Nuclear energy offers many advantages if the waste problem can be solved. The fuel is inexpensive, the energy can be generated near where it is to be used, and there are no greenhouse or acid rain effects. Of course, a special problem with nuclear energy is the hazard if the plant is run carelessly, and it is possible that the operation of a nuclear power plant could be diverted to develop material for nuclear weapons or the radioactive by-products could be used in terrorist attacks. However, it is important to solve these problems so that the currently negative public perception of nuclear energy undergoes a change, and permits nuclear energy to make its full possible contribution to the world, particularly after we have stopped burning fossil fuels.

Whether nuclear power generation increases as a contributor to our energy supply or merely continues on its present course, the aging population of nuclear chemists and engineers poses a significant concern. There has been a steady reduction in the number of university programs in nuclear chemistry, radiochemistry, and nuclear engineering—and in the number of graduates they produce.⁵ Unless a new pool of expertise is developed, it will become increasingly difficult to safely operate existing reactors, manage the radioactive waste that will be produced (along with that which already exists), and clean up radioactive contamination from earlier activities.

Approximately 10% of U.S. electrical energy is produced by hydroelectric dams.⁶ Although there are few economic and environmentally acceptable dam sites remaining, in some places it is possible to use wind power, or perhaps even the ocean tides, to generate electricity. Here the opportunity for chemists and chemical engineers is the invention and production of modern materials that can make such approaches possible.

In recent years, much attention has been devoted to improving the efficiency with which energy is produced and used by society in general and also in chemical manufacturing. Higher fuel efficiency in automobiles, better insulation materials and construction practices for homes, and energy efficient lighting and ap-

Front Matter (R1-R14)

Executive Summary (1-10)

1 Introduction (11-15)

2 The Structures and Cultures of the Disciplines: The Common Chemical Bond (16-21)

3 Synthesis and Manufacturing: Creating and Exploiting New Substances and New Transformations (22-40)

4 Chemical and Physical Transformations (41-54)

5 Isolating, Identifying, Imaging, and Measuring Substances and Structures (55-70)

6 Chemical Theory and Computer Modeling: From Computational Chemistry to Process Systems Engineering (71-94)

7 The Interface with Biology and Medicine (95-122)

8 Materials by Design (123-147)

9 Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry (148-159)

10 Energy: Providing for the Future (160-170)

11 National and Personal Security (171-179)

12 How To Achieve These Goals (180-194)

Appendix A: Biographical Sketches of Steering Committee Members (195-201)

Appendix B: Statement of Task (202-202)

Appendix C: Contributors (203-208)

Index (209-224)