A UCB-Labs Joint Berkeley Nuclear Research Center
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: The projected expansion of nuclear energy around the world has created concerns within the arms control and nonproliferation communities, particularly considering the projected expansion needed for front and back end fuel cycle facilities. In the USA, the nuclear field has been sorely neglected for more than 25 years, both in terms of support for basic and applied research and support required to train the next generation of engineers and scientists in critical areas. With an aging workforce, the needs of the Labs in critical skills are rapidly increasing. Recently, the problem has been recognized by the U.S. DOE, DHS and NRC, which have begun programs to support research and educational activities between universities and national laboratories with the goal of conducting nuclear science research and providing cutting-edge laboratory experience for the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers. While the other universities has responded quickly and started rapid expansion of their nuclear programs, the UC system has been, up to now, slow in addressing these issues. In discussions over many months with the UC Berkeley faculty and numerous colleagues from the Labs, and after organizing one national and one international forum on nuclear technologies, several ideas crystallized on how to maintain strong ties between the UC and the Labs, and continue to be one of the major players in the important fields of energy independence and security, as well as nuclear security and non-proliferation. Establishment of a Berkeley Nuclear Research Center (BNRC), a UC Berkeley and national Laboratories nuclear research and policy center will harness their joint strengths in nuclear science, technology, and policy, in all key aspects of sustainable nuclear energy development. The BNRC contributions will be built on capabilities developed for core mission areas of the Labs – nuclear non-proliferation science and technology, threat reduction, nuclear energy security, basic science, and engineering and technologies critical to the nuclear field. In recognition of the global nature of these issues, the BNRC will create an environment for open and timely discussion of challenges and opportunities related to the domestic and international expansion of nuclear energy. Establishing this Center in a university environment will allow the Lab scientists to pursue collaborative basic and applied nuclear research with a broad participation and representation from across industry, academia, other national laboratories and government agencies, including international research collaboration particularly from Asia-Pacific countries. The existence of the Center will simplify exchange and collaboration among faculty, Lab researchers, and increase participation by graduate students and international partners. The BNRC will: (1) Provide strategic insight, science and engineering leadership, and research and development results to positively impact issues in the areas of nuclear energy, nuclear waste repositories and environmental impact, nuclear regulation and non-proliferation. (2) Provide an environment for research into the issues necessary to support the next generation of sustainable, safe, secure and economical nuclear technology, and influence the long term national policy in nuclear science and technology. This center will help identify a broad suite of R&amp;D activities that would be enabled by strong collaboration between the UC and the national labs. (3) Provide a unique educational opportunity for young scientists and engineers in critical nuclear skills, and expand graduate student research support and training through access to cutting edge national laboratory computational and experimental facilities, and interactions with national security experts at the labs. (4) Convene forums, workshops, seminars, and other activities and facilitate international research collaborations, particularly with Asia-Pacific countries. (5) Develop roadmaps for possible state, national or international initiatives, and bring new extramural funding to UC. The BNRC is envisioned as a team of scientists, postdoctoral researchers, engineers, students, and supporting staff. Individual teams will also be assembled to respond to each of the strategic and tactical objectives and/or tasks. Day-to-day operations would be managed by a Director, and up to four Associate Directors on a part-time basis, with the purpose being to oversee and provide direction for the Center. The Lab researchers will be able to spend extended periods at UCB (several week