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

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. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1 Introduction2 Defining Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise3 Academic Basic Research and Education4 Medicine5 Energy and Power Generation6 National Security7 Environmental Management8 Summary of Supply and Demand for Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise9 Approaches to Assuring U.S. Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise10 Committee RecommendationsAppendix A: Study Statement of TaskAppendix B: Biographical InformationAppendix C: Public Meeting Schedule and Guest SpeakersAppendix D: Questionnaire DescriptionsAppendix E: 2008 Nuclear and Radiochemistry Faculty ListAppendix F: Data Collection from National LaboratoriesAppendix G: Positron Emission Tomography RadiopharmaceuticalsAppendix H: Chemistry Department ChairsAppendix I: Commercial Nuclear Power Plants