At any given time, dozens of studies are underway to address specific issues in Earth & Life Studies that will lead to reports. These studies range in scope and length: some rapidly address questions to meet immediate decision making needs (for example, one report on why New Orleans' levees failed in Hurricane Katrina was absolutely necessary before the next hurricane season), while others deal with broader or ongoing issues and can span a number of years (as in the case of an ongoing review of efforts to restore the Everglades).
An ad hoc committee will examine supply and demand for nuclear chemistry expertise in the US compared with the production of experts with these skills, and discuss possible approaches for ensuring adequate availability of these skills, including necessary training platforms. It will:
� Estimate the availability and need for experts with nuclear chemistry skills. Including:
���- The current and anticipated availability in 20 years of US experts (both type and number) with nuclear, radio, and radiation chemistry skills based on current education and training capabilities
���- The type and number of experts needed in the next 20 years. Include skills necessary to support areas including education, basic science, weapons, non-proliferation, nuclear forensic, medical, and energy sector needs. Estimate the number of these experts who must be US citizens.
� Estimate the gap between estimated availability and need, and discuss the impact of this gap on the relevant sectors.
� Suggest approaches that could be implemented to assure the US supply of experts is adequate for the next 20 years. In particular, discuss models for training that could provide the necessary cadre of reseachers with the appropriate skill set. In doing so the study will:
���- Describe the current availability of US training programs, and assess the capabilities of these programs.
���- Compare current US programs with training programs in other countries
���- Provide practical input to current programs and suggest new programs if necessary to meet the anticipated need. In particular, suggest models beyond the traditional apprenticeship model between university professor and graduate student
���- Provide others suggestions as applicable for addressing causes of the decline in capability and re-establishing the health and vitality of nuclear, radio- and radiation chemistry within the US.
Closed Session: Assuring a Future US-based Nuclear Chemistry Expertise - 02/14/11
Assuring a Future US-based Nuclear Chemistry Expertise - 03/16/11
Assuring a Future US-based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise: Public Briefing - 05/17/12
Assuring a Future US-based Nuclear Chemistry Expertise - 05/09/11
Hover over a stage to see its description below
Call for Nominations:
At this stage in the process, staff solicit an extensive number of suggestions for potential committee members from a wide range of sources, then recommend a slate of nominees.
To nominate a committee member, please write to Tina Masciangioli, tmasciangioli@nas.edu no later than 10/13/10
Committee Published:
The provisional committee list is posted for public comment in the Current Projects System on the Web.
Study committees typically gather information through: 1) meetings that are open to the public and that are announced in advance through the National Academies Web site; 2) the submission of information by outside parties; 3) reviews of the scientific literature, and 4) the investigations of the committee members and staff. In all cases, efforts are made to solicit input from individuals who have been directly involved in, or who have special knowledge of, the problem under consideration.
In accordance with federal law and with few exceptions, information-gathering meetings of the committee are open to the public, and any written materials provided to the committee by individuals who are not officials, agents, or employees of the National Academies are maintained in a public access file that is available for examination.
The committee deliberates in meetings closed to the public in order to develop draft findings and recommendations free from outside influences. The public is provided with brief summaries of these meetings that include the list of committee members present. All analyses and drafts of the report remain confidential.
A citizen liaison, who reports directly to the Executive Director and who is independent of project staff, can be reached at citizen@nas.edu or (800) 842-8813.
Primary Board:
Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology
Sponsor(s):
Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences; Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration; Department of Homeland Security; National Science Foundation
Collaborating Unit(s):
Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board
Policy and Global Affairs Division
Study Director:
Tina Masciangioli
Contact:
tmasciangioli@nas.edu
Expected Report Release:
Assuring a Future US-based Nuclear Chemistry Expertise:
Winter 2012