2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

There are almost 4,000 post-secondary degree-granting institutions, commonly known as colleges or universities, in the United States. However, only 24 of them have a university research reactor. To allow greater access to these resources, the Department of Energy has funded reactor sharing and outreach awards to universities with existing nuclear research reactors to support sharing of resources and facilities with educational institutions that lack access to research reactors. NAME OF AUTHOR’S UNIVERSITY was the recipient of one of these awards, which has facilitated the development of a multi-institution reactor sharing program.

The program aims to expand hands-on access to nuclear science and engineering and promotes nuclear energy curriculum and instruction. The program has three primary thrust areas: higher education institutions, pre-collegiate (K-12) teacher workshops and tours, and public engagement through youth organizations. This paper focuses on the higher education institution thrust area.

The program targeted universities with current nuclear-related research and education efforts that could be enhanced by access to a nuclear reactor and associated resources. Three partner institutions were selected: UNIVERSITY 1, UNIVERSITY 2, and UNIVERSITY 3. To enhance their research and education capabilities, we designed tailored multi-day experiences on campus, with a focus on experiential activities at the nuclear reactor. These activities included nuclear reactor operations, radiation safety procedures, and experiments, such as approach to criticality, blade worth measurements, neutron activation analysis, and neutron radiography. To provide a comprehensive learning experience, these experiential activities were supported by educational presentations, facility tours, and hands-on activities related to the broader nuclear engineering field.

Through this program, partner institutions were able to conduct experimental campaigns at the reactor, gathering preliminary data for future funding opportunities. For example, UNIVERSITY 1 had developed a neutron detector prototype and needed to test it using a neutron source. We were able to conduct a proof-of-concept test using a Californium-252 source, which UNIVERSITY 1 would be unable to acquire on their own due to nuclear materials licensing restrictions. UNIVERSITY 2 utilized Boston Dynamics SPOT robot equipped with a radiation detector and LIDAR scanner to collect radiation measurement data with high spatial fidelity while the reactor was operating.

Feedback from participants in the program has been overwhelmingly positive. Pre- and post-program surveys indicate increased knowledge of nuclear engineering topics as well as a better understanding of the capabilities of research reactors. Additionally, participants reported increased consideration of nuclear engineering and related fields as potential graduate school and career opportunities. Overall, this program offers a replicable framework for universities with research reactors to extend experiential nuclear engineering activities to other institutions, promoting the development of the next generation of the nuclear workforce.