WRITTEN BY CASEY BERNARD
This spring, for the first time in more than 30 years, a select few Maine Maritime Academy engineering students will graduate with a minor in nuclear engineering. For decades the only reminder of the nuclear engineering program at MMA was the atomic symbol on a bronze plaque in front of Andrew’s Hall where engineering classes are held. The minor was part of the engineering curriculum through the 1980s, but when the national nuclear industry saw a decline due to the focus on inexpensive fossil fuels and renewable energy in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, interest waned and the minor was disbanded.
In the early 2000s, engineering department staff members were having conversations about bringing the nuclear engineering offering back as awareness of climate issues and the need for finding sources of clean energy grew. But, it wasn’t until the end of 2022 that Dr. Paul Wlodkowski, professor of engineering, approached Jerry Paul, the president of the academy at the time, to discuss the opportunity for bringing the coursework back to MMA. Paul was a 1989 graduate with a minor in nuclear engineering himself and worked for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. He recognized the opportunity for the school and by January 2023, Wlodkowski became chair of a working group to begin designing the course plan. Wlodkowski met with former nuclear engineering faculty and those who had industry experience. By the fall of 2023, students were able to select nuclear as their minor in engineering. Currently, 15 students are enrolled, with 11 seniors due to graduate with the minor this spring.
Among the six maritime academies in the United States, MMA is currently the only one offering a minor in nuclear engineering.
“MMA has the right stuff to make this happen,” Wlodkowksi said. “Nuclear is a natural extension of MMA’s steam curriculum.”
According to Wlodkowski, maritime nuclear is a burgeoning field. Compact nuclear reactors that work like a long-term battery could replace current diesel generators. These 4th generation nuclear reactors take up less space allowing for more cargo and, because the waste from nuclear reactors can be recycled and is carbon-free, ships can go much faster than ships that are forced to move slowly in order to conserve the amount of fossil fuels they burn. The U.S. Navy currently uses nuclear energy in submarines, aircraft carriers, and other ships in its fleet. Graduates with experience in nuclear engineering could have a future career working on ships that use nuclear reactors for propulsion.
Students minoring in nuclear engineering at MMA would not be limited to careers in maritime nuclear. Other opportunities include careers working in nuclear medicine and land-based nuclear energy plants or desalination plants. There is a current movement in the industry for exploring ways to use nuclear power for running data centers, especially for AI that requires a significant amount of energy to generate results.
The coursework for the minor in nuclear engineering is rigorous. Students have to have a strong understanding of atom physics as well as understand issues of safety and government policy. Educating the public about the safety and use-cases for nuclear energy could be a career path for students as well. Interest in the minor is strong among the students. In the first semester offering the minor, there were more students wishing to take the first course than spots available.
Wlodkowski, who represented MMA on a panel discussion on maritime nuclear energy at the American Nuclear Society Conference, said the minor in nuclear engineering is a way for MMA to lead the way in shaping the mariner of the future and to be leaders in tackling the climate crisis. He also sees opportunities for the state of Maine to become a potential location for nuclear-powered data centers. As a clean energy solution to reduce carbon emissions, he said, “You cannot go carbon-free without nuclear energy.”
