Science
Nuclear chemistry facing manpower shortages ACS Division of Nuclear Chemistry & Technology survey finds static faculty sizes and falling enrollments in nuclear and radiochemistry If present trends continue, fundamental nuclear chemistry may be phased out of existence. If this happens, the future likely will lack scientists with the knowledge of both nuclear concepts and chemistry needed to advance the frontiers of nuclear analytical methods, chemistry of radioactive species, and use of nuclear probes for chemical studies. This is the outlook projected by results of a manpower survey made by the American Chemical Society's Division of Nuclear Science & Technology. Concerned about the current status of training of nuclear and radiochemists, the division in the fall of 1977 appointed an ad hoc committee under the chairmanship of chemistry professor Gregory R. Choppin of Florida State University to conduct a national survey. The committee sent a questionnaire to the chairmen of the 188 departments of chemistry granting Ph.D. degrees. It received 128 replies; included were the departments offering in nuclear and radiochemistry.
Nuclear chemistry, radiochemistry, and analytical applications, the committee notes, are considered the "true" nuclear-radiochemistry, providing training of more direct value to nuclear technology. The survey found that nuclear chemistry faculty is decreasing, radiochemists are few, and the growth in analytical applications seems to be due to existing faculty members moving into that area from such others as nuclear chemistry. In analyzing the survey results, the committee notes that the average age of faculty members in nuclear and radiochemistry and analytical applications is the same as that of chemistry faculty members in general. But the distribution by age is sharper, with very few younger ones. The committee finds that possibly because of a blurring of the distinction between nuclear chemists and nuclear physicists, chemistry departments haven't added nuclear chemists. Also, the graduate student population has decreased drastically. Radiochemists, the survey finds, are few and of an older average age. It also finds that although much of the analytical applications research is in analytical chemistry, faculty members in nuclear analytical applications aren't competing successfully for faculty positions in analytical chemistry. Noting that projections of future personnel needs are uncertain at best,
Fewer students are studying nuclear, radiochemistry Research area
Nuclear chemistry (interest in nuclear properties—spectra, fission, reactions, etc.) Radiochemistry (chemistry of radioactive elements—actinides, rare earths, technetium, astatine, radium, polonium, etc.) Analytical applications (activation analysis, tracers, and the like to measure geochemical, environmental, and biomedical trace elements) Nuclear probes for chemical studies (Mossbauer effect, hot atom chemistry, etc.) Tracer techniques and labeled compounds TOTALS 1978 1970 1960
Number of faculty
1978 Average Number of age students
38(48)a
47
32
11
52
2
45(36)*
48
26
27
47
25
59 180 99 106
47
17 102 281 213
a Data from 1973 survey by Division of Nuclear Chemistry & Technology.
the committee says that a conservative interpretation of survey data indicates a need for large numbers of professional chemists trained in nuclear and radiochemistry. The committee projects that at the Ph.D. level, an increase of 75 will be needed by 1983 and 110 by 1988. Taking retirement and normal job replacements into account, the committee estimates the real need at an additional 85 to 95 Ph.D.'s by 1983 and 130 to 145 by 1988. If the present rate of training is maintained, about 75 new Ph.D.'s will be produced by 1983 and 150 by 1988. Thus, if the production rate has now leveled off and isn't declining—which it indeed seems to be—Ph.D. production is just adequate for the areas surveyed. The committee surveyed national laboratories and the nuclear energy industry. But it didn't survey the regulatory area nor nuclear medicine. Thus, the committee figures there could be a future supply-demand mismatch by a factor of two. D
Response mixed on shorter JACS format The usefulness to readers of a shorter form of the Journal of the American Chemical Society remains unclear after a readership survey conducted by the American Chemical Society's Books & Journals Division. The division has been trying to determine for several years whether there is a need for a shorter version of JACS that would be both faster to read and less expensive. Several possible short forms have been considered. The most recent one—called Condensed JACS, would contain communications and book reviews in their full length but would include only the titles and abstracts of full articles (C&EN, Oct. 9, 1978, page 17). In a sample issue published in this format last September, this change decreased the number of pages in the issue 76%; in 1978, the full-length version of JACS contained 8555 editorial pages. A mail questionnaire survey of both subscribers and nonsubscribers to JACS found mixed reaction to the May 14, 1979 C&EN
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possibility of publishing so short a version of the journal in addition to the regular version. A majority of responses from ACS members who subscribe to JACS say the new format would facilitate scanning, save time, and be useful. But most also believed that the condensed JACS would not provide adequate information for the needs of individual subscribers and that it would not increase awareness of developments in the field. Nonsubscribers liked the shorter format better. They agree with the benefits mentioned by subscribers, but think that the format would provide adequate information and permit greater awareness of developments in chemistry. The opinions of librarians were also sought in the survey. Only slightly more than half of those who responded were in favor of the condensed journal. Most felt the new format would have little impact on their operations or subscription behavior and that individual chemists would gain the most benefit from such a publication. The favorable attitudes expressed by respondents do not necessarily translate into an intent to subscribe to the condensed journal, however.
