Education, Innovation, & Nuclear Power

As part of a series on struggles faced by educators of math and science, CNN highlights the image problem of science.

The article, details the difficulties involved with teaching hands-on science without the funding. Teachers in the article say that to combat the negative image of science hands-on activities are needed, but the money, if any, is coming from the teachers’ pockets.

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A group of engineering students from the University of Washington recently “won an international contest for their design to monitor water disinfection using the sun’s rays.”

Charlie Matlack, CA W ’04, is one of the team members from the winning group and is part of the nonprofit organization developing the technology. The system, an electronic monitor, blinks to indicate that the water is safe to drink. Read the full article here and visit their website at PotaVida

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An article in The Times Picayune discusses the nuclear power industry past, present, and potential future. “The industry went through a period of very stable work force and not much growth,” said Dr. Warren N. Waggenspack, Jr. (LA A ’80), associate dean for academic programs at Louisiana State University’s College of Engineering. “For a long time, there wasn’t much movement within the industry, and thus, not much hiring.”

Read the full article to find out why that has changed and nuclear energy could be a key alternative energy (to oil/gas) of the future.

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