go to top scroll for more

Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	EP/H047824/1
Title	So you think you know about nuclear energy!
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies) 100%;
Research Types	Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields	SOCIAL SCIENCES (Education) 20%; PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 50%; PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 30%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Other (Energy technology information dissemination) 100%
Principal Investigator	Professor AH Sherry No email address given Materials University of Manchester
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	EPSRC
Start Date	10 May 2010
End Date	09 November 2013
Duration	42 months
Total Grant Value	£215,471
Industrial Sectors	Energy
Region	North West
Programme	Energy : Energy
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Professor AH Sherry , Materials, University of Manchester (99.998%)
	Other Investigator	Professor P Withers , Materials, University of Manchester (0.001%) Dr JW (John ) Roberts , Dalton Nuclear Institute, University of Manchester (0.001%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , Museum of Science and Industry MOSI (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract	The Dalton Nuclear Institute at The University of Manchester is committed to undertaking research into nuclear technologies, training new graduate students as well as an engaging public outreach Programme. With the closure of the majority of Nuclear Power Plant Visitor Centres, there are now very few resources available to educate the public. The Nuclear Energy Exhibition at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) is badly out of date, being established soon after Chernobyl. Consequently, we wanted to identify a successful model for public engagement that could help to communicate important nuclear issues and that might lead to a revamp of the Nuclear Energy Exhibition at the museum involving both real and virtual interactives.Building on the success of the 'So you think you can build a jet engine' public engagement programme the new proposal aims to identify best practices that have already been successfully trialled and apply them to educating young audiences and families about nuclear energy. Through a combination of a 3D visualisation model, complimentary 2D models, a physical model and other learning tools young audiences will be engaged and educated about the various challenges involved with the UK civil nuclear programme.Partnering with the Manchester Museum of Science (MOSI) and Industry will enable the project to benefit from their expertise and the exhibition space that is devoted to nuclear energy in the museum. Partnering with STEMPOINT Greater Manchester will enable the project to benefit from their existing networks of schools in the Greater Manchester area. They will also provide the initial training for our students and staff to become registered STEM Ambassadors.The project will develop a toolkit of resources specifically aimed at our target audiences - families with children between the ages of eight and fourteen and KS3/KS4 pupils and teachers. The emphasis is very much on engagement via hands-on, challenging, interactive exhibits, whether used in the Museum or face to face. This is in line with market research carried out by the Museum highlighting the need to provide an appropriate range of interactive exhibits to reinforce "hard science". The project will develop presentations, discussion topics, simulations, spreadsheets, video clips and interactive tests challenging our audience to consider nuclear energy within the context of other sources of energy. Much of it will be closely related to research currently being undertaken within the Dalton Nuclear Institute, for example on waste storage, maximising fuel utilisation and decommissioning
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	03/11/10