Major necessities to sustain human progress are an adequate source of energy. Currently the sources of energy such as combustion of coal, natural gas and oil will last quite a long but will eventually run out or become harmful in tens or hundreds of years. A new focus on global warming which most researchers say is caused due to gases released by the combustion of fossil fuels has brought coal, gas and oil-fired generation under scrutiny. The reducing stocks of bio-fuels and the fact that nuclear energy doesn’t put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere have initiated the process of sustained research for using nuclear energy to meet the manifold demands of various countries.

Unfortunately several incidents like the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and The three mile land disaster in 1979 has changed the attitude of people towards this form of energy and the labor shortage in this industry is alarming. In U.S half of the industry’s employees are above 45, while less than 6% of the employees are below 32.Given that U.S’s nuclear power stations together generate 25% of the country’s electricity’s needs, what is going to happen if these industries shut. Many people believe nuclear energy is synonymous with nuclear holocaust.

Slowly the convictions of several environmental activists are changing. Even the staunchest anti-nuclear campaigners are ready to listen. This is because nuclear energy is the only source which can save us from a catastrophic climate change. India right now is obtaining only 4 percent of its electricity from nuclear power.The nuclear energy by 2050 is expected to reach 25 percent.All this has resulted in creating a huge scope for nuclear jobs.

Looking into the future the prospects are really encouraging.Generation lV launched by the U.S is an international intiative to carry out research into new nuclear power stations.These projects are expected to be finished by 2030.Countries such as Argentina, France, Brazil, Canada, Japan, North korea,South korea and Switzerland are a part of this initiative.U.S is also exploring ways they can associate with India which is home to nearly one-third of thorium reserves and copious accomplished work force.

To pursue a career in nuclear science an engineering student can go for programs like Masters in nuclear engineering and PhD. The engineers should also have knowledge about various environmental, economic and social issues. Nuclear engineers have many responsibilities to carry out such as nuclear plant design,construct and operate nuclear plants, generate nuclear power,thrust nuclear submarines,control space system, handling nuclear fuels, safely disposal radioactive wastes, using radioactive isotopes for medicinal purposes. A nuclear professional can do specialization in: Nuclear weapons, expand radioactive substance for industrial as well as medical use.With so many prospects coming up in this field, it provides us with a promising future where we can really explore,do research and help mankind.