Test Research and Training Reactors Meeting Education, Outreach and Training: NE’s Changing Role Lincoln City, Oregon

1. Test Research and Training Reactors MeetingEducation, Outreach and Training:NE’s Changing RoleLincoln City, Oregon John Gutteridge Office of Nuclear EnergyU.S. Department of Energy September 17-20, 2007

2. Items for Discussion • Current/Future Status of NE University Program • Program Development • Enrollments • Congressional actions/calendars • Recent University Awards • NERI-C • GNEP Readiness • Fuel Program • Plans for 2007-2009 • Conversions 2006 → • Outreach • Harnessed Atom • Recruitment Video • Summary

3. Where We’ve Been – 1997-2006 • The Road to the University Program • Support for research, reactors, students, faculty, outreach, fuel, minority institutions, etc. • Politically Popular Program • Many Initiatives Along the Way • INIE • Radiochemistry • “Harnessed Atom” • Junior Faculty

4. The Current Situation • University Program “zeroed” for FY 2007 and FY 2008 • Fuel support continues ($3.0M in FY 2008) • “Mortgages” fully funded with FY 2007 funds • Worked with university community to develop a new basis for supporting university nuclear engineering research and infrastructure

5. University Program (UP) Early Developments • Pre-UP (before 1992) • Fuel for university reactors – NE • International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) • Fellowships/Scholarships – NE, others • Support for reactor maintenance – Office of Science

6. 1992 → TodayUniversity Program Activities Take Hold

7. University Program Timeline (Approximations) Fuel Purchased Radiochemistry • INIE • ANS Outreach Junior Faculty NEER Pre 1990 1992 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002/03 2005 2006 Video “Recruitment” Matching Grants • Reactor Sharing • Reactor Upgrades • Fellows and Scholars • “Splitting Atoms” video • University Partnerships • Summer Internships • HP Fellows(separate program) • “Harnessed Atom”Module International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) Note: Several of these programs had been funded in the Office of Energy Research (now Office of Science), but were dropped due to lack of interest/funding.

8. ($ in Millions) FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 Matching Grants $ 0.8 $ 0.8 $ 1.0 $ 1.0 $0.0 Fellowships/Scholarships (Includes University Partnerships) 1.2 1.2 2.0 2.4 0.0 Reactor Sharing University Nuclear Infrastructure 10.8 15.3 14.7 14.1 0.0 Nuclear Engineering Education Research 4.3 5.0 4.9 5.0 0.0 Fellowships/Scholarships - HP – – 0.2 0.3 0.0 Radiochemistry 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.0 Nuclear Engineering Education Opportunities 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.0 Idaho Earmark* – – – 3.0 – FY 2007 Mortgages – – – – 16.5 TOTAL $ 17.8 $23.0** $23.5 $27.0 $16.5 University Program Budget HistoryFY 2003 – FY 2007 Budgets *$3M was a one-time earmark for Idaho universities **$2.5M was a one-time appropriation for spent fuel shipments

9. 3086 2941 2612 690 Enrollments Grew at a Rapid Rate

10. 310 225 218 194 185 185 162 156 153 153 153 152 150 123 105 86 72 65 63 45 27 20 20 20 18 10 8 8 Nuclear Engineering Enrollments Academic Year 2006-2007

11. States With Participating Universities Program Participants Clark/Atlanta Clemson University Colorado State University Georgia Institute of Technology Idaho State University Kansas State University Livingstone College* Linn State Technical College Massachusetts Institute of Technology Morgan State University* New Mexico State University** North Carolina State University Ohio State University Oregon State University Pennsylvania State University Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico** Prairie View A&M University* Purdue University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center South Carolina State University* Texas A&M University Texas A&M Kingsville** Three Rivers Community College Tuskegee Institute* Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Tech University of Arizona University of California-Berkeley University of California-Davis University of California-Irvine University of Cincinnati University of Florida University of Illinois University of Maryland University of Massachusetts-Lowell University of Michigan University of Missouri-Columbia University of Missouri-RollaUniversity of Nevada – Las Vegas University of New Mexico** University of South Carolina University of Tennessee University of Texas University of Utah University of Wisconsin Washington State University West Point Military Academy Wilberforce University* Worcester Polytechnic Institute *U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities; **Hispanic Serving Institution

12. FY 2006/07 – New Approach • OMB “PARTS” University Program • OMB evaluated the University Program and determined that enrollment levels of the program have increased and students no longer needed encouragement to enter the nuclear field. Federal assistance no longer necessary • For FY 2007 Congressional add back ($27M) is used by DOE to pay off existing mortgages and begin new “research program” for universities (NERI-C) • DOE/NE attempts to embed infrastructure support (fellowships, reactor support, faculty support, etc.) into research initiative (NERI-C)

