January 10, 2005

NC State to Get Research Center of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering

 — $4.8 billion Idaho National Laboratory initiative benefits consortium of universities, including NC State

The Department of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University, long considered one of the best nuclear engineering departments in the nation, is expected to get a research center of excellence and other benefits as part of a $4.8 billion, 10-year US Department of Energy project to establish the Idaho National Laboratory. NC State is part of a multi-university consortium that will work with Battelle Energy Alliance, a nonprofit management organization chosen to manage the development of the new laboratory.

As part of the initiative, each participating university will receive funding to support a research center of excellence, additional faculty members and travel for students and researchers. The research at NC State will be concerned with modeling advanced nuclear reactors and their associated fuel cycles — an important area for developing future energy sources in a safe and environmentally acceptable fashion. The consortium consists of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of New Mexico, NC State, Ohio State University, Oregon State University and a collaboration of Idaho State University, Boise State University and the University of Idaho. Member institutions will share a seat on the board of directors of the Idaho National Laboratory.

The new laboratory will be created by combining the research and development components of the previous Argonne National Laboratory West and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. The resulting Idaho National Laboratory will be the nation’s premier laboratory for nuclear energy research, development and education.

“Our role in establishing the Idaho National Laboratory underscores the importance of NC State’s Department of Nuclear Engineering,” said Dr. Paul Turinsky, professor and head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at NC State. “We have long been a leader in nuclear engineering research, and this alliance, along with our membership in the Multi-University Southeast INIE Consortium, will allow us to continue to be among the top nuclear engineering programs in the nation.”

“The association with Idaho National Laboratory will extend to other engineering and science departments at NC State such as environmental science and materials science,” explains Dr. John Gilligan, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies at NC State.

NC State was the first university in the nation to build a nuclear reactor for research and education purposes. The first reactor was constructed on the campus in 1953. The current PULSTAR reactor began operation in 1972.

— weston —

Media contacts:

Jennifer Weston, (919) 515-3848, weston@ncsu.edu

Dr. Paul Turinsky, (919) 515-5098, turinsky@eos.ncsu.edu

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