February 27, 2003

Nuclear Science Now Included in High School Curriculum

— North Carolina Secondary Teachers Attend College of Engineering Workshop

No longer do high school students study just classical chemistry and physics. Now the prescribed curriculum in North Carolina includes topics such as nuclear science.

Too complex for high school students? Not so, according to Lisa Marshall, director of outreach programs for the Department of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University. “The science textbook contains general information, and we’re working to supplement that, to give students more hands-on material that can be used in the classroom setting,” she said.

Simple nuclear engineering experiments using Geiger counters and a safe radioactive source have been designed by the American Nuclear Society, which provides literature and equipment for the day-long teacher workshop Marshall and Dr. Mohamed A. Bourham, professor and undergraduate administrator of nuclear engineering at NC State, are conducting.  The Science Teachers’ Workshop on Nuclear Science Applications is proving increasingly popular with teachers who want to increase their knowledge of and comfort level with nuclear engineering.

The workshop, which will be held on Friday, March 7, this year, combines lectures about radiation sources, nuclear reactions, radiation detection and biological effects.  Teachers also learn how to use a Geiger counter and how to perform a simple experiment.  Each teacher will receive continuing education credit, a certificate of attendance and materials — Geiger counters, batteries, a radioactive source safe for classroom use and a teacher handbook — provided by the American Nuclear Society.

Beyond helping teachers learn to teach a nuclear science unit, the workshop has a more esoteric benefit. According to Marshall, “When teachers are comfortable and familiar with the nuclear engineering material, they pass their enthusiasm on to students by encouraging them to consider nuclear engineering as a career.” Teachers learn about NC State’s Young Investigators’ Summer Program in Nuclear Technology and its Applications, and they can recommend students for this three-week introductory experience at NC State.

So far the Teacher’s Workshop is introductory, but Marshall hopes to expand the program to a three-tier format in the future.  “We’d like to have introductory, intermediate and advanced presentations so teachers can get more exposure to the material,” she said.

For information about the Teacher’s Workshop, contact Marshall at 919-515-5876 or lisa.marshall@ncsu.edu or Bourham at 919-515-7662 or bourham@ncsu.edu.

— rudd —

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