Volume 7, Number 2
December 2009

University of Michigan Student Chapter Highlights

By Eric Miller
INMM University of Michigan Student Chapter President

We are working our way through our second year here as an INMM student chapter at the University of Michigan. With the help of our faculty advisors Sara Pozzi, Marek Flaska, and Shaun Clarke we continue to have an active student organization with a loyal group of interested students.

Already this year we have had presentations from four speakers. Professor Pozzi gave a presentation, "History of the Discovery of Fission to Today's Challenges in Safeguarding Nuclear Materials," that outlined the historical development of the safeguards problem while also stressing the contributions of women to the development of nuclear science.

Dr. Alan Icenhour from Oak Ridge National Lab presented "Overview of Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation Programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory." This talk showcased the research and opportunities for students at the lab.

A special double-header seminar event was also arranged with Dr. Brian Boyer and Dr. Robert Mayo. Dr. Boyer gave a presentation on "Uranium Enrichment: A Short History of Theory, Production Plants, and Safeguards," which gave an excellent overview of the development of enrichment technology and also outlined the current developments and new technologies that are currently being deployed and investigated for large scale enrichment. 

Dr. Mayo presented on "Overview and Opportunities is Radiation Detection for National Security." This presentation outlined the career opportunities for students at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and also outlined some of the research projects and capabilities of the lab.

Picture taken at the November 18, 2009, meeting of the University of Michigan Student Chapter Meeting From left: Jennifer Dolan, Dr. Boyer, Dr. Mayo, Eric Miller, Amber Donley

This year we were also able to have two students present at the Central Chapter Meeting, both placed in the student paper competition, Jennifer Dolan received first place and Eric Miller received second. Also at this meeting Professor Pozzi received a well deserved Special Service Award for her work in helping to establish the University of Michigan Student chapter.

Central Chapter Meeting student paper competition winners. From left Eric Miller, Teressa McKinney, Jennifer Dolan and Terrance McGuire

We are always interested in recruiting speakers to come to our meetings, so if you are willing to brave the Michigan winters, please let us know!

The Executive Committee for the Student Chapter at the University of Michigan:

President: Eric Miller
Vice-President: Jennifer Dolan
Treasurer/Secretary: Patricia Schuster
Publicity: David Genevich
Communications: Amber Donley
UMEC: Cameron Bates