Spring Break
Burchill says nuclear interest is expanding
By: Nathan Ball
Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: News
Burchill said in spite of the meltdown, the core was completely contained, and no radiation leaks were detected. In a Some in the technical community viewed it as a success, but TMI has had a negative impact on the way Americans viewed nuclear power in the following decades.
Burchill taught at A&M's nuclear engineering department from 1982 to 1983, but he returned in 2003 when he was appointed department head from 2003 to 2007.
"This was a very exciting time," Burchill said, "because President Gates got authorization and funding from the legislature for the faculty reinvestment program. We increased faculty university-wide by 25 percent. Seven new faculty were added to the nuclear department. It was very, very exciting for me to recruit, bring them in, and get their labs set up."
During that period the student population increased from 160 to 200 for undergraduates and from 70 to 100 for graduates.
Kolin Loveless, a senior mechanical engineering major, met Burchill at A&M's 2008 SCONA Conference, where Burchill volunteered as a discussion facilitator.
"He is one of the most well-informed individuals I have ever interacted with," Loveless said, "As a facilitator he was able to keep us on-task and focused. He stressed the importance of keeping stationary power generation and transportation fuels separate. There was a professional side to him, but also a warm and caring side. Burchill struck me as an ordinary, personable man who has done extraordinary things."
Mark Browning, a senior nuclear engineering major, said that when Burchill was at A&M, he hosted an annual party at his house for all of the nuclear engineering students. Browning said that part of Burchill's legacy is that the nuclear engineering department has continued to attract more students and faculty.
"I got into nuclear engineering because it is a growing field. In the past three years, my major has been fun, exciting, and difficult all at the same time. I will be back for grad school next year," Browning said.
Burchill taught at A&M's nuclear engineering department from 1982 to 1983, but he returned in 2003 when he was appointed department head from 2003 to 2007.
"This was a very exciting time," Burchill said, "because President Gates got authorization and funding from the legislature for the faculty reinvestment program. We increased faculty university-wide by 25 percent. Seven new faculty were added to the nuclear department. It was very, very exciting for me to recruit, bring them in, and get their labs set up."
During that period the student population increased from 160 to 200 for undergraduates and from 70 to 100 for graduates.
Kolin Loveless, a senior mechanical engineering major, met Burchill at A&M's 2008 SCONA Conference, where Burchill volunteered as a discussion facilitator.
"He is one of the most well-informed individuals I have ever interacted with," Loveless said, "As a facilitator he was able to keep us on-task and focused. He stressed the importance of keeping stationary power generation and transportation fuels separate. There was a professional side to him, but also a warm and caring side. Burchill struck me as an ordinary, personable man who has done extraordinary things."
Mark Browning, a senior nuclear engineering major, said that when Burchill was at A&M, he hosted an annual party at his house for all of the nuclear engineering students. Browning said that part of Burchill's legacy is that the nuclear engineering department has continued to attract more students and faculty.
"I got into nuclear engineering because it is a growing field. In the past three years, my major has been fun, exciting, and difficult all at the same time. I will be back for grad school next year," Browning said.
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