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Nuclear engineering minor begins this fall
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Nuclear engineering minor begins this fall | Nuclear engineering minor begins this fall |  |
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| Written by Johnathan Silver, The Shorthorn staff | ||||
| Tuesday, 07 July 2009 07:26 PM | ||||
The university will begin a nuclear engineering program this fall to tackle U.S. demands for more alternative energy sources. Nuclear energy is usually in the form of heat or electricity and produced by nuclear fission in a nuclear reactor. A nuclear reactor is a machine that initiates fission or splitting of the nucleus into smaller parts. The university will offer a minor in the field. In a March Gallup Environmental Poll , 59 percent of Americans said they support using nuclear energy to provide the U.S. with electricity. “The country’s energy policy has recognized the need for additional power sources,” said Lynn Peterson, College of Engineering associate dean. “Having nuclear energy makes sense.” A minor is a good start for the university, she said. Other than nuclear scientists, a nuclear engineering degree isn’t required to work in that field. “It is unclear where the program will go from here,” Peterson said. Electrical engineering senior Diana Asaolu said she has been interested in nuclear energy since she was young. She has declared a nuclear engineering minor. “Most people think danger when they think of nuclear energy,” Asaolu said. “Compared to other ways we generate electricity, nuclear is actually cleaner. In the future it will be more commonly used.” President Barack Obama and Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev signed an agreement Monday to pursue U.S.-Russian nuclear stockpiles reduction. This will not affect UTA’s nuclear engineering minor, Peterson said. “It won’t hinder the program,” she said. “The agreement signed refers only to nuclear weapons. This program is all about civilian nuclear power.” A nuclear engineering minor will put the university on the map, Peterson said. University graduates have employment opportunities in Arlington and with nuclear power plants currently under construction in Texas. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV office is an independent agency in Arlington created by the U.S. Congress to oversee safe and beneficial use of nuclear materials. According to the agency’s Web site, updated May 22, it plans to hire about 200 new staff this year, including engineers and nuclear scientists. Because the office is located in Arlington, UTA has an advantage over other universities, Peterson said. Views: 249 | E-mail
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