New Mexico Nuclear Tours: A Step Forward to Education and Capacity Building
Philip Goodell4 , Fares M. Howari2, Abdelaty Salman3, Abdulali M. Sadiq4
1Department of Geology, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968, [email protected]; 2Environmental Science Program, College of Arts and Science, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. 4901 East University, Odessa, Texas 79762, [email protected] or [email protected]; 3Former Chairman, Nuclear Materials Authority and consultant, Cairo, Egypt.
4Chemistry & Earth Sciences Department, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University,
P O Box 2713
Abstract
The State of New Mexico is located in the southwestern part of the United States of America it was one of the last states to be formed from the western frontier of the US. Several American Indian tribes occupied the region, followed by Spanish conquest, and US ownership resulting from a war with Mexico. More recently the region was settled by ranchers, cowboys, farmers, miners, and city folk. It is a land of diversity of people and of natural features with much natural beauty. Artists have long been attracted to the region for inspiration, and also settled. Today modern cities thrive and include advanced research centers and university action in many topics of science and engineering, including alternative energy.
With respect to nuclear issues, New Mexico is the Birthplace of the Nuclear Age. It was here, during World War 2, that the first two nuclear devices were invented, constructed and tested, with the help of numerous other government labs across the country. Subsequently, the Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories grew to be premier research and development sites in nuclear and military technology. They have helped propel the University of New Mexico to a Tier 1 status. Geologically, uranium ores were first discovered in New Mexico in 1947 near Grants, N.M. That region quickly became the uranium production capital of the United States, and the Grants region maintained this status into the 1990s. Today, it is under active exploration.
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle is that concept of all the related activities of nuclear energy, from the exploration for and discovery of uranium ores, through their processing, enrichment, manufacture of fuel rods, construction and safety of nuclear power plants, to the reprocessing of the ‘spent fuel’, and ultimately to the burial of radioactive waste. With respect to New Mexico, almost all parts of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle take place here, some in a unique way. Non-commercial waste is today successfully being buried is ancient salt beds at the WIPP site. The Trinity Site is where the world’s first nuclear device was engaged. Los Alamos was the town where the inventors lived and worked, and today it is a thriving research laboratory, and it has a great nuclear museum. Many books have been published about those days.
With the realization that New Mexico is the home of so many unique nuclear features, the idea of Nuclear New Mexico Tours was born. Why not share these experiences? The nuclear renaissance means many things, and with our increasing use of nuclear energy, more people are interested in the history of nuclear energy. That takes them straight to New Mexico. Nuclear New Mexico Tours can introduce the nuclear history of New Mexico. This work will demonstrate the various US-based trip options and short courses that can be tailored to fit the interest of wide varieties of nuclear fuel cycle professionals.
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