Post on 28-Nov-2014
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Is there a Crisis in Nuclear and Radiochemistry Education in the U.S.?
Heino Nitsche
University of California at Berkeleyand
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
ANS Embedded Topical Meeting- Isotopes for Medicine and Industry- Manpower and Education
Anaheim, CA, June 11, 2008
Invited presentation
The AAAS Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Report 1999
The AAAS Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Report 1999 Study Group
The IAEA Report 2002
Assessment of the Teaching and Application in Radiochemistry
Report of a Technical Meeting Held in Antalya,Turkey
June 10-14, 2002
Review of 24 countries
The DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee Report 2004
The Need for Nuclear and Radiochemists
• GNEP: Nuclear power; new fuel cycle and reprocessing developments; nuclear waste isolation and site remediation — Greenhouse effect mitigation
• Treatment, processing, and minimization of wastes • Nuclear medicine, isotope production, and radio-
pharmaceutical research/industry• Homeland Security and anti-terrorism challenges • Stockpile Stewardship, surveillance of clandestine
nuclear activities, nuclear trafficking• Maintaining national programs to ensure adequate
education in nuclear and radiochemistry and radiation science to avert detrimental consequences to energy supply, public health and industry
The DOE Nuclear Workforce
Figure 3: Cumulative Loss of Nuclear Skills (2002-2011)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Year
FT
Es
Lo
st
Retirees
Retirees + Attrition
PNNL: Loss of Nuclear Workforce (2002-2010)
2010
300
700
Courtesy of Prof. Sue B. Clark
The DOE Nuclear Workforce
Courtesy of Prof. Sue B. Clark
Trends in Chemistry Faculty
• Nuclear faculty in chemical science disciplines shrinking
• Current academic perceptions:
– Nuclear physics still considered “important” in the physics curriculum
– Nuclear and radiochemistry is perceived as dispensible in the chemistry curriculum
• Tendency to replace retired/retiring nuclear science faculty with faculty in other areas
• Applications of nuclear/radiochemistry, nuclear physics appearing in engineering curricula, e.g., nuclear engineering
Good News in Nuclear Engineering
• Degrees in Nuclear Engineering at the Bachelor and Master level show an upward trend since the past several years (ORISE 2006 Survey)
• 31 U.S. Academic NE programs— B.S. degrees: 346 in 2006 compared to 166 in 2003— M.S. degrees up by 214 for the same time span— Ph.D. constant at 70 per year
• This is a result of substantially increased University funding and research fellowship programs
• Nuclear and Radiochemistry is still left behindNuclear and Radiochemistry is still left behind— concentrated efforts to increase the number of concentrated efforts to increase the number of
students are mostly lackingstudents are mostly lacking
11
Number of Faculty in Nuclear or Radiochemistry by Institution
Source: ACS Directory of Graduate Research (DGRweb, 2007) http://dgr.rints.com/index.cfm
0
1
2
3
4
Carneg
ie M
ello
n Univ
ersi
ty
Dalhousi
e Univ
ersity
Easte
rn M
ichig
an U
niver
sity
India
na Univ
ersity
Mic
higan
Sta
te U
niver
sity
Ore
gon Sta
te U
niver
sity
Pittsburg
Sta
te U
nivers
ity
Purdue U
nivers
ity
Roches
ter I
nstitu
te o
f Tec
hnology
State
Univ
ersity
of N
ew Y
ork a
t Sto
ny Bro
ok
Tennesse
e Tec
hnologic
al U
nivers
ity
Texas
A&M U
nivers
ity
UC Ber
kele
y
Univer
sity
of B
ritis
h Colu
mbia
Univer
sity
of I
daho
Univer
sity
of K
entu
cky
Univer
sity
of M
aryl
and C
ollege
Park
Univer
sity
of M
isso
uri - C
olum
bia
Univer
sity
of N
evada
- Las
Veg
as
Univer
sity
of R
oches
ter
Univer
sity
of W
ashin
gton
Univer
sity
of W
ester
n Onta
rio
Wash
ingto
n Sta
te U
nivers
ity
Wash
ingto
n Univ
ersi
ty
Female Researchers
Male Researchers
Num
ber
