Goddard Named Second TAMU-NE Recipient of Post Foundation Scholarship

Braden Goddard, a doctoral student at Texas A&M University working in the Department of Nuclear Engineering's Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI), is the second TAMU NE student to be chosen to receive a $5000 scholarship from the Roy G. Post Foundation on March 9th 2010 at the Waste Management 2010 (WM2010) Awards Luncheon to be held in Phoenix, AZ. Goddard received his B.S. and M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University and is currently working with Dr. Charlton on a research project to quantitatively verify the mass of a multi-actinide mixture using non-destructive methods. The Roy G. Post Foundation (named after a former Arizona Professor) was created to support students and encourage them to enter the field of Nuclear Waste Management.

Stripling Chosen to Receive Roy G. Post Foundation Scholarship

Hayes Stripling, a first-year graduate student and a DOE Computational Fellow in the Texas A&M Nuclear Engineering Department, has been chosen to receive a $5000 scholarship from the Post Foundation on March 9th 2010 at the Waste Management 2010 (WM2010) Awards Luncheon to be held in Phoenix, AZ. Stripling received his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M in May of 2009, and he is currently working with Dr. Marvin Adams on research related to Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) in scientific computing. The Roy G. Post Foundation (named after a former Arizona Professor) was created to support students and encourage them to enter the field of Nuclear Waste Management.

TAMU-NE Students Attend Short Course on NDA Applications for International Safeguards at ORNL

From November 16-20, 2009, a group of Texas A&M NE students and instructors, along with students from the Bush School, participated in a Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) Applications for International Safeguards Short Course at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

Students from NUEN 605 (Radiation Detection and Nuclear Materials Measurements) and NUEN 650 (Nuclear Nonproliferation and Arms Control) learned about applied nondestructive assay measurement techniques in nuclear material safeguards, discussed nonproliferation issues with NSSPI and ORNL staff, and gained first-hand experience in measuring special nuclear material using state-of-the-art technologies. This was the first course to incorporate both nuclear engineering students and international affairs students from the Bush School of Government Affairs and Public Policy. The dialogue between students added to the experience at ORNL when discussing applications of such safeguards measurement techniques.

In addition to the course, all students visited unique ORNL facilities such as the Spallation Neutron Source and the X-10 Graphite Reactor, as well as visiting Canberra's high-purity germanium crystal growing facility and ORTEC-AMETEK's main manufacturing facility and germanium crystal growing facility.

See Photo Album from Course

TAMU ANS Student Chapter Helps Local Scouts with Merit Badge

On Saturday, October 24th, The Texas A&M Chapter of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) hosted local Boy Scout Troop 743 to help them complete the requirements for the Nuclear Science Merit Badge. ANS Scouting Coordinator, Wes Deason, organized and planned the event. Wes, a former Eagle Scout, was “excited to help ANS host its first merit badge workshop.”

Scouts spent their entire day at A&M learning about nuclear science. They learned about nuclear interactions, radiation, radiation safety, careers in nuclear science and engineering, and related topics. Scouts also toured the Nuclear Science Center (NSC), located close to campus. Scouts completed all of their requirements for the merit badge during the day-long event.

Texas A&M ANS plans to continue to host this event in the future, and bring in troops from across the state.

Pictured in photos: William Sames and Wes Deason with the troop in front of the Nuclear Science Center (left); Wes Deason teaching troop about nuclear science (right).

Dercher wins NEUP Fellowship

Andrew Dercher, a graduate student in the TAMU Nuclear Engineering Department, has been awarded a fellowship through the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy as part of their Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP). Dercher is currently working with Dr. Karen Vierow on improvements to the decay heat removal system for gas-cooled fast reactors. He is originally from Radnor, Pennsylvania and earned his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering at Penn State.

According to the Office of Nuclear Energy, "The scholarships and fellowships granted under the NEUP program will help to recruit and train the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers – a critical need as the nation moves toward greater use of nuclear energy to meet our energy needs and address the global climate crisis." In 2009, the NEUP program awarded 76 scholarships and 18 fellowships (approximately $2.9 million) to U.S. nuclear science and engineering students. The fellowship awarded to Dercher provides $150,000 over three years.

Also included in this award announcement were three undergraduate scholarship recipients from Nuclear Engineering: Michael Hackemack, Jesse Johns, and William Sames. Each will receive a one-year award of $5000.

William Charlton To Present Science Café Tonight

Dr. William Charlton, Associate Professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering, will speak on "Nuclear Power and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation" on the October Science Cafe session to be held at 7 p.m. today (Oct. 20) at Revolution Cafe & Bar (downtown Bryan). Science Cafe started in Fall 2007, as an effort to bring science back to the public.

Wagoner Awarded HPS Fellowship

David Wagoner, a 2nd year Health Physics Masters student in the department, has recently been awarded the 2009-2010 HPS Robert Gardner Fellowship. This fellowship was established by Catherine C. Gardner and is sponsored jointly by the Gardner Fund and by the Health Physics Society. The award includes $5000 in support and a travel grant to attend the 2010 HPS Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Wagoner is currently working with Dr. Braby in investigating low-energy photon quality factors. He is originally from Charleston, SC , and has a B.S. from Frances Marion University.