Taking nuclear research to primary school

Public engagement 21st February 2022

Author: Megan Watters, PhD student, The University of Manchester.

Earlier this month, a few of the Dalton Nuclear Institute researchers went on an outreach road trip to the leafy village of Rode Heath in Cheshire.

We first had a great talk from James, introducing the topic of nuclear energy to the primary school students. It was a really interactive presentation, and although nuclear energy was a fairly unfamiliar concept to a lot of the students, James did a great job in relating it back to science the children could engage with.

After this the student had a workshop fair, each table having a nuclear topic with a hands-on activity to explain the nuclear energy process and demonstrate how interdisciplinary the field is.

Robotics – Kirsty and Jess were getting the kids to pick up “nuclear waste” with robot arms and safely contain it into “waste canisters”.

Radiation – I was using Geiger counters to talk with the students about radiation, how we can detect it, and how to keep ourselves safe.

Reza had the students learn about the process of nuclear fission, with the help of our Lego reactor and 3d printed atom model.

Tatiana had plasma balls and fluorescent bulbs to demonstrate the plasma in a nuclear fusion reactor.

James was using the Lego geological disposal facility to highlight the need for us have a permanent solution for nuclear waste.

Once the students had chatted with us researchers and learned a bit more about the nuclear power cycle, the kids went back to their classrooms to talk more about nuclear, and create posters to explain nuclear power to others.

As a researcher, I enjoy these opportunities to try and promote my area of science in a simple and approachable way. Using different language to talk about my research allows me to make my area more accessible to different audiences, and improves my ability to engage with the public as well at more scientific, specialist-knowledge events. Outreach at this young age is great to open children’s eyes to the different opportunities they have in front of them. It’s also nice to have a day out of the lab, and talk about science to people who seem to think you are really clever!

You can read more about the event from the perspective of one of the teachers here: Engaging children with Nuclear Engineering