Equipment failure, nuclear meltdown and release of radioactive material as a result of the Japan earthquake brought worldwide criticism for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster. This steered the world back to the age-old debate on the benefits of nuclear technology.
Many international bodies advocated closing down nuclear plants. But everything has its advantages and nuclear debates brought to light the many benefits of developing nuclear energy. A world with more energy and less carbon emission, no electricity problems and better medical facilities, the advantages are clearly more.
Studying radioactive materials and radiation and learning how to use them in areas such as power and nuclear medicine forms the basis of nuclear engineering.
"India has no choice but to go in for nuclear energy in a big way. Renewable energy has to be encouraged to the maximum possible and there has to be a focus on the importance of nuclear energy to meet the country's requirement in the future. Students should be encouraged to develop a career in this field," explains Suhas Sukhatme, former Chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Government of India.
Nuclear engineering encompasses areas of the research, development, and application of nuclear energy and power plants. It also involves the handling of nuclear fuels and the safe disposal of radioactive wastes.
"Students interested in this field should have reasonable mathematical background and some technical programming skills. A B. Tech. or an M.Sc. degree is the basic educational qualification I would recommend to students who want to specialise in this field," explains Prabhat Munshi, Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering and Technology, IIT, Kanpur.
At present, nuclear engineering is studied as a specialisation and is offered at the postgraduate level. "A sound foundation in mathematics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer and a keenness for research are necessary," says Kannan Iyer, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT, Bombay.
The opportunities
Job opportunities range from those at nuclear plants and government organisations to those in private firms. Fellowships are offered from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board in India. The salary package ranges from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 7 lakh per annum.
Top institutes
• Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, www.iitk.ac.in
• Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, www.xlri.ac.in
• Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, www.iitb.ac.in
• Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, www.saha.ac.in
Reproduced From India Today. © 2011. LMIL. All rights reserved.
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