The Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee (NERAC) met yesterday in Arlington, Va. and approved a recommendation from three members of its panel regarding funding for nuclear reactors on college campuses. This task force’s report recommended that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) give $250,000 to Cornell’s Ward Center for Nuclear Studies and to reactors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan.
“The recommendations are for DOE to grant $250,000 to each of the three university reactors in the short term; schedule a workshop later this summer with university administration officials to discuss goals and functions of the regional research and teaching centers; and forcefully push for long-term funding for these and other university reactors,” according to Herbert Fontecilla ’66 who attended the open meeting.
Despite this possible new source for funding, some professors and administrators worry that the University will announce that it will shut down the reactor before the end of the year.
President Hunter R. Rawlings III and Provost Biddy (Carolyn A.) Martin are scheduled to meet with Prof. Kenan