13. P F u t u r e Radiochemistry Research (NEER) r Research Program encompassing past program successes and innovations e Fellowships s e University Partnership n Reactor Sharing t Faculty Support Matching Grants Reactor Upgrades Outreach Scholarships INIE NE Supports Universities The transition from a university program budget line item to embedding university research and support within our mission related NE R&D programs will provide: • Greater research opportunities for universities while incorporating infrastructure activities • Increased funding corresponds to increases in NE’s research program areas

14. Why Change? • DOE/NE R&D-related university-based research will be beneficial to DOE and university community • The Office of Nuclear Energy wants to support nuclear engineering education (Stewardship) • Research-based approach could help develop a better education network among universities, laboratories, the nuclear industry and government

15. 2007 NERI-Consortia Funding Opportunity Announcement • R&D focused program (NERI) • University Program elements embedded • Total award value $30 Million • Maximum individual award ceiling $1M/yr for 3 years ($3M total) • Provides an opportunity for U.S. universities to become directly involved in an integrated teaming relationship with DOE/NE

16. 2007 GNEP University Readiness Funding Opportunity Announcement • Provide an opportunity for nuclear schools to prepare themselves to support GNEP R&D programs • Open to all universities with nuclear programs • Total award value $4 Million • Maximum individual award ceiling $100K over one year • One time award

17. NE supports Universities • Total support for university activities in FY 2006 was approximately $50M • A funding level of $54M will continue in FY 2007 • Based on our FY 2008 budget request we expect growth in our university funding commensurate with the growth in GNEP

18. Program FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008 University Reactor Infrastructure andEducation Assistance 26,730 16,547 0 Research Reactor Infrastructure 0 0 2,947 R&D Program Funded Research 24,391 38,252 58,572 Generation IV 6,067 5,463 5,772 Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative 5,116 4,300 4,300 Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative 13,208 24,489 48,500 Total Funding for Universities 51,121 54,799 61,519 FY 2006-08 University Funding* *These actuals and estimates do not include National Laboratory directed funding for universities. Funding within individual programs may vary depending upon the performance of individual program activities.  Total funding for Universities is expected to be as shown.

19. FY 2007 NERI-C Awards

20. FY 2007 NERI-C Awards (cont.)

21. GNEP Readiness Projects – FY 2007

22. GNEP Readiness Projects – FY 2007 (cont.)

23. GNEP Readiness Projects – FY 2007(cont.)

24. FY 2008 and Beyond Future Plans • Have two types of Funding Opportunity Announcements per year • NERI for Individual Principal Investigators • NERI for Consortia • Both funded by NE R&D Programs • NERI funding levels are dependent upon level of GNEP funding approved by Congress

25. Research Reactors and Fuel • Provide fuel to any of the 26 reactors that require it • Work with NNSA to convert university reactors from HEU to LEU • Texas A&M – 2006 • Florida – 2006 • Purdue – 2007 • Oregon State – 2008 • Washington State – 2008 • Wisconsin – 2009 • Working with NNSA to meet Secretary of Energy’s mandate to convert all research reactors to LEU by 2014

26. Research Reactors and Fuel (cont.) NNSA’s Role • Provide all necessary funding for designing, constructing and starting up the new fuel fabrication capability required for manufacturing the new, low-enriched uranium fuel • Provide funding for the initial low-enriched uranium lead test assemblies for the converted reactors necessary to obtain regulatory approval for regular operation and for LEU fuel for the reactors to replace any HEU fuel removed prior to the end of its normal service lifetime and that was also removed to facilitate conversion to LEU fund

27. Research Reactors and Fuel (cont.) NE’s Role • Provide all necessary funding for the operation and maintenance of the new fuel fabrication capability • Provide all necessary funding for the shipment of HEU fuel to the proper disposal sites, the fabrication and shipment of all subsequent new fuel and the subsequent shipment of spent fuel from the operation of these reactors

28. Research Reactors and Fuel (cont.) • Future Conversions – Post 2009 • MIT, MURR, NRAD, HFIR, ATR, NIST • NNSA is responsible for development of the new U-Moly dispersion fuel for these reactors • Fuel development work is expected to be completed in 2010 to allow for fuel fabrication in support of core conversions

29. The New Harnessed Atom and Outreach • Harnessed Atom module introduced in: • Pittsburgh; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Columbia and Rolla, Missouri; Idaho; North Carolina; Virginia • Want to offer it to everyone once pilot program is completed • Searching for funding mechanism to ensure Harnessed Atom is available for those who desire to use it • Updating to include GNEP concepts during FY 2007/08 • Video – “Nuclear Engineering – A Fulfilling Career” • Many copies distributed • More available • Web streaming coming soon

