Brazilian University Developing First Nuclear Engineering Course

Betting on the country’s nuclear future, Brazil’s Escola Politecnica da Universidade de Sao Paulo (Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo, or Poli-USP) of Brazil's Universidade de Sao Paulo is developing its first nuclear engineering course.

The program is tentatively scheduled to begin classes in March 2013 and the campus with classrooms, laboratories and housing for students, will be built next to the Aramar Experimental Center Navy research facility in Ipero, 72 miles from Sao Paulo.
 
The Brazilian Navy is already undertaking work in Ipero to develop Brazil’s Nuclear Program, including a propulsion system for Brazil’s first nuclear powered submarine. The Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares (Institute for Nuclear and Energy Research, IPEN) is also using the site to build the Reator Multipropositos Brasileiro (Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor, or RMB) for the production of radioisotopes used in medicine.

USP is one of Latin America’s largest institutions of higher education, with approximately 90,000 students.

According to Poli-USP deputy director Professor Jose Roberto Castilho Piqueira, "Our curriculum structure will not be devoted entirely to the construction of (nuclear power) generation plants. It will also focus on the processing of materials, an area with a great future for the country, considering our wealth of uranium. In addition, medical applications and the production of drugs will not be forgotten," O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper reported.
 
By. Joao Peixe, Deputy Editor OilPrice.com