The program aims to elevate the research interests in fusion energy science and nuclear engineering from minority groups, create the training pipeline to develop diverse workforce in science and engineering, and support the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to increase the success of students from underrepresented communities.

The camp was led by Nuclear Engineering Associate Professor Dr. Xiaoyuan Lou, and backed by the Head of Nuclear Engineering Dr. Seungjin Kim.  Tremendous support from nuclear engineering faculty and staff ensured the success of this program, involving Reactor Supervisor True Miller, Prof. Chan Choi, Prof. Ahmed Hassanein, Prof. Allen Garner, Prof. Mamoru Ishii, Electronics Technician Brian Jowers, and Administrative Assistant Teresa Luse.  Students and Post-doc researchers in Nuclear Engineering, Dr. Yang Zhao, Chloe Yoder, Dr. Jitendra Tripathi, Lorin Breen, Alexander Baker, Richards William, Evan Mcdermott, gave memorable lectures and facility tours.  

Lectures were given by faculties and students, covering a variety topics of radiation effects, fusion energy introduction, fusion energy materials, plasma physics, reactor physics, detector basics, nuclear materials, and reactor structure/manufacturing.  Besides a series of high-quality lectures on fusion and fission energy science and engineering, students had opportunities to tour the PUMA (Purdue University Multi-dimensional Integral Test Assembly) facility and PUR-1 research reactor on campus, and Nuclear Engineering Radiation Laboratory where they conducted fun experiments.

Thanks to the generosity from Clinton Nuclear Power Plant located in Clinton, IL, students took a field trip on the last day of the camp to Clinton plant and experienced the massive scale of commercial nuclear reactor.