of F
acul
ty
Institution
24 Universities: 41 Faculty22 U.S. Univ.: 39 Faculty
12
Age Distribution of Faculty in Nuclear or Radiochemistry by Institution
0
1
2
3
Carneg
ie M
ellon U
niver
sity
Dalhous
ie U
nive
rsity
Easte
rn M
ichig
an Univ
ersi
ty
India
na Uni
versi
ty
Mic
higan
Sta
te U
niver
sity
Ore
gon S
tate
Univ
ersi
ty
Pittsb
urg
State
Univ
ersi
ty
Purdue
Univer
sity
Roches
ter I
nstitu
te o
f Tec
hnology
State
Univ
ersi
ty o
f New
York
at S
tony
Bro
ok
Tenne
ssee
Tec
hnologic
al U
niver
sity
Texas
A&M
Univ
ersi
ty
UC Ber
kele
y
Univer
sity
of B
ritis
h Col
umbia
Univer
sity
of I
daho
Univer
sity
of K
entu
cky
Univer
sity
of M
aryla
nd C
ollege
Park
Univer
sity
of M
isso
uri - C
olum
bia
Univer
sity
of N
evad
a - L
as V
egas
Univer
sity
of R
ochest
er
Univer
sity
of W
ashin
gton
Univer
sity
of W
este
rn O
ntario
Wash
ingto
n Sta
te U
niver
sity
Wash
ingto
n Univ
ersity
Researchers Above 70
Researchers Ages 40-70
Researchers Under 40
Num
ber
of F
acul
ty
Institution
Source: ACS Directory of Graduate Research (DGRweb, 2007) http://dgr.rints.com/index.cfm
13
Number of Faculty in Nuclear or Radiochemistry Chemistry by Birth Year
Num
ber
of F
acul
ty
Birth Year
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1925-1929
1930-1934
1935-1939
1940-1944
1945-1949
1950-1954
1955-1959
1960-1964
1965-1969
1970-1974
1975-1979
Number of Researchers
Source: ACS Directory of Graduate Research (DGRweb, 2007) http://dgr.rints.com/index.cfm
The Public Image of Nuclear Science
• NEGATIVE :Public fear of radiation and nuclear powerNEGATIVE :Public fear of radiation and nuclear power— propagated by “environmentalists” and the press— fueled by Harrisburg, Chernobyl, and Tokai Mura
accidents— scare of dirty bombs
• Some countries abandon nuclear power option— public antinuclear behavior makes anything nuclear
prime targets • Most activities are/were related to safety and security
— stimulates the impression that anything nuclear is dangerous and very critical
• Research was closely related to treatment of wastes and nothing else- GNEP may/will change this!
Nuclear and Radiochemistry is Absent in the Undergraduate Curriculum
• No “nuclear science” degrees in Colleges of Science• Some degrees in “nuclear science & engineering” • Rarely a part of general chemistry syllabi • Usually a part of comprehensive general chemistry
texts (chapter 25) -- often not taught at all• Only an elective in a comprehensive, ACS-approved
undergraduate chemistry degree program—increased ACS requirements in other areas of
chemistry• Students are not informed about nuclear and
radiochemistry and never come in contact with it—believe that discipline is not at frontier of science
and there is no job market
National Research Council Report 2007
PhDs in Nuclear & Radiochemistry Awarded at US Universities
05
10152025303540
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Year
Nu
mb
er
23.4 12.6 12.56.8
Ph.D.s in Nuclear and Radiochemistry Awarded in the U.S.
Nuclear Physics vs. Nuclear/RadiochemistryPh.D. Graduates
• Number of chemistry & physics PhD’s decreasing since early 1990’s
• ~ 82 PhD’s in nuclear physics per year (2000, 2001), out of ~1,400 PhD’s in physics
• < 10 PhD’s in radiochemistry per year (2000, 2001), out of ~ 1,800 PhD’s in chemistry
General Decline in Science and Engineering
“In preparing Indicators 2004, we have observed a troubling decline in the number of U.S. citizens who are training to become scientists and engineers, whereas the number of jobs requiring science and engineering (S&E) training continues to grow. Our recently published report entitled The Science and Engineering Workforce/Realizing America's Potential (NSB 03-69, 2003) comes to a similar conclusion. These trends threaten the economic welfare and security of our country. … Now, preparation of the S&E workforce is a vital arena for national competitiveness.”
