Anne Rice

From technologists to engineers, radiologists to doctors of nuclear medicine, there are many exciting and challenging fields associated with careers in nuclear science. As we observe National Nuclear Science Week, local educators - working with the SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO) - are underscoring to their students the multitude of nuclear-related job opportunities that loom on the horizon in our region over the next decade.

From an in-depth nuclear workforce survey, conducted by the SRSCRO, we learned that nearly 10,000 new nuclear jobs are possible over the next decade due to commercial industry growth, retirements and attrition. The survey involved eight regional nuclear employers associated with the Savannah River Site and commercial generation of electricity.

Local nuclear industry jobs range from chemists to computer engineers, plant operators, sheet metal workers, health physics technicians, heavy equipment operators and laborers. Each job offers a long-term career with good pay but they also require special training. For those prepared with the right skills, these jobs are real and available to young people and even experienced workers in our area whether they come from a rural or urban setting in our region.

A majority of these jobs are not "today's jobs" and should not be seen as a quick fix in response to current economic conditions. However, these jobs will gradually become part of our future economic fabric based on the projected growth of the nuclear industry in our region. And, for the most part, they will be filled by individuals who are in middle school and high school today.

Many young people are not familiar with nuclear job opportunities or the training programs available locally. That is why the SRSCRO, through its Nuclear Workforce Initiative (NWI�), is proactively working together with regional private and governmental employers and educational institutions to work as partners in preparing for the addition of thousands of new nuclear workers over the next ten years.

The SRSCRO is sponsoring development of four Virtual Job Shadows that focus on nuclear industry jobs. The interactive modules are professionally developed by Microburst Learning and teach students about nuclear career fields, pay scales, training required and the real-life work world. The new nuclear modules focus on nuclear technicians, nuclear construction, nuclear medicine and nuclear technology research.

As each module is completed, it will be available in South Carolina through the SC Personal Pathways to Success program www.scpathways.org. (Registration and login is required, and South Carolina students already have this information. In South Carolina, adults can view the virtual job shadows by clicking on the adult tab and creating a new user account.) For Georgia residents, a link from the SRSCRO website www.srscro.org will provide access. Information about Virtual Job Shadows can also be found at www.nwinitiative.org.

Today's students have many opportunities to look forward to in our region and to become part of the well-trained workforce our community needs. But they must be prepared. Students must begin early to establish strong math and science skills and an understanding of prosperous careers they may enjoy. The new nuclear job shadow modules provide an excellent way to explore the nuclear industry in our region.

[The author, Anne Rice, is Director of the Leadership Center at USC Salkehatchie and serves as Treasurer of the SRS Community Reuse Organization Board of Directors.]