THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCE A History The University of Michigan Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences A History James Duderstadt (with the assistance of the NERS Faculty) © 2018 The Millennium Project, The University of Michigan All rights reserved. The Millennium Project The University of Michigan 2001 Duderstadt Center 2281 Bonisteel Boulevard Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2094 http://milproj.dc.umich.edu i Preface This book is intended as a history of the Department History for the current year (2018) has been drawn of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences in large part from long-range planning documents (NERS) — its faculty, students, staff, educational and prepared by the faculty for a recent accreditation review. research programs and its impact. The stories, images As the “scribe” for gathering these contributions and data contained in the following pages document for this history document, I would like to particularly this remarkable history and influence over the past 70 acknowledge the admiration I have had for the years, during which time the Department has ranked Department over almost half a century of my association among the top programs in nuclear science and with it as a faculty member, colleague, and, today, “a engineering in the world. next-door neighbor” on North Campus. It is my hope Historical narratives have been provided by that this history accurately captures and conveys the students and faculty members over the years. Much remarkable impact its outstanding faculty, students, of the recent data concerning the Department was graduates and staff have had on the nation and the gathered by writer Kim Roth in her draft of a new entry world during its long and distinguished history. for the University of Michigan’s Encyclopedic Survey prepared for the University’s Bicentennial in 2017. That work helped inspire this broader history. James J. Duderstadt Thanks are also due to Anne Duderstadt for assisting University of Michigan in the design and final editing of the book. 2018 James Duderstadt lecturing on the history of the NERS Department ii Table of Contents New Leadership Educational Advancements Preface i Growth of the Department A Tragic Decision Chapter 1: The Dawn of the Nuclear Age 1 CASL 50th Anniversary of the Department The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project Early Years Chapter 8: 2010s: Leadership for the Nation 80 Early Achievements New Faculty Chapter 2: The 1950s: NE Department Creation 10 New Facilities Expansion Scholarships and Fellowships Early Courses International Activities The Deaprtment of Nuclear Engineering The Nuclear Engineering Laboratory The North Campus Faculty and Student Awards and Honors A Final Salute to the Future Chapter 3: The 1960s: Too Cheap to Meter 18 Chapter 9: The NERS Department Today 94 Graduate Education Research Activities Instructional Activities The Transition Research Activities What’s in a Name? Sustainable Energy Nuclear Security and Defense Chapter 4: The 1970s: Rising to Leadership 32 Environment and Health Futures Thrust Areas Enabling Scientific Discovery The Department Moves into New Quarters Meeting the Challenges of the Future Activities in the 1970s Fun and Games Appendix A: The History of U.S. Atomic Energy 115 The North Campus Move: A Beginning Appendix B: The Future of U.S. Nuclear Power 125 A New Chairman Appendix C: Phoenix Memorial Energy Institute 128 Appendix D: Faculty Honors and Awards 133 Chapter 5: The 1980s: A Maturing Program 43 Appendix E: Faculty Publications 139 Appendix F: 50 Year Department History 141 Activities during the 1980s New Faculty during the 1980s And a Loss..Well, Almost... The North Campus Move: Finally Completed Chapter 6: 1990s: Global Challenges 58 Activities during the 1990s New Faculty during the 1990s NERAC Chapter 7: 2000s: Into the New Millennium 65 1 Chapter 1 The Dawn of the Nuclear Age: The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project For over half a century, University of Michigan Library.) But, the WW II veterans in student leadership programs in nuclear science and engineering have came up with their own concept and persuaded the provided national and global leadership, first through Regents to do something quite unique and lasting. the research programs of the Michigan Memorial Since the extraordinary destructive power of Phoenix Project and later through the educational and the atomic bomb had ended the war with Japan, research activities of the faculty and students in the where many of our veterans had served, the students Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological recommended that the University create a permanent Sciences (NERS). institute that would both conduct research and teaching on the peaceful uses of atomic energy. As a symbol, they The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project selected the phoenix, the mythological bird that was consumed by fire every 500 years and arose revitalized One of the most significant initiatives of the from the