National Science Board, Science and Engineering National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators—2004Indicators—2004
Nuclear Science Expertise is Viewed as Vital: Demand May Exceed The Supply
“We further recommend that training grants be established in areas required to advance DOE’s mission in the future, but for which the U.S. is not producing scientists and engineers. Some of these should be in traditional areas essentially unique to DOE such as nuclear engineering and nuclear science. Others will be especially useful in emerging areas like nanotechnology and biological engineering that must grow at the intersections of traditional disciplines”
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (2003)Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (2003)
Nuclear Science Expertise is Viewed as Vital
“…The future vigor and prosperity of American medicine, science, technology, and national defense clearly depend on continued development of nuclear techniques [and applications]…”
National Research Council 1988National Research Council 1988
“… Too few isotope experts are being prepared for functions in government, medicine, industry, technology, and science…”
Report to the US House of Representatives, 1998Report to the US House of Representatives, 1998
Repairing The Nuclear Education Pipeline
Kindergarden to Grade 12
Undergraduate Students
Graduate Students
Postdoctoral Scholars
Repairing The Nuclear Education Pipeline (K-12)
• NSAC Subcommittee on Education: We recommend that the highest priority for new investment in education be the creation of a Center for Nuclear Center for Nuclear Science Outreach Science Outreach by the DOE and the NSF
• Effective outreach can engage the public from K-12 to adults, e.g., space sciences, the genome project
• Stimulate an increasing national understanding of the nuclear world that Mankind lives in, as well as an improved appreciation of the goals and achievements of nuclear science
• Create a dedicated resource, to be consistently focused on developing communication and outreach on nuclear issues
Repairing The Nuclear Education Pipeline (K-12)
• Many efforts by organizations, national labs, interested groups, etc.—the message is normally focused locally, rather than
nationally• The Center would profit from these other efforts, but
achieve its outreach goals while strengthening and supporting these existing efforts, not duplicating them
Repairing The Nuclear Education Pipeline (K-12)
• Creation of Center for Nuclear Science OutreachCenter for Nuclear Science Outreach by DOE and NSF with sufficient resources, either at a university or a national laboratory
• Acquire a professional and dedicated staff knowledgeable about nuclear science; K-12 and public education; and public relations
• Achieve nuclear science community input and feedback by the establishment of ties with the DNP, its Committee on Education, the Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology of the ACS, and the ANS
Repairing The Nuclear Education Pipeline (Undergraduate Education)
• Undergraduate years - crucial window of time• Re-introduce Nuclear and Radiochemistry into the basic
chemistry syllabus—at least one week per two semesters
• Undergraduate research is of major importance for nuclear science in maintaining/growing the graduate student population
• Provide specific nuclear undergraduate research experiences— with faculty and/or DOE scientists — some fellowships exist dedicated to all of science
in DOE labs : Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) progam
Nuclear Chemistry Summer Schools (ACS-Sanctioned)
•NSAC Subcommittee on Education: Establishment of a third Establishment of a third summer school for nuclear chemistry, modeled after the two summer school for nuclear chemistry, modeled after the two existing schoolsexisting schools•San Jose State University and Brookhaven National Laboratory– limited to 12 students each
- sponsored by DOE’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences and Office of Biological and Environmental Research
•Steady increase of applicants •From about 40 (1999) to more than 140 (2007)
•Approximately 70% of participants go on to physics or chemistry graduate school, most of whom concentrate on nuclear chemistry or radiochemistry•Recruitment into and training of young scientists in the field of nuclear and radiochemistry remains a very high priority for the nuclear science community
Repairing The Nuclear Education Pipeline (Graduate Education)
• Research is the primary mode of training for graduate degrees in physics and chemistry
• Requires sufficient and longer-term funding commitment
• NSAC Subcommittee on Education: We strongly endorse the We strongly endorse the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board’s 2003 Secretary of Energy Advisory Board’s 2003 recommendation that new, prestigious graduate student recommendation that new, prestigious graduate student fellowships be developed by the Office of Science in the fellowships be developed by the Office of Science in the areas of physical sciences, including nuclear science, that areas of physical sciences, including nuclear science, that are critical to the missions of the DOEare critical to the missions of the DOE
• Prestigious fellowships and training grants would serve to attract the brightest graduate students for study in the physical sciences, including nuclear science, in areas critical to the missions of the DOE, providing them with the flexibility to prepare for research in their subfield of choice
Repairing The Nuclear Education Pipeline (Postdocoral Fellows)
• NSAC Subcommittee on Education: We recommend that We recommend that prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in nuclear science be prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in nuclear science be established, with funding from the NSF and the DOEestablished, with funding from the NSF and the DOE
• To recognize nuclear scientists early in their careers for their accomplishments and potential, and to help increase the visibility of nuclear science
• There are relatively few ways in which nuclear scientists early in their careers are recognized for their accomplishments and potential, and even fewer ways in which this recognition extends beyond the nuclear science community. Prestigious postdoctoral awards in other physical sciences have served to meet both of these challenges
It is Not Too Late To Avert a Catastrophe….
• A foundation upon which to build still exists (for the moment)…— existing university programs— ACS Summer Schools in Nuclear and
Radiochemistry• Replace retiring faculty before they retire
— often only possible if specific sponsors (DOE, NSF) guarantee funding of such positions to the universities
— Nuclear Industry sponsored Chairs— create new faculty positions in non-nuclear
chemistry departments
The European Approach
A High-level Solution is Required
• Until our political leaders and decision makers firmly commit to nuclear science and technology, all lower level efforts are bandages to this urgent national problem
• The decision to truly improve nuclear and radiochemistry science and education has to come from Congress with a commitment to (long-range) funding
• Educate your Senators, Congress delegates, and the Press
Thank you for your attention
Thank You for Your Attention