Missouri S&T is home to the state’s first nuclear reactor. Operational since 1961 and one of only three nuclear reactors in Missouri, the S&T reactor is used for research, onsite tours, education, including distance courses for universities that have no reactor, and practical training. S&T nuclear engineering students can obtain their operator’s license by operating the reactor through the university’s training program. At full power (200 kilowatts), the pool reactor’s core produces some 5.4 trillion fissions per second. The resulting energy creates a blue glow in the pool. The greater the number of fissions, the more intense the glow.

Share This Story

Spark a Memory?

Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).

Shahd (Alassadi) and Danny Ryan

Shahd (Alassadi) and Danny Ryan

Shahd (Alassadi) and Danny Ryan first met during the 100th Best Ever St. Pat’s in 2008, but it wasn’t until…

Courtney (Mandeville) and Josh Weber

Courtney (Mandeville) and Josh Weber

Courtney (Mandeville) met Josh Weber at a Greek life mixer that she attended with her roommate in April 2015.  “Going…

Bringing it all together

Bringing it all together

Before retiring, civil engineering graduate John Mathes headed his own multidisciplinary engineering business that specialized in high-profile contamination projects. In…

Paula Lutz: leading on a male-dominated campus

Paula Lutz: leading on a male-dominated campus

Paula Lutz, who earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a life science preference from UMR in 1976...

Bringing back the wetlands

Bringing back the wetlands

Donald Hey, a 1963 graduate in civil engineering, is passionate about proving the economic efficiency and sustainability of using restored…

Mo Dehghani: what lies ahead

Mo Dehghani: what lies ahead

Mohammad “Mo” Dehghani, who has been chancellor at S&T since 2019, discusses what he believes...