Glass-Ceramic Wasteforms for High Level Wastes from Advanced Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Materials Science and Engineering
Abstract
A key barrier to maturation and exploitation of glass-ceramic technology, for immobilisation of high activity waste from nuclear fuel recycle, is the gap in fundamental understanding of the molecular-scale mechanisms of phase separation and crystallization, that lead to the development of the desired phase assemblage and microstructure. These characteristics determine the long-term performance behaviour of the glass-ceramic wasteform in a geological disposal facility. The demand for increased waste loading per package, to minimise onward storage, management and disposal costs, results in a tendency towards liquid-liquid phase separation and (uncontrolled) crystallization of complex metal oxide phases. The grand challenge, to be addressed in this project, is in predictably achieving the targeted phase assemblage and microstructure, requiring a detailed understanding of the transformation process as a function of both cooling rate and melt chemistry. Controlling this phase separation and crystallization process is critical to preventing the formation of a non-durable crystal, glass, or crystal-glass interface. This understanding is of paramount importance for radioactive waste management programs in the UK, USA, and elsewhere, which seek to exploit glass-ceramic technology or, conversely, optimize conventional borosilicate glasses to improve the solubility of key fission products and actinides.
This research program is a joint collaborative enterprise between leading researchers from the US and UK who, collectively, bring mutually complementary and compatible skills, capabilities, and interests required to achieve a paradigm shift in the fundamental understanding of relevant phase separation and crystallization mechanisms in glass ceramics for radioactive waste immobilisation.
This research program is a joint collaborative enterprise between leading researchers from the US and UK who, collectively, bring mutually complementary and compatible skills, capabilities, and interests required to achieve a paradigm shift in the fundamental understanding of relevant phase separation and crystallization mechanisms in glass ceramics for radioactive waste immobilisation.
Planned Impact
The key beneficiaries who will gain from the research are:
1. Public and private sector organisations engaged in fuel cycle operation, will benefit directly from the knowledge and understanding generated by the research, which will assist in reducing the overall cost and hazard of radioactive waste management in future and legacy programmes.
2. The public will benefit from reduced future cost of civil nuclear energy generation and improved environmental outcomes as a result of more robust and holistic radioactive waste management strategies.
3. Policy makers will benefit from improved scientific underpinning of integrated fuel recycle and waste management strategies, which will assist in reducing uncertainties, leading to more accurate economic assessments.
4. The academic community will benefit from improved understanding of the molecular scale mechanisms and new experimental tools, to describe and characterise melt phase separation and crystallisation phenomena.
1. Public and private sector organisations engaged in fuel cycle operation, will benefit directly from the knowledge and understanding generated by the research, which will assist in reducing the overall cost and hazard of radioactive waste management in future and legacy programmes.
2. The public will benefit from reduced future cost of civil nuclear energy generation and improved environmental outcomes as a result of more robust and holistic radioactive waste management strategies.
3. Policy makers will benefit from improved scientific underpinning of integrated fuel recycle and waste management strategies, which will assist in reducing uncertainties, leading to more accurate economic assessments.
4. The academic community will benefit from improved understanding of the molecular scale mechanisms and new experimental tools, to describe and characterise melt phase separation and crystallisation phenomena.
Organisations
- University of Sheffield (Lead Research Organisation)
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Collaboration)
- Washington State University (Collaboration)
- TU Dortmund University (Collaboration)
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Collaboration)
- University of Hong Kong (Collaboration)
- U.S. Department of Energy (Collaboration)
Publications
Kaspar T
(2019)
Physical and optical properties of the International Simple Glass
in npj Materials Degradation
Kim M
(2017)
Structure analysis of vitusite glass-ceramic waste forms using extended X-ray absorption fine structures
in Ceramics International
Mir A
(2021)
An in-situ TEM study into the role of disorder, temperature and ballistic collisions on the accumulation of helium bubbles and voids in glass-ceramic composites
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Mottram L
(2020)
Laboratory Based X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Iron Phosphate Glasses for Radioactive Waste Immobilisation: A Preliminary Investigation.
