Nuclear industry Vs Dr No.
The recent BBC story‘James Bond villains blamed for nuclear's bad image’ asks when it comes to the Nuclear issue, are today's public influenced by 1960’s films like Dr No?
While the debate has raged on the Today Show on radio and in newspapers, a project already exists to shift attitudes to nuclear technologies by giving students hands-on experience of the quality-first approach required on nuclear power station construction sites.
Nuclear Island, a project developed by Imperial College London and Cogent (the Sector Skills Council for the Nuclear Industry) allows teams of engineering students to work directly with the nuclear new build industries to actually construct a 1/10th scale core reactor facility, housing a simulated reactor pressure vessel. By participating, students enhance their knowledge of the industry, develop practical and employability skills, and the essential safety and quality behaviours required for the UK New Build programme. Students are also provided with an unbiased and balanced view of this industry in terms of future energy needs.
"When the students see how rigorous the quality requirements are, they are impressed" says lecturer Alison Ahearn of Imperial College London.
Piloted by Imperial College London, the project is a result of consultations held between the Royal Academy of Engineering, led by COGENT and is supported by the HE STEM Programme (science, technology, engineering and maths). Further consultations with leading industry companies and other universities agreed that hands-on construction was the best way to let students learn by doing, using student construction sites.
Dr Caroline Sudworth, Programme Lead and Higher Education Manager at Cogent states: “The nuclear island project is a scaled down full construction process of a reactor core: the students develop key technical skills but also employability skills including project and time management, negotiating skills, to handling clients, finances, and hands-on practical skills and experiences of a nuclear new build construction site– and feel the full effects of the UK weather!”
Hal Igarashi, Royal Academy of Engineering says; ’Students have employer approved and supported experiential learning about nuclear new build construction methods and are introduced to the very strict regulatory requirements relating to site security, build and finish quality that goes into the construction of nuclear power stations. Safety is clearly a big part of this.’
Cogent has recently confirmed that the Nuclear Island programme will be expanded from Spring 2012 to include the universities of Leeds, Birmingham and Glyndwr as well as Bridgewater College, as part of a £1.25M Employer Investment Fund package designed to determine, develop and deliver the skills needs for Nuclear New Build.
With the support of the National HE STEM Programme, The Royal Academy of Engineering, the Nuclear Energy Skills Alliance, UK universities and colleges will be able to work with New Build Employers across the wide ranging disciplines, ensuring that the UK becomes a global leader for the future.
Further information on the Nuclear Island project can be found at:
www.cogent-ssc.com/Higher_level_skills/ni_index.php or
www.hestem.ac.uk/activity/building-nuclear-island
Alternatively please contact:
Dr Alison Ahearn, Imperial College London, a.ahearn@imperial.ac.uk
Dr Caroline Sudworth, Cogent, Caroline.sudworth@cogent-ssc.com
Alex Fenlon, National HE STEM Programme a.fenlon@bham.ac.uk 0121 4146708
