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News Release
NRC funds development of nuclear minor program
New Mexico State University has been awarded $97,310 from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Educational Grants program to develop a nuclear minor at NMSU that will address the growing demand for engineers and scientists with background in the nuclear industry. The United States has witnessed unprecedented growth in the demand for nuclear technologies with applications spanning a vast spectrum of industries. A resurgence of interest in nuclear energy as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels, coupled with nuclear technologies that have been developed for application in the healthcare and food safety industries, has brought forth a demand for engineers and scientists with a background in the nuclear industry. In addition, a large portion of the current workforce with expertise in the nuclear industry is expected to be eligible to retire within the next five to seven years.
New Mexico has a strong tradition of involvement in nuclear technology with Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. The need for engineers with some background in nuclear engineering has increased in the state of New Mexico with the National Enrichment Facility that is being constructed in southeast New Mexico (to be operated by LES, Louisiana Energy Services. Arizona Public Service Company, Palo Verde Nuclear Power Generating Station, has also expressed their interest in engineers with some basic knowledge of nuclear engineering. Representatives from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region 6, located in Arlington, TX, have also indicated a need for engineers with some knowledge of the nuclear industry.
Over the grant period of one year, principal investigator Martha Mitchell, co-principal investigators David Rockstraw and Paul Andersen (all from the Department of Chemical Engineering), in collaboration with visiting professionals with expertise in Health Physics and Nuclear Power Plant design, will develop and deliver two new courses at NMSU that will be part of the 18-credit minor that will be available to NMSU students in a variety of disciplines.