So,

what is a

radiochemist anyway?

and,

Why do they need a special school?

1 0 4 1 0 5 1 0 6 1 0 7 1 0 8 1 0 9

T h e C h e m i s t ' s P l a y g r o u n dH

L i B e

N a M g

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

R b S r Y Z r N b M o T c R u R h P d A g C d I n 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

H e

M a n - m a d e R a d i o a c t i v e E l e m e n t s N a t u r a l l y R a d i o a c t i v e E l e m e n t s

9 2 9 3 9 4 9 5 9 6 9 7 9 8 9 9 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 3

C s B a ( L n ) H f T a W R e O s I r P t A u H g T l P b B i P o A t R n

F r R a ( A n ) R f D b S g B h H s M t 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 4 1 1 6 1 1 8

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