So,

what is a

radiochemist anyway?

and,

Why do they need a special school?

104 105 106 107 108 109

T he Chemist ' s PlaygroundH

L i B e

Na M g

K C a S c T i V C r M n F e C o N i C u Zn G a G e A s S e B r K r

R b S r Y Zr N b M o T c R u R h P d A g C d In S n S b T e I X e

A l S i P S C l A r

B C N O F N e

He

Man-made R adioactive E lements Naturally R adioactive E lements

92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103

C s B a (Ln) H f Ta W R e O s Ir P t Au H g T l P b B i P o A t R n

F r R a (A n) R f Db S g Bh H s M t 110 111 112 113 114 116 118

The Radiochemist’s Playground

Nuclear & Radiochemistry in the context of the

ACS-Defined Chemistry Curriculum

• Usually a part of comprehensive general chemistry texts

• Maybe a part of general chemistry syllabi

• An elective in a comprehensive, ACS-approved undergraduate chemistry degree program

Nuclear & Radiochemistry Expertise in Academic Chemistry Departments

• Slowly disappearing (or already gone)

• Retired faculty have been replaced with expertise in other areas of chemistry

• Number of universities offering undergraduate courses currently very small (and shrinking)

Trends in Chemistry Faculty

Trends in Chemistry Faculty

Ph.D.s in Nuclear & Radiochemistry

Awarded at U.S. Universities

0

10

20

30

40

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Year

Num

ber

• “… The future vigor and prosperity of American medicine, science, technology, and national defense clearly depend on continued development of nuclear techniques [and applications]…”– Nat’l Research Council, 1988

The Need for Nuclear & Radiochemistry

Expertise in the US

• “… The future vigor and prosperity of American medicine, science, technology, and national defense clearly depend on continued development of nuclear techniques [and applications]…”– Nat’l Research Council, 1988

• “… Too few isotope experts are being prepared for functions in government, medicine, industry, technology, and science…”– Report to the US House of Representatives, 1998

The Need for Nuclear & Radiochemistry

Expertise in the US

The Aging DOE Nuclear Workforce

The Aging DOE Nuclear WorkforceFigure 3: Cumulative Loss of Nuclear Skills (2002-2011)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Year

FT

Es

Lo

st

Retirees

Retirees + Attrition

PNNL: Loss of Nuclear Workforce (2002-2010)

2010

300

700

Nuclear /radiochemistry professionals are needed

for:• Homeland Security

– Interdiction/detection, response, counter proliferation

• Nuclear Medicine – 50% of hospital stays involve NM procedure

• Radioactive Waste Management

– Repository, DOE system cleanup

• Nuclear Power Expansion?

– Advanced reactors, reprocessing, P&T

Some Noted “Graduates”• Prof. Carolyn Anderson

– Assoc. Prof., Nucl. Med. & Radiology, Washington Univ., St. Louis

• Dr. Howard Hall– Manager, LLNL, Livermore, CA

• Prof. Kristie Boering– Asst. Prof., Geology, UC-Berkeley

• Dr. Mark Jensen– Staff Scientist, Actinide Chemistry, ANL East, near Chicago

• Prof. Trent Vorlicek– Asst. Prof., Chemistry, Mankato St. Univ., Minnesota