[cdn-nucl-l] Energy Secretary Abraham Announces New Grants to Bolster Nuclear Engineering Programs at the Nation's Universities

["Adam McLean" <adam.mclean@utoronto.ca>]

Posted by the US Department of Energy on June 10, 2002 at:
http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/junpr/pr02100.htm
Good news for US nuclear engineering schools!

Adam

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Energy Secretary Abraham Announces New Grants to Bolster Nuclear
Engineering Programs at the Nation's Universities

Initiatives Enhance University Nuclear Research Reactor Infrastructure
and Prepare Tomorrow's Nuclear Scientists and Engineers
WASHINGTON, DC -- Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham today unveiled the
administration's new Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure and Education
(INIE) program and awarded $5.5 million to four consortia of
universities. Under this innovative program, the universities are
encouraged to make new investments in their research reactor and nuclear
engineering programs while establishing strategic partnerships with
national laboratories and industry. 

Secretary Abraham also announced 65 new nuclear engineering grants to
31of our Nation's universities and 73 scholarships and fellowships to
outstanding students pursuing careers in nuclear science and
engineering. 

"If we are to meet the energy, environmental and medical challenges of
the future, then initiatives like these are absolutely critical to
preparing the next generation of nuclear engineers and scientists,"
Secretary Abraham said. "This year, we have expanded our effort to
leverage our investment by establishing geographically diverse research
reactor centers." 

The INIE program is established on the basis of recommendations of the
Department of Energy's (DOE's) independent advisory committee - - the
Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee (NERAC). NERAC expressed
concern about the ability of the Nation to respond to the growing demand
for trained experts in nuclear science and technology in the face of
financial and other challenges affecting engineering programs and
research reactor facilities at American universities over the last
decade. 

An independent peer review panel evaluated 13 proposals received from
universities and consortia across the country. Based on this expert
review, the department selected four consortia to receive funding this
year; an additional three consortia will receive INIE grants as
additional funding becomes available. All of the 14 universities
represented in the consortia receiving support this year either sponsor
nuclear engineering programs or operate nuclear research reactor
facilities. Awards range from approximately $1 million to $2 million to
each consortia for the first year of funding. Contingent on future
appropriations, INIE grants are awarded for a five-year term. 

The department is also announcing awards in several other areas related
to nuclear science and engineering education at the nation's
universities including funds for matching grants, reactor sharing and
reactor upgrades. 

DOE is awarding 21 matching grants to universities throughout the
country, leveraging public-private contributions for up to $120,000
through a 50-50 cost-share arrangement. This initiative allows funds to
be directed to the specific needs of an institution's school of nuclear
engineering for purchase of new equipment, support for students, faculty
and research. 

The department is also awarding 23 reactor upgrade grants to fund
enhancements of the instrumentation and control systems at university
reactors and safety and security improvements. Twenty-two reactor
sharing grants will be awarded to enable university reactors to serve as
centers for educational programs at non-reactor institutions of higher
learning, providing opportunities for reactor training and experiments.
This initiative also allows middle and high school students to be
introduced to nuclear science and technology by enabling them to visit
reactors and conduct experiments. 

Eligibility for these grants is restricted to colleges and universities
with nuclear engineering degree programs or and/or to those with an
operating research reactor. These awards are made annually on the basis
of an independent peer review by experts. This year's awards, including
the fellowships and scholarships, represent a federal investment of $3
million. 

Additional information on these and other nuclear science and
engineering educational initiatives that are sponsored by DOE's Office
of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology is available at nuclear.gov. 

The following are the consortia that have been recommended for or
awarded funding under the INIE program. 

Organization Title/Lead University Participating University/National
Laboratory/Industry Participant 
1.) Massachusetts Institute of Technology Rhode Island Nuclear Science
Center 
2.) Consortium of Big Ten University Research and Training Reactors 
Pennsylvania State University University of Illinois, University of
Wisconsin, and Purdue University 
3.) Western Nuclear Science Alliance 
Oregon State University Washington State University 
University of California-Davis University of California-Berkeley 
  Argonne National Laboratory
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
 
4.) Southwest Consortium 
Texas A&M University University of Texas-Austin 
  University of New Mexico
Sandia National Laboratory 
5.) The Midwest Nuclear Science and Engineering Consortium* 
University of Missouri-Columbia University of Missouri-Rolla 
  Purdue University
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
Advanced Technology Center (Mexico, MO) 
6.) University of Michigan* 
7.) North Carolina State University* University of Maryland 
  Georgia Institute of Technology 
University of Tennessee 
Clemson University
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute 
University of South Carolina
 
* Support will be provided as additional funds become available. 

Following is a list of universities that will receive matching grants
this year; some universities have been awarded more than one grant: 

Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, Georgia
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
University of Texas-Austin, Austin, Texas
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

The following are the awards for the fiscal year 2002 university reactor
upgrades initiative. All of these universities, with exception of
University of California-Irving also received reactor sharing awards.
UC-Irving did not submit a proposal for a reactor sharing award. 

Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center, Narragansett, Rhode Island
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
University of Texas-Austin, Austin, Texas
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas


University of California-Davis, McClellan AFB, California
University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Scholarships were awarded to undergraduate students at the following
universities: 

Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, Georgia
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas,
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Fellowships were awarded to graduate and doctoral students at the
following universities: 

Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, Georgia
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California
University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
University of Utah, Logan, Utah

Media Contact: Hope Williams, 202/586-5806 

Release No. PR-02-100