(552e) New Nuclear Forensics Education Program and Research At the University of Utah

To enhance sustainable viability for nuclear forensics related disciplines, such as analytical, geological and radio chemistry, nuclear physics and engineering, the University of Utah Nuclear Engineering Program in collaboration with the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Civil and Environmental Engineering, is establishing an interdisciplinary academic program to support and advance education in the field of nuclear forensics science, technologies and methodologies. Specifically, a new nuclear forensics graduate program track will be offered at the University of Utah. New courses will be developed as a synergy between various disciplines and related to the existing or planned research pertaining to nuclear forensics. As such, this new graduate program will represent the first academic nuclear forensics education in State of Utah. Development of the education program in nuclear forensics is directly connected to new research trusts pertaining to: computational nuclear forensics, radio-analytical chemistry, illicit trafficking of nuclear materials, nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear research reactors data base development & analysis for incidents involving nuclear materials and nuclear fuel trafficking.