Career prospects in ‘Beneficial applications of nuclear radiation’ were highlighted during the State-level Inter-Collegiate Quiz Competition - 2015 at Kongu Arts and Science College on Friday and Saturday as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations of Department of Atomic Energy.
An orientation at the start of the program by B. Venkatraman, Associate Director, Radiological Safety and Environment Group, IGCAR, Kalpakkam, focussed on the scope for B.Sc. qualified candidates in science streams and B.E. candidates to join Department of Atomic Energy as scientific assistants and those with M.Sc. to gain entry through an all-India examination for higher positions. The information benefited participants from 40 colleges in Erode, Namakkal, Salem and Tirupur districts that together constituted Zone-5.
The main focus of the programme that also included an exhibition of posters and models depicting activities of IGCAR and DAE was to create a general awareness on nuclear science and technology, its benefits, varied applications in society, and research and career prospects.
Questions for the zonal-level competition encompassing a preliminary written round, a semi-final round and finals were drawn from the topics: History of radiation and radioactivity - basic nuclear physics; basic nuclear chemistry; nuclear reactors and locations of nuclear installations around India; uses of ionising radiation in the fields of medicine, industries, and food irradiation; and general science.
The event organised jointly by the IGCAR, Indian Nuclear Society, Kalpakkam, and KASC witnessed enthusiastic participation.
Dr. Venkatraman, in a chat with mediapersons, detailed India’s progress in nuclear power generation and other applications, saying the country is ranked sixth in nuclear technological capability. Plant load factor in most of the generating units was above 80 per cent.
Supply of uranium by other countries will help India scale up nuclear energy production.
Meeting energy needs through supplementation of nuclear power generation was inevitable as India cannot continue with importing coal and oil at high costs, he said.
Private industries in India were manufacturing and exporting nuclear energy components. There was a plan to utilise huge thorium deposits in the country as fissile material to run nuclear plants in the third phase.
Allaying fears associated with nuclear plants, Dr. Venkatraman said those in the country was strong enough to withstand earthquake of the magnitude of six on richter scale.
In the Asian region alone, 100 nuclear reactors were under construction, he said.
