has tentatively
declared it may offer financial assistance for PLUS ULTRA
actions falling into the framework of the Commission grantawarding rules - e.g., exchange of students or instructors.
Facsimile of the Polish-American Fulbright Commission
web page,
listing the
types of
available
grants:
An excerpt from
the Polish-U.S.
Fulbright “Mission
Statement”,
announcing that
the funds for
supporting the
exchange of
students and
instructors will
be significantly
increased in the
near future.
So, all potential partners of the PLUS ULTRA listed
above have expressed enthusiasm for the project.
What is needed now? To start planning practical steps!
(without such plans, one cannot apply for financial support!)
Here are some suggestions:
• As proposed by prof. Ludwik Dobrzynski from IPJ Swierk, a good “start-up”
step might be to organize a “Polish-American Summer School on Reactor
Physics and Technology” – for students it may be a valuable experience,
and for the senior participants such a “get together” will be an excellent
opportunity to discuss concrete plans for future actions.
• Those “future actions” may be students internships at Swierk or at OSU
Radiation Center, shorter or longer stays of exchange students and
professors, jointly supervised Ph.D. and M.Sc. Projects…
Conclusions:
So far, everybody agrees that PLUS ULTRA will be
a valuable initiative – now it is time to start writing
proposals, and looking for other potential sponsors.
This presentation can be accessed at the Web address:
http://urlcut.com/CH2MHill_Seminar