
BIG 12 ENGINEERING CONSORTIUM TACKLES WORK FORCE NEEDS: Providing enough engineers to fill the work force needs of nuclear energy facilities in the Midwest is a challenge facing colleges of engineering across the Big 12 Conference. At the second annual Summit of the Big 12 Engineering Consortium, Sept. 14-15 in Kansas City, Mo., nuclear industry leaders met with Big 12 engineering representatives to establish clear lines of communication with regard to nuclear work force needs.
UPGRADE TO K-STATE'S RESEARCH REACTOR EXPANDS POTENTIAL FOR RESEARCH, CREATES MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS: A power upgrade that will make Kansas State University's nuclear reactor the fifth highest-powered university reactor in the country is expanding the possibilities for researchers who work in areas like radiation detector testing, radiography and trace element analysis. photos
BIG 12 ENGINEERING CONSORTIUM MOVING AHEAD WITH ENROLLMENT AND DECEMBER MEETING OF DEANS: The Big 12 Engineering Consortium is laying the groundwork for a long-term academic partnership among the Big 12 Conference schools. Students can enroll on their own campuses to take fully online nuclear engineering courses from Kansas State University, Texas A&M University, University of Missouri and University of Texas.
K-STATE STUDENTS WORK TOWARD KEY LICENSING REQUIREMENT FOR NUCLEAR REACTOR OPERATION: Having a nuclear reactor on campus for education and research purposes means engineering students at Kansas State University not only get to study how an actual reactor works, they also can get the necessary training to become licensed nuclear reactor operators.
A RADIANT TURNAROUND: NUCLEAR
ENGINEERING STAGES A COMEBACK:
Nuclear engineering had become the "black hole" of the College of
Engineering.
Students weren't
the least interested in a nuclear career.
Facilities in Ward Hall
had become ever more costly to
maintain ... but
no more. In a job market that
is skyrocketing, students are coming back.
K-STATE 'POSTER CHILD' FOR SAFE OPERATION OF A UNIVERSITY NUCLEAR REACTOR: Since it began operation in 1962, K-State's nuclear reactor has not experienced a single accident of any type. University officials proudly hang their hats on that achievement.



Emergency drills or exercises are conducted annually to test emergency response for situations that might develop at the K-State reactor. Each drill or exercise is designed to meet specific objectives for emergency response as defined in the K-State Reactor Emergency Plan, and response is critically evaluated to find ways to improve response.
Every other year, the exercise is coordinated with Riley County Emergency Management for an integrated test with responding agencies such as the University Police Department, Riley County Emergency Medical Services and Riley County Police Department. Responding agencies also have objectives to be tested.
K-STATE PROFESSOR ASSISTS WAR ON TERROR WITH BOMB DETECTION RESEARCH: Bill Dunn, a K-State associate professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering, has been recruited by the Marines to develop a way to improve bomb detection without having to get in close proximity to suspicious containers such as cars, knapsacks, briefcases, etc., that may conceal explosives.
NUCLEAR REACTOR: HOW K-STATE KEEPS A VALUABLE RESEARCH TOOL SAFE
RESEARCH REACTOR INTEGRAL TO K-STATE'S NUCLEAR ENGINEERING PROGRAM
INFORMATION FROM THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT