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Educational Achievements in Nuclear and Radiochemistry at the University of Texas

Abstract

Over the last three years we have developed a very robust nuclear and radiochemistry program at The University of Texas at Austin. The cornerstone of support was the DOE Radiochemistry Educational Award Program (REAP) which was awarded from 2002- 2005. A second award for the period of 2005-2008 was just received. This award has enabled us to support many educational activates from vanguard classroom instruction, to laboratory enhancements, to research activities at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Both traditional radiochemistry and advanced topics in nuclear instrumentation have been supported.

Introduction

In the last two decades there has been an increased realization that training of scientists and engineers in radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry is of vital significance to the goals of national laboratories, industry, and hospitals and medical institutions. More recently, the aims of the Department of Homeland Security have also included radiological (dirty bomb) scenarios as part of their mission to prevent and track such events. In the 1990’s the Department of Energy set up the Radiochemistry Research Award Program (REAP) to help universities develop more active educational and research opportunities in a wide variety of areas. In August 2005, the Nuclear and Radiation Engineering Program at the University of Texas received its second three-year REAP grant largely due to the success of both traditional radiochemistry and more advanced nuclear chemistry teaching and research. Increased interactions with national laboratories, placement of students in radiochemistry careers, and significant pedagogical improvements all contributed to the second REAP award.

Educational Activities

The cornerstone of the educational activities revolves around a series of complimentary courses and training in radiochemistry. These courses include the following:

Nuclear and Radiochemistry

The subjects are taught in a web-based format for the graduate course in nuclear and radiochemistry. The subjects taught include pioneers and the historic events in nuclear and radiochemistry, a nuclear and radiochemistry overview, naturally-occurring radiation and radioactivity, counting statistics, radioelements, isotopes and nuclides, physical properties of atomic nuclei, radioactive decay, decay modes, neutron activation analysis, and the nuclear fuel cycle. Further topics that have recently developed include radionuclides in geo-cosmochemistry, dating techniques, actinide chemistry, production of radionuclides and labeled compounds. Experimental laboratories include health physics and safety, determination of fission activity, counting statistics, solvent extraction,

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Schneider, E., & Landsberger, S., & Biegalski, S., & Foltz Biegalski, K. (2006, June), Educational Achievements In Nuclear And Radiochemistry At The University Of Texas At Austin Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--718