Who will do the nuclear science at RIA? Training the next generation of nuclear scientists for DOE Sue B. Clark, Ph.D. Professor, Chemistry Department, Washington State University and National Director ACS Summer Schools in Nuclear and Radiochemistry
Outline Current status of the nuclear workforce & academic programs Nuclear science in the undergraduate curriculum Nuclear science in the graduate curriculum Possible solutions??? New paradigms for education.
Nuclear Science in Academic Programs Nuclear faculty in 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
Nuclear Physics vs. Nuclear/Radiochemistry 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
Number 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 PhDs in Nuclear & Radiochemistry Awarded at US Universities 23.4 12.6 12.5 6.8 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 Year
The Aging DOE Nuclear Workforce
The Aging DOE Nuclear Workforce PNNL: Loss Figure of 3: Cumulative Nuclear Loss of Nuclear Workforce Skills (2002-2011)(2002-2010) 800 700 600 500 FTEs Lost 400 Retirees Retirees + Attrition 300 200 100 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 2010
Demographics of Nuclear Physics & Chemistry Graduate Students > 85% male; > 85% white Origin of BS degree 37% from US research universities (-) 36% from foreign universities (+) 10% from liberal arts colleges (-) Majority supported as RA s From S. Yennello, TAMU
The Need for Nuclear & Radiochemistry Expertise in the US The future vigor and prosperity of American medicine, science, technology, and national defense clearly depend on continued development of nuclear techniques [and applications] Nat l 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, 1998
Nuclear Science in the Undergraduate Curriculum Few (if any???) clearly defined nuclear science degrees in Colleges of Science Some institutions offer undergraduate degrees in nuclear science & engineering in Colleges of Engineering Possible to obtain undergraduate degree in science disciplines without studying: The Standard Model Radiochemistry
Nuclear & Radiochemistry in the context of the ACS-Defined Chemistry Curriculum Usually a part of comprehensive general chemistry texts Maybe a part of general chemistry syllabi An elective in a comprehensive, ACSapproved undergraduate chemistry degree program
Factors Working Against Radiochemistry in the Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculum Little nuclear science in K-12 curricula Math skills of undergraduates tend to be weaker Increased ACS requirements in other areas of chemistry Incentives to provide matriculation within 4 years
Nuclear Science in the Graduate Curriculum Research is the primary mode of training for graduate degrees in physics and chemistry University administrators and faculty respond primarily to research funding opportunities Universities award graduate degrees, national labs do not
Research Funding Opportunities in the Nuclear Sciences Nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry have support from both NSF and DOE, coordinated through NSAC Radiochemistry is perceived to be the domain of DOE; has not been supported by NSF in the past Various stove-piped organizations within DOE provide fragmented support for radiochemistry; very little coordination between programs exists Much of the DOE Office of Science research funding is earmarked for DOE facilities
Current Research Funding Opportunities in Nuclear & Radiochemistry Nuclear Chemistry DOE s Office of Science NSF Nuclear Physics National Nuclear Security Administration Radiochemistry DOE s Office of Science DOE s Environmental Management Science Program DOE s Office of Nucl. Energy, Science, & Technology National Nuclear Security Administration NSF??? No Grand Challenge???
Examples of Research Opportunities at RIA Exploration of Nuclear Matter, Nuclear Structure Astrophysical Observations Determination of Nuclear Reaction Cross-sections Heavy-ion Accelerator Limitations & Applications Radiochemical Separations Radiation Detection and Measurement Medical Isotope Production Radiopharmaceutical Development MORE????
Educational Funding Opportunities for Nuclear and Radiochemistry For academic institutions: Radiochemistry Education Award Program - REAP, DOE-NE Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure & Education - INIE, DOE-NE American Chemical Society s Summer Schools in Nuclear & Radiochemistry, DOE-SC At national labs: Student & Faculty Research Opportunities
Summary of the Situation Nuclear science academic infrastructure is eroding and/or becoming more applied Limits the undergraduate and graduate pipelines DOE nuclear workforce is retiring away State universities are not influence by DOE needs without necessary DOE investment Academic research funding opportunities are not increasing at the rate of the training needs Academic educational funding is currently not sufficient Few women & minorities participating
Is the Academic Situation Worth Saving??? Absolutely A foundation upon which to build still exists (for the moment) Existing university programs ACS Summer Schools in Nuclear and Radiochemistry Education is expensive Universities can provide education more cost-effectively than OTJ training
Possible Solutions??? Repairing the break in the pipeline: K 12 Undergraduate students Graduate Students Post-doctoral Associates
Keeping Everyone s Interests in Mind DOE administrators in DC responsibility to support facilities and national labs National lab/doe site technical staff responsive to site managers, not university faculty or administration State legislatures DOE issues are not their primary concern University administrators respond to large funding opportunities that pay OH or generate large tuition streams University faculty respond to funding agency program managers, collaborators, and lab group
Examples from Other Disciplines & Programs New Paradigms for Education & Research NSF Integrated Graduate Education & Research Training NSF Environmental Molecular Sciences Institutes Grand Challenges: Grand Challenge for Nanotechnology Grand Challenge for High Performance Computing Grand Challenge for Homeland Security OTHERS????
Acknowledgements DOE-SC ACS Summer Schools DOE-NE Radiochemistry Education Award Program DOE-NE Western Nuclear Sciences Alliance NSF IGERT Program at WSU
A Few Successful Partnerships??? UC-Berkeley & L. Berkeley National Lab Colorado State U. & LANL SUNY Stoney Brook & BNL
Other Educational Opportunities ACS Summer Schools in Nuclear and Radiochemistry Student Fellowship programs at DOE facilities
Papers in This Symposium 11 representing non-academic institutions 3 representing academic institutions 1 collaborative presentation by both academic and non-academic institutions