Radiochemistry Undergoing Renaissance at WSU
PULLMAN, Wash. -- The Palouse might not have a lot in common with the rolling hills of Tuscany, but just as Florence, Italy, was the birthplace of the Renaissance, Pullman is becoming home to the rebirth of radiochemistry.
Today there are seven graduate students in radiochemistry at Washington State University, up from four in 2002, making it one of the largest programs in the country. It is second only to the University of Missouri, Columbia, and gaining fast. Next year, depending on funding, there may be as many as 15 graduate students in WSU's program.
Nationally, enrollment in radiochemistry programs -- the chemistry of radioactive elements -- peaked about 30 years ago, when about 35 chemistry doctorates were awarded annually to graduates who had specialized in radiochemistry. Since then, however, enrollment has declined dramatically and most programs have folded altogether. Last year fewer than 10 graduate degrees were conferred on radiochemists nationwide.
But WSU is either bucking the trend or ahead of the curve. When
Sue Clark, chair of the department of chemistry, joined the WSU
faculty as an environmental chemist in 1996, only one of her
colleagues, Roy Filby, was a radiochemist, and he has since
retired. Now there are two more -- professor Ken Nash and assistant
professor Paul Benny.
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