Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Students to learn about explosives

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Boom!

A select group of New Mexico high school students can get their hands on explosives this summer — with supervision, that is.

This summer, New Mexico Tech and its Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center is offering Camp Movers & Shakers, a two-week residential camp in which high school seniors can learn about fireworks, demolition and mining with explosives, a way to make industrial diamonds and more. The camp is scheduled for June 16-28 on the Tech campus, and has 10 slots for graduating seniors who are at least 18 years old by the first day and interested in enrolling at Tech.

Research scientist Christa Hockensmith, who is helping organize the camp, said most people who work in explosive applications, which include tunnel construction, mining and demolition, were trained in the military and 40-60 years old.

When those individuals retire in the next 10-20 years, Hockensmith said, federal data shows the industry will have a shortage of skilled replacements.

"So we need to get ourselves in gear and start recruiting and training these kids to take over when these folks who are in their 40s and 50s and 60s and beyond retire," she said.

Few places in the country offer teaching in the field.

Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Claudia Wilson suggested the camp, and testing center Associate Director Michael Stanley and Deputy Director Rudy Correa are helping set it up.

"We're interested in the non-military aspect," Wilson said.

Hockensmith said 75 percent to 80 percent of the explosives industry involves non-military applications. She would like to give campers an overview of the explosives world and safety.

"We're going to have to push safety above anything else," Hockensmith continued.

Wilson expects to introduce students to the different science and engineering disciplines at Tech. With the explosives field being so wide, she said, people working in it would be exposed to many disciplines, such as electrical and materials engineering and geology.

The schedule includes field trips to Lee Ranch Coal Mine in Grants and to Sandia National Laboratories, chemical testing of explosives with laboratory equipment, hands-on demolition of a civil structure, a car bomb and a fireworks set-up.

Each day begins with a safety lecture by an instructor in the explosives field, according to camp material.

"I don't care if they learn anything about energetics if they learn something about safety," Hockensmith said. "Because with explosives, you only get one chance, and you better be doing it right the first time."

The camp offers activities such as a cookout, pool party and trip to Albuquerque. Rules prohibit students from bringing their vehicles.

Parents are invited for dinner and a student-designed fireworks show on June 27.

Before March 1, interested students must send in a one-page résumé of their work and school history, a 500-word essay on why they're interested in career in the application of explosives, two letters of recommendation from high school teachers, one letter of recommendation from an adult who knows the youth well and isn't related, a high school transcript with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, the completed application and a check for the $250 deposit.

Program organizers will notify selected students on May 1. Students who aren't picked are to receive their deposit back.

Youth who are accepted must turn in another application and the balance of the $950 cost by May 15. Hockensmith and Wilson expect two scholarships to be available.

The cost includes room and board in a double-occupancy room in the Tech dorms, field trip transportation, passes to the gym and student center and university paraphernalia.

The camp is a joint effort among the explosives testing center; Tech's civil, chemical, mechanical, mineral, and material and metallurgy engineering departments; Sandia National Laboratories; Los Alamos National Laboratories and Aimonee-Martin and Associates LLC blasting and vibration consultants.

aduncan@dchieftain.com

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