MIDAS AT BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2024
A few weeks ago, Manchester Museum once again became a hub of scientific discovery as the MIDAS team participated in British Science Week, a ten-day national celebration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This event marked our continued effort to unravel the complexities of nuclear fuel research to the public, spanning timescales from the blink-of-an-eye nanoseconds to the vast stretches of millions of years. This dichotomy of time scales underscores the unique challenges and responsibilities inherent in the field of nuclear energy, illustrating the theme of British Science Week 2024: time. It's an opportunity to reflect on the impact of our energy choices and the legacy they leave on timescales far beyond our own lives.
Over two days, we welcomed a diverse audience. The first day catered to secondary school students aged 11 to 18, while the second day broadened its reach to include both students and the general public. Our team of dedicated PhD students and Postdoctoral Research Associates (PDRAs), showcased their versatile communication skills, by tailoring their messages to fit the understanding levels of different audiences.
Ready to talk about science!
The essence of our discussions revolved around the fundamentals of irradiation damage in nuclear fuel assemblies and the criticality of managing spent nuclear materials with utmost care. To bridge the gap between complex scientific concepts and our audience's understanding, we employed a variety of interactive demonstrations:
Touch and Feel of Materials: Presenting real zirconium alongside models of its atomic structure, and that of copper, allowed attendees to physically connect with the materials at the heart of our research. Explaining that zirconium is chosen for its low neutron absorption and copper for its corrosion resistance in waste disposal provided clear reasons behind these material choices.
Atom Displacement: A pool table analogy was used to represent atoms in zirconium and how they're affected under radioactive conditions. This helped visualize the changes occurring on a nanosecond timescale, providing a tangible sense of how materials react in extreme environments.
Material Changes Over Time: We used a fuel assembly model made from paper straws to illustrate how spent fuel can cause cladding material in nuclear reactors to elongate over time. This elongation, occurring over months to years, poses safety risks and necessitates material replacement.
Safe Disposal of Nuclear Waste: A creative setup using contact lens cases and yellow play-dough simulated the careful disposal of nuclear waste in copper casings, surrounded by bentonite clay before being buried hundreds of meters in the ground. Bentonite clay serves as an extra protective layer due to its malleability preventing exposure to the disposed nuclear waste when tectonic activity occurs. This demonstration highlighted the importance of safety and environmental considerations in disposing of spent fuel, which can remain hazardous for millions of years.
Nuclear waste disposal hundreds of meters underground!
Using the pool table to depict atom displacement within zirconium under radioactive conditions.
These hands-on activities were not just about showing science in action; they were carefully designed to explain why we undertake this research. For example, understanding atom displacement in zirconium helps us improve the materials used in nuclear reactors, ensuring they are safer and more efficient. Similarly, our waste disposal simulation underlined our commitment to safeguarding the environment and public health for the present and future generations.
The feedback and curiosity from attendees were a testament to the success of our outreach. Questions from the audience often touched on the environmental impact of nuclear energy and the specifics of material science, reflecting a growing public interest in these areas.
Looking ahead, the MIDAS team is excited to continue our mission of making science accessible and engaging. We believe that by breaking down scientific barriers and engaging with the public, we can inspire future generations and foster a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within nuclear materials research.