Public Outreach
Public Outreach
Reactor Tours
During your tour of PUR-1 and/or the Nuclear Engineering Radiation laboratory (NERL), you will see our new controls and instrumentation as well as hear about radiation principles, common natural sources of radiation, and nuclear energy. All tours are scheduled and confirmed in advance, and all visitors must have a valid ID on hand. Special arrangements and times can be accommodated for groups larger than 25 people.
Reactor Sharing Program
Nuclear Engineering Reactor Laboratory Field Trip
At Purdue University School of Nuclear Engineering, high school juniors and seniors in advanced science courses can spend a full day in the Nuclear Engineering Reactor Laboratories exploring radiation detection and nuclear reactions. Designed for small classes, this immersive program gives students hands-on experience with neutron activation analysis (NAA). For many participants, it is one of the most memorable and engaging STEM experiences of their high school careers.
What Students Learn
When materials are exposed to a neutron source such as the Purdue University Reactor Number One (PUR-1), some atoms absorb neutrons and become radioactive. As these atoms decay, they emit gamma rays with energies unique to each element—creating a distinct “fingerprint.” By measuring and analyzing these gamma-ray spectra, students can accurately identify unknown elements, sometimes detecting quantities as small as a few thousand atoms.
A Day in the Lab
The program begins at 9:30 a.m. with an introduction to radiation and activation analysis. Students then calibrate gamma-ray spectrometers using scintillation detectors and known sources. In the afternoon, unknown samples are irradiated in the PUR-1 reactor. Once activated, students analyze the resulting gamma-ray spectra using the instruments they calibrated earlier, matching measured energies to reference data to identify the elements present. The program concludes around 3:00 p.m. Students leave with practical laboratory skills, a deeper understanding of nuclear science, and the satisfaction of solving a real-world analytical challenge.
Contact PUR-1 Reactor Supervisor True Miller about how your students can spend the day at the Nuclear Engineering Reactor Laboratories.
