TUCSON, ARIZ. – The Department of Energy today awarded the University of Arizona a $100,000 Nuclear Engineering Education Research grant to support nuclear energy technology education and infrastructure.

“This year’s grants continue an upward trend in support of education that has been a hallmark of this administration,” Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said. “The investment we make today in the education of a new generation of nuclear technology specialists will pay tremendous dividends in the future of this country.”

The 47 Nuclear Engineering Education Research grants will be awarded to 28 U.S. universities which will allow professors and students to conduct innovative and state-of-the-art nuclear engineering research. Of the total $5 million to be awarded, approximately $2.7 million is for 26 new awards in FY 2004 and $2.3 million for 21 continuing awards from prior years.

This award is one of $22 million in awards to 37 universities nationwide to support the development of a new generation of technical specialists that will serve the Nation’s requirements in areas such as energy, medicine, scientific research, national defense, nonproliferation, and environmental protection.

Additional information on this and other DOE nuclear science and engineering educational initiatives that are sponsored by the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology is available at www.nuclear.gov.

Media contact:  Hope Williams, 202/586-5806

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