ashes. The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project University of Michigan following World War II was thus would symbolize the growth of the benevolent the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project, a major atom from the flames of war. nuclear research program established by the University In May 1948, the Regents adopted a resolution that and funded by private gifts as a memorial to the 579 “the University of Michigan create a War Memorial members of the University family who had given their Center to explore the ways and means by which the lives to the nation during the war. potentialities of atomic energy may become a beneficent The University’s enrollment grew rapidly after the influence in the life of man, to be known as the Phoenix war ended as returning veterans, particularly from Project of the University of Michigan.” the Pacific Theater, took advantage of the GI Bill. It is important to recognize just how bold this effort These students were determined that any University was. At the time, the program’s goals sounded highly memorial to honor those who had made the supreme idealistic. Atomic energy was under government sacrifice for their country would not be “a mound of monopoly, and it appeared to be an extremely dangerous stone the purpose of which might soon be forgotten,” force with which to work on a college campus. The according to a December 1950 The Michigan Technic Phoenix Project was the first university attempt in the history of the Phoenix Project. Instead, the students world to explore the peaceful uses of atomic energy, at encouraged the University to create something that a time when much of the technology was still highly would aid in creating a war-free world for all mankind. classified. As reported in the December 1950 issue of The University sent letters to many world leaders — The Michigan Technic, University President Alexander Winston Churchill, Bertrand Russell, President Truman, Ruthven called the Phoenix project “the most important and others — seeking advice. (It is interesting to read undertaking in the University’s history.” their responses, which are archived in the Bentley 2 President Ruthven gave a particularly moving The Michigan Technic in December 1950: “Few causes address on Memorial Day 1948: are more urgent today and more noteworthy of your support. In war or in peace, the atomic research being It is traditional with the people of our nation to pay eternal done at the University of Michigan...will strengthen tribute to their hero dead. Through countless communities America...” Little wonder that the project received the monuments of five major wars stand as reminders of their worldwide attention during those early years. sacrifice and heroism. But it has been one of the frustrations of man that no monument of his making can ever match The Early Years of the the courage and conviction of those who made the supreme Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project sacrifice. Can there be a fitting memorial for the war dead? Can there be a fitting memorial for the heroes of the war that In the early 1950s, the Michigan Memorial Phoenix produced the atom bomb? Project launched a fundraising campaign under the There is only one appropriate kind of war memorial — a leadership of University President Alexander Ruthven memorial that will eliminate future war memorials. and Albert Lang, president of the General Electric We at the University of Michigan believe this is possible. Company. The fundraising committee also included Our students, alumni and faculty members have conceived, three students who were all veterans of World War under the name Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project, a war II. The Phoenix Campaign quickly grew into a well- monument that may well point the way to the elimination of organized national effort that raised $6.5 million for a wars. research building, a research endowment and, thanks The Phoenix Project proposes to turn a weapon of war to a $1 million gift from the Ford Motor Company, a into a potent instrumentality of peace. It proposes to do nuclear reactor, named the Ford Nuclear Reactor. Built research with atomic tools solely in the interest of man’s well- on the University of Michigan North Campus, the being. Through it a leading American university will send reactor was the third research reactor in the United forth great scientists, engineers and other scholars, and will States. It went critical in 1957 and operated 24 hours a open vast physical resources in an effort to turn the atom day for the next 50 years. into pathways of peace. Here doctors, chemists, biologists Eventually the Phoenix Project would obtain over and others will seek cures for “incurable” diseases; engineers $20 million (amounting to more than $200 million in will convert new knowledge into methods of better living; today’s dollars) from private, corporate and foundation social scientists will attempt to evaluate and chart the social, sources. Over 30,000 alumni and 350 firms participated, economic and cultural implications of the atomic age.