On the contrary, most respondents indicated that they would still prefer the current version of JACS unless the shorter one could be offered at one half or less of the subscription price of the current journal. At the same time the readership survey was being conducted, the Books & Journals Division attempted
to analyze the cost of offering a condensed form of JACS. However, its initial analysis found only that more information will be needed before the economic feasibility of offering J ACS in two forms can be determined. A final decision on whether to offer the condensed journal is not expected for several months. •
How genes are copied affects drug resistance By making many copies of specific genes, mammalian cells can become resistant to certain drugs. The way in which cells do so might be part of a general biological phenomenon that carries implications about how biochemical agents, such as antibiotics and insecticides, ought to be deployed, Robert T. Schimke told a seminar recently at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. Schimke, who is chairman of the biology department at Stanford University, and his colleagues have been studying how cultured mammalian cells gain resistance to the anticancer drug methotrexate. This agent ordinarily interferes with the functioning of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Certain mammalian cells are known to over-
come the drug's effect by making more DHFR. Cells do so, the Stanford group finds, by making many copies of the gene for that enzyme, thereby generating large amounts of it. Though some cells can make hundreds of gene copies, the process in which they gain this ability does not happen all at once. Instead, cells build up their gene copies in a stepwise fashion after growing for successive generations in the drug's presence. The stepwise process is not always steady. For example, if the drug is removed from where cells are growing, they often lose some of the gene copies that have been built up. Such behavior by mammalian cells resembles the manner by which simpler organisms, such as bacteria, become
ANNOUNCING AN OUTSTANDING SELECTION OF SYMPOSIA 34th NORTHWEST REGIONAL MEETING To be held at Richland, Washington, June 13-15, 1979 Contact: M. H. Campbell, General Chairman, 2119 Beach, Richland, WA 99352 A Listing: Symposium (*) and Featured Speakers * Chemistry of Polymers—W. E. Skiens, Chairman Paul J. Flory, Nobel Laureate, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University * Nuclear Waste: Here Today, Here Tomorrow—W. W. Schultz and D. M. Strachan, Co-chairmen R. A. Deju, Director of Basalt Waste Isolation Program, Rockwell Hanford Operations W. D. Weart, Manager, Nuclear Waste Technology Department, Sandia Labs E. E. Varanini, Commissioner of California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission M. N. Maxey, Associate Professor of Bioethics, University of Detroit * Environmental Chemistry of Pollutants from Fossil Fuel Technology—R. G. Riley, Chairman G. A. Junk, Research Chemist, Ames Research Laboratory, D.O.E. I. R. Kaplan, Professor of Geology and Geochemistry, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, UCLA J. S. Warner, Senior Research Scientist, Battelle Memorial Institute
* Technology Transfer Between Research Laboratories and Industry—F. W. Albaugh, Chairman S. L. Fawcett, President, Battelle Memorial Institute J. F. Collins, Chief, Alternate Material Utilization Branch, D.O.E. J. J. Smith, R & D Director, Union Carbide Corporation
* Surface Analysis—G. J. Alkire, Chairman D. M. Hercules, Professor of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh; 1978 Chairman, Division of Analytical Chemistry M. T. Thomas, Scientist, Surface Science, Battelle Pacific, N.W. F. W. Lytel, Scientist, Boeing Company A. Joshi, Director, Surface Science Division, Perkin Elmer R. P. Turcotte, Battelle Pacific N.W., E. D. Jensen and M. W. Urie, Westinghouse Hanford Company G. J. Lapeyre, Professor of Physics, Montana State University
* Present and Future Demands on Thermochemistry—J. R. Morrey, Chairman Leo Brewer, Professor of Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley; Associate Director, Inorganic Materials Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory E. F. Westrum, Jr., Professor of Chemistry, University of Michigan; Editor, "Journal of Thermodynamics'* and "Bulletin of Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry" J. W. Cobble, Professor of Chemistry and Dean, Graduate Division and Research, San Diego State University A. W. Fairhall, Professor of Chemistry and Geophysics, University of Washington H. C. Helgeson, Professor of Geology, University of California at Berkeley G. M. Stokes, Research Scientist, Battelle Pacific N.W. * Technician Symposium—K. D. Wiemers, Chairman J. J. Smith, R & D Director, Union Carbide Corporation * Recent Advances in Analytical Technology for Nuclear Waste—N. A. Wogman, Chairman
SEE C&EN, April 30, 1979 for complete 34th Northwest Regional Program
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C&EN May 14, 1979
