Attitutes and interests of pre service chemistry teachers towards nuclear energy

Considering the ever increasing energy demand of Turkey it is evitable that the country will face a grave energy crisis in future if necessary precautions are not taken immediately It is known that the fossil fuel reserves could only suffice for another fifty years. The alternative energy modes are incapable of meeting the demand which increases the importance of nuclear energy The prime purpose of this research is to determine the interest and attitudes of chemistry pre service teachers towards nuclear energy. The study was carried out in 2005-2006 academic year in Gazi University, Gazi Faculty of Education. The data were collected between October 2005 and May 2006 The data obtained from the scales and test applied to the students were supported by the results obtained from the interviews of the students. viii The most striking finding of this study is that in spite of the deviated and distorted data related to the nuclear energy, it still remains as an important alternative for the solution of emerging energy problem according to pre-service teachers