Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise

National Research Council of the National Academies Division of Earth and Life Studies, Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board, and Division on Policy and Global Affairs, Board on Higher Education and Workforce, Committee on Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear Chemistry Expertise

ISBN 10: 0309225345 / ISBN 13: 9780309225342

Published by The National Academies Press, Washington DC, 2012

About this Item

xx, 200 pages. Figures. Tables. References. Table of Contents: Front Matter, Executive Summary, 1 Introduction, 2 Defining Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise, 3 Academic Basic Research and Education, 4 Medicine, 5 Energy and Power Generation, 6 National Security, 7 Environmental Management, 8 Summary of Supply and Demand for Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise, 9 Approaches to Assuring U.S. Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise, 10 Committee Recommendations, Appendix A: Study Statement of Task, Appendix B: Biographical Information, Appendix C: Public Meeting Schedule and Guest Speakers, Appendix D: Questionnaire Descriptions, Appendix E: 2008 Nuclear and Radiochemistry Faculty List, Appendix F: Data Collection from National Laboratories, Appendix G: Positron Emission Tomography Radiopharmaceuticals, Appendix H: Chemistry Department Chairs, and Appendix I: Commercial Nuclear Power Plants. The growing use of nuclear medicine, the potential expansion of nuclear power generation, and the urgent needs to protect the nation against external nuclear threats, to maintain our nuclear weapons stockpile, and to manage the nuclear wastes generated in past decades, require a substantial, highly trained, and exceptionally talented workforce. Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise examines supply and demand for expertise in nuclear chemistry nuclear science, and radiochemistry in the United States and presents possible approaches for ensuring adequate availability of these skills, including necessary science and technology training platforms. Considering a range of reasonable scenarios looking to the future, none of these areas are likely to experience a decrease in demand for expertise. However, many in the current workforce are approaching retirement age and the number of students opting for careers in nuclear and radiochemistry has decreased dramatically over the past few decades. In order to avoid a gap in these critical areas, increases in student interest in these careers, in the research and educational capacity of universities and colleges, and sector specific on-the-job training will be needed. Concise recommendations are given for actions to avoid a shortage of nuclear chemistry, nuclear scientists, and radiochemists in the future.

Seller Inventory # 84053

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise
• Publisher: The National Academies Press, Washington DC
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0309225345
• ISBN 13: 9780309225342
• Binding: Trade paperback
• Edition: Presumed First Edition, First printing.
• Condition: Very good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Nuclear Power

About this title

Synopsis

The growing use of nuclear medicine, the potential expansion of nuclear power generation, and the urgent needs to protect the nation against external nuclear threats, to maintain our nuclear weapons stockpile, and to manage the nuclear wastes generated in past decades, require a substantial, highly trained, and exceptionally talented workforce. Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise examines supply and demand for expertise in nuclear chemistry nuclear science, and radiochemistry in the United States and presents possible approaches for ensuring adequate availability of these skills, including necessary science and technology training platforms.

Considering a range of reasonable scenarios looking to the future, none of these areas are likely to experience a decrease in demand for expertise. However, many in the current workforce are approaching retirement age and the number of students opting for careers in nuclear and radiochemistry has decreased dramatically over the past few decades. In order to avoid a gap in these critical areas, increases in student interest in these careers, in the research and educational capacity of universities and colleges, and sector specific on-the-job training will be needed. Concise recommendations are given for actions to avoid a shortage of nuclear chemistry, nuclear scientists, and radiochemists in the future.