The Past and Future of University Research Reactors
Research nuclear reactors at U.S. universities continue to contribute materially to research of value to the nation. Despite a number of high-level studies sponsored by the federal government that expressed deep concern, their number has shrunk to less than one-half that of 30 years ago. What is now being done and what will be required to stem these losses are discussed in this [Policy Forum][1].

 [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/295/5563/2217
University Research Reactors: Issues and Challenges
University research reactors are underutilized and, as a result, are being decommissioned. The reason for the lack of utilization is shown to be a chronic inability to generate sufficient funds to procure and maintain state-of-the-art instrumentation for prospective researchers. The role of these reactors in nuclear science/engineering education is explored and the rationale for their continued operation is presented. It is argued that base financial support for both reactor operations and the technical support staff needed to interface with experimenters is necessary if these research facilities are not to be irretrievably lost from the educational infrastructure of the United States.
Metamorphosis of a 35 Year-Old TRIGA Reactor into a Modern BNCT Facility
Using FiR 1, a 250kW TRIGA reactor as a neutron source for BNCT was screened as a viable option in 1990, as the future of the reactor was questioned. By the initiative of the medical radio isotope group at VTT the Finnish BNCT project started incorporating early on also the medical and medical physics sides.1,2 At first a thermal neutron source only was considered conceivable, but quite soon it was realized that using aluminum-aluminum fluoride moderator a high quality epithermal neutron source was quite feasible.3 After gaining support both from the medical community as well as from private and state financing sources a decision was made in 1994 to accomplish the necessary changes in the reactor and the reactor hall.