Chemical Engineering.... Nuclear or Enviromental?

Question

I'm entering my second year of Chemical Engineering and in my third year I have to choose an option. I've been thinking about it and I've narrowed it down to either Nuclear or Enviromental.

I like the idea of nuclear because it would be so cool to work with Nuclear power. But i know that the enviroment is going to be the biggest "hottopic" for many years to come.

Which should I pick?

Answer 1

You can pick whatever you want - you'll be gainfully employed and gettign a lot of opportunity regardless.

Contrary to popular belief, nuclear power can be very environmentally friendly, and is likely the way the country will head over the next 30 years to become independent of oil. So really, if you are doing nukes, you get the best of both worlds - you get to work on nukes AND you are helping the environment.

Environmental technologies such as scrubbers and waste disposal will be big for years to come as well, though.

Answer 2

I think Environmental would be easier than Nuclear.  Nuclear power will probably become a "hottopic" in the near future with oil prices continuing to rise.  The U.S. will probably begin creating new nuclear facilities and I saw on the news where 17 new locations in the U.S. are interested in new facilities. However, you might be able to tie in environmental engineering into the aspect towards the nuclear waste material created by these new plants.

Answer 3

Whichever one interests you the most I suppose. Make sure you look into the courses in detail to make sure they match up with what you expect them to be.

Definitely environmental will be a big deal for years and years to come.

Nuclear however will be just as big (for somewhat of the same reasons as environmental). Soon we'll all be out of oil, and we'll need to switch to electric cars. The power grid can't support a nation of electric cars, so the government needs to build power plants. Of course, nuclear power plants are the best non-renewable sources of power (clean, safe, affordable etc.), so the government will most likely choose to build lots and lots of them.

Either way, you'll have plenty of opportunities.

Answer 4

These are 2 disciplines that don’t like each other very much because of the environmental activist of the 70’s and 80’s. In fact, nuclear power would have already been our main source of domestic electricity if it were not for activist of that time.

Of course, a career in the nuclear field means a very good background in math in physics. But, it also requires a personal commitment to keeping your life’s affairs in order.

People with a good military background on a resume have a much better chance at going to work at a nuclear facility, especially ones from the Navy’s nuclear program.

You might also expect a very through background check. Not the kind a politician might get, but he kind an FBI agent might get. This will likely include a physiological evaluation and personal interviews with friends, family, teachers, and so on.