Happy 120th Anniversary
2020 may be remembered as the year that has brought us challenges that hamper the basic quality of our lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way we live, and we find ourselves yet again struggling for racial equity, which calls for common sense in valuing fundamental human rights in a civilized society. As nuclear engineers, we know how to overcome challenges. In fact, we turn difficult situations into opportunities for growth. As we start the Fall semester of 2020, we remind ourselves that we will do exactly that.
In the wake of the digital revolution, Purdue Nuclear Engineering has led the transformation toward intelligent energy systems by attaining the nation’s first U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission license for an entirely digital nuclear reactor instrumentation and control system for Purdue University Reactor One (PUR-1). The ramification of this achievement is enormous, as it paves the way for new capabilities within the nuclear sector and will benefit both existing nuclear fleets and future advanced reactor concepts. PUR-1, together with Purdue University Multidimensional Integral Test Assembly (PUMA) – the unique scaled replica of an advanced light water reactor – serve as a cyber-physical testbed for a comprehensive balance-of-plant system, providing valuable digital fingerprints of any anomalies during normal and off-normal conditions.
Our distinguished faculty strive to expand the frontier of knowledge by leading cutting-edge and innovative research, including projects to further advanced reactor concepts, such as the High Temperature Reactor, the Molten Salt Reactor, and the Versatile Test Reactor. Additionally, our faculty are at the forefront in applying artificial intelligence and deep learning (AI/DL) toward nuclear nonproliferation, as well as novel sensor development for nuclear materials monitoring and nuclear security. Through partnerships with our alumni and the nuclear industry, our faculty are also leading research in nuclear medicine, the medical isotope production reactor, and the Small Modular Reactor concept.
We live in a time of potentially the biggest challenges ever, brought about by climate change together with soaring energy demand that could present a significant threat to humanity unless properly addressed. With its rich history of excellence in nuclear power, world-renowned faculty members, and excellent students, the School of Nuclear Engineering continues to strive, and it provides the nation and the global nuclear engineering community with top-notch nuclear engineers who will embrace this challenge and provide solutions through clean, safe, reliable and resilient energy – namely nuclear energy.
Hail Purdue and Boiler Up for another 120 years and more!
Seungjin Kim
Capt. James McCarthy, Jr. and Cheryl E. McCarthy Head, and Professor
School of Nuclear Engineering
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