30. Teaching/Outreach Success: The Harnessed Atom The Original Harnessed Atom • Science educational curriculum developed 20 years ago by DOE Office of Nuclear Energy for junior high classrooms • Includes a Teacher’s Guide, Student Reader, experiments and activities, and a video in mini-CD format (originally a filmstrip) • Though designed for junior-high age students, it tested successfully on non-science major students through Junior College level • 10,000 classroom sets produced by DOE

31. The Harnessed Atom The Harnessed Atom’s Success • Used by over 1.5 million students and translated into at least 4 foreign languages • Recommended or promoted by leading teacher associations – NSTA, ASCD, NEA • Called “the gold standard” in nuclear educational material by ANS PA staff • Widely reprinted by utilities, school systems, private sector, and other countries

32. The Harnessed Atom What teachers told us • Students are being short-changed on essential information about nuclear science, health physics, and engineering • In major textbooks, still presented inaccurately or in biased language • Often skimmed over or not taught at all in high school physics classes • Many teachers feel ill-prepared to teach topic, and do not have good classroom materials • Need a high school version • Typical high school physics does not include nuclear science • One Dimensional Motion • Projectile Motion • Forces • Momentum • Work-Energy • Planetary Motion • Electricity • Magnetism • Waves (water, sound, light) • Optics • Relativity

33. The Harnessed Atom High School Honors Edition Now, a Re-designed High School Curriculum . . . • For advanced students grades 11-12 • Updated content and format • Worked with public schools to review and validate through Pilot Test of the curriculum • ’07-’08 Field Testing a revised edition in regions across the U.S. • Next: Distribute curriculum nationally in partnership with Labs, academic institutions, public and private sector

34. The Harnessed Atom High School Honors Edition The Curriculum . . . • Increases awareness at the pre-college level for students interested in sciences and engineering, nuclear engineering, and health physics • Helps high school students make informed choices about college majors and career options ♦ Supports Department of Energy mission to foster education and understanding of energy technologies and options

35. The Harnessed Atom High School Honors Edition This partnership is important • Connects public school educators, professional societies, DOE, research facilities, and private sector to strengthen the teaching of nuclear science • Helps students to become informed decision-makers on energy issues and policy as they become adult citizens •  Perhaps most importantly: expands students’ awareness of choices for college majors that they might overlook, including exciting career options in the health physics, nuclear energy, nuclear medicine, research, and engineering

36. CHAPTERS 3) Atoms and Isotopes 4) Radiation 5) Nuclear Reactions 6) Nuclear power 7) Nuclear By-products and Waste 8) Assessing Risk Cloud Chamber trails Seeing is believing • Experiments with radioactive material • Geiger counters • Background radiation • Sources--gas light mantles, uranium ore MOST IMPORTANT LESSON – These materials can be handled safely

37. Walking around Penn State after the tour of the reactor Ben was extremely excited and said “Mr. Iasella, you’ve messed everything up! I was planning to travel, take off from school, but this stuff is really cool. I want to know how it all works! I never would have though I would have liked physics in the beginning of school.” Teachers don’t know what topics would light a fire for individual students These 2 students are going into the nuclear field Without this unit, they would never have considered it 2 out of 70 at Schenley High School Seems small? Typically only 2-5 would even consider engineering or science.

38. Non-Program Factors That Contributed to Broader Support of Nuclear Engineering Education • Formalized Organization of NE Department Chairs (NEDHO) • Formalized Organization of University Reactor Directors (TRTR) • Employing Professional Organization Infrastructure to help communicate message (American Nuclear Society) • Hiring full-time representative with strong Congressional resume to carry the message forward • Engage international community and organizations (IAEA, NEA) in bringing issues (workforce development/ manpower shortages) to world stage • Intangibles • Having the head of the Office of Nuclear Energy thoroughly engaged in university nuclear engineering support • Champion within the sponsoring agency

39. Summary • University Nuclear Engineering Support Program, built steadily, achieved success and is now “evolving” • Administration’s desire to support universities via NE mission-related research is a current political reality that could change in a year or two • Much skepticism in NE community – many prefer NE education programs of the past decade since the perception is that infrastructure, not research, is at risk with revised approach • FY 2008 will be a pivotal year as Congress debates the best way to support nuclear engineering at universities • House has funding for NRC ($15M) • Senate has funding for DOE ($15M) • Outcome? – No one can predict

40. Summary • Within NE, fuel support continues unhindered with additional funds being considered over the next few years to enable NE to continue to support HEU to LEU conversions and rebuild fuel inventory for university research reactors • MOU between NE and NNSA has now been agreed to outlining responsibilities for future conversions and fuel fabrication efforts • GNEP Readiness ($3.8M) and NERI-C ($10.3M) funding will be made available to universities by the close of FY 2007 (September 30th)