Nuclear Science Advisory Committee Isotopes Subcommittee
The NSAC Isotopes Subcommittee was established in the Fall of 2008 by the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) to address charges from the Office of Nuclear Physics of the Department of Energy Office of Science:
Charge Letter from DOE Office of Nuclear Physics to NSAC
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 President's Request Budget proposes to transfer the Isotope Production Program from the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (http://www.ne.doe.gov/isotopes/neIsotopes2a.html to the Office of Science's Office of Nuclear Physics (http://www.sc.doe.gov/np) and rename it the Isotope Production and Applications Program. In preparation for this transfer, NSAC was requested to establish a standing committee, the NSAC Isotope (NSACI) sub-committee, to advise the DOE Office of Nuclear Physics on specific questions concerning the National Isotope Production and Applications (NIPA) Program. NSACI will be constituted for a period of two years as a subcommittee of NSAC. It will report to the DOE through NSAC who will consider its recommendations for approval and transmittal to the DOE.
Stable and radioactive isotopes play an important role in basic research and applied programs, and are vital to the mission of many Federal agencies. Hundreds of applications in medicine, industry, national security, defense and research depend on isotopes as essential components. The Subcommittee is asked (see Charge) to establish the priority of research isotope production and development, and to form of a strategic plan for the NIPA Program.
Membership of the Subcommittee
As a first step to assess the issues, the Office of Nuclear Physics of the DOE Office of Science and the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy jointly held the workshop, The Nation's Needs for Isotopes: Present and Future from August 5-7, 2008. The Workshop web site includes the plenary presentations and reports of the Workshop working group. The report of this workshop served as a starting point for the NSACI activities.
A selection of previous reports on isotope production can be found at http://www.sc.doe.gov/np/program/Isotope%20Reports.html.
The response to the first charge was accepted by NSAC and transmitted to DOE in April 2009. The report "Compelling Research Opportunities using Isotopes" and the NSAC letter of transmittal are available at the NSAC web page http://www.sc.doe.gov/np/nsac/nsac.html .
The response to the second charge was accepted by NSAC and transmitted to DOE in November 2009. The report "Isotopes for the Nation's Future" and the NSAC letter of transmittal are available at the NSAC web page http://www.sc.doe.gov/np/nsac/nsac.html .
Plan for action:
The Subcommittee plans to have five meetings:
November 13-14, 2008: (Agenda) Presentation of the charge and discussion of plan of action
December 15,16, 2008 : (Agenda) Receive input from Federal Agencies about priorities for isotope needs.
Location: Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Road, Behesda, MD 20852
(List of the Agencies contacted for input)
January 13-15, 2009: (Agenda) Receive input from professional societies and prepare draft priorities for the first NSAC Charge.
Location: Hilton Hotel, Washington DC North/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center
1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852.
The hotel is located steps from the Twinbrook Metro Station.
(List of the Professional Societies contacted for input)
February 10-11, 2009: (Agenda) Receive information about isotope producers on future isotope production capabilities.
Location: Hilton Hotel, Washington DC North/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center
1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852.
The hotel is located steps from the Twinbrook Metro Station.
(List of the Trade Groups contacted for input)
(List of Isotope Production Facilities contacted for input)
March 25-27, 2009: (Agenda) Draft long range plan (second NSAC Charge) for the National Isotope Production and Application Program.
Location: Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Road, Behesda, MD 20852
The hotel is located steps from the White Flint Metro Station.
July 18, 2009: Response to second charge submitted to NSAC.
July 27, 2009: NSAC meeting to discuss response to second charge.
August 27, 2009: Revised Response to the second charge submitted to NSAC.
November 5, 2009: NSAC accepts response to the second charge and transmits it to DOE.
Contact the Subcommittee co-Chairs:
Prof. Ani Aprahamian, University of Notre Dame mailto:[email protected]
Dr. Donald Geesaman, Argonne National Laboratory mailto:[email protected]