in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
Mottram L
(2020)
A feasibility investigation of speciation by Fe K-edge XANES using a laboratory X-ray absorption spectrometer
in Journal of Geosciences
Mottram L
(2020)
A Feasibility Investigation of Laboratory Based X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy in Support of Nuclear Waste Management
in MRS Advances
| Description | This project is focused primarily on understanding phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramic materials for the immobilisation of higher activity wastes from advanced nuclear fuel cycles, as part of a bilateral collaboration between the UK and USA. In these materials, molybdenum and zirconium are solubility limited elements, and hence the controlled partitioning of these species, into accessory crystalline phases, is considered key to increasing the incorporation rate of higher activity wastes. Although the grant period has ended, strong collaboration continues to publish research outcomes and in new research to develop these further. The project has been supported by several bi-lateral visits between the partners in 2016-18 and, additionally, by a sabbatical research visit by the US Co-PI, Prof. John McCloy, from September - December 2019. This sabattical visit was supported by the award of a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, which was awarded in recognition of the strength and vitality of collaboration, and the importance and quality of the joint research. The first phase of our project has investigated the crystallisation of CaMoO4 and Na2MoO4 from model borosilicate glasses, as a function of molybdenum and lanthanide concentration. State of the art multi-nuclear solid state NMR spectroscopy has been applied to understand the solubility mechanism of lanthanides and molybdenum in tandem and isolation. This knowledge guided the following phase of our research to control the crystallisation of the preferred CaMoO4 phase at the expense of Na2MoO4 (which has high aqueous solubility). Using NMR and X-ray absorption spectroscopies, we have demonstrated that crystallisation of Na2MoO4 can be avoided by controlling the role of alkali / alkaline earth cations in charge compensating non-bridging oxygens in the glass network. The first joint publication of research outcomes from this work was published as J. Nucl. Mater., 510 (2018) 539 and MRS Adv., 4 (2019) 1029-1043. Building on this research, we developed a novel hypothesis for controlling the availability of charge compensating alkalis in borosilicate glasses, to avoid the crystallisation of problematic Na2MoO4, through very minor adjustment of the glass composition. This research, which is in preparation for publication, should prove highly significant in the high level waste vitrification field, since MoO3 concentration limits the waste incorporation rate, so as to avoid Na2MoO4 formation. In principle this should allow reduction in the number of waste containers produces and hence mission timescale and cost. A further aspect of this project was to undertake a systematic study of the structure and crystallisation potential of nepheline related glass, with additions of transition metal oxides, which may adopt network forming or modifying roles and play a critical role in crystallisation mechanisms, assisted by the sabbatical visit of Prof. McCloy. This research, focused on the NaFeSiO4, NaFeSi2O6, and NaFeSi3O8, of particular interest to radioactive waste vitrification since Fe is known to participate in the crystallisation of problematic spinel phases. Using a multi-spectroscopic approach, our results demonstrate improved glass forming ability, and resistance to crystallisation, with increasing Si/Fe ratio as a result of the requirement for transformation of FeO4 to FeO6 species to form the crystalline phase during heat treatment for Si/Fe>2; this work was published as Am. Miner., 105 (2020) 1375. The methods developed in this research have also been applied to understand the mechanisms of crystallisation in a family of novel vitusite glass-ceramics developed in an allied EPSRC sponsored project, published as Ceram. Int., 43 (2017) 4687. The international profile of our research in this and related projects, attracted the secondment of a PhD researcher to Sheffield, from the University of Hong Kong, to study crystallisation mechanisms of zirconia and zirconolite from complex aluminosilicate glasses. This research provided a new understanding of the controls of glass-ceramic composition and thermal history, in determining the crystallisation of zirconia and zirconolite phases from the parent glass, leading to a collaborative peer reviewed publication - Cryst. Growth Des., 17 (2017) 1079-1087. Building on this understanding, we can address the critical question of the influence of actinide speciation and concentration on crystallisation mechanisms, and partitioning between glass / ceramic phases, which is essential for application of these materials. This understanding was applied to investigate the thermal treatment of Prototype Fast Reactor raffinate, present on the Dounreay site, using a barium borosilicate glass matrix. This work successfully demonstrated the feasibility of PFR raffinate vitrification as a potential treatment option for this waste stream, with effective immobilisation of the radionuclide inventory in a glass matrix of superior durability to UK HLW glass compositions and, hence, suitable for interim storage and disposal; this work was published as J. Nucl, Mater., 508 (2018) 203. The techniques and methods developed through the project were later applied to understanding the mechanism of chlorine incorporation in glass-ceramic materials designed for immobilisation of plutonium residues, published as RSC Advances, 10 (2020) 32497 (chlorine is present as a contaminant as a result of the degradation of PVC packaging). This understanding, which established the chlorine incorporation capacity of the glass matrix to exceed that expected in the waste (under conservative assumptions) could realise considerable impact through application in a future waste treatment plant utilising this technology. |
| Exploitation Route | When matured, research could be taken up by national laboratories and government advisory bodies in designing and implementing flow sheets for immobilisation of higher activity wastes in future advanced fuel cycles. The techniques and methods developed through the project were later applied to understanding the mechanism of chlorine incorporation in glass-ceramic materials designed for immobilisation of plutonium residues, published as RSC Advances, 10 (2020) 32497 (chlorine is present as a contaminant as a result of the degradation of PVC packaging). This understanding, which established the chlorine incorporation capacity of the glass matrix to exceed that expected in the waste (under conservative assumptions) could realise considerable impact through application in a future waste treatment plant utilising this technology. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment |
| Description | A key outcome of this research is an understanding of how thermal treatment processes can be exploited to condition radioactive wastes and produce passively safe products suitable for interim storage and disposal. This outcome has attracted commercial interest with two contracts awarded for application and maturation of general and specific concepts developed in this project. More widely, this research has further developed our understanding of how advanced waste treatment technologies can radically change the risk posed by the inventory of radioactive waste consigned to geological disposal, by eliminating waste reactivity, achieving effective immobilisation of long lived radionuclides, with substantial reduction in waste volume. This evidence was provided to the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on the Draft National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure. The evidence was cited as the key basis for Recommendation 2 in the Committee report, "We recommend that the Government clarifies in the NPS the level of uncertainty regarding the inventory and explains to prospective host communities how this will affect their right to reject the GDI at any point during the siting process" - as set out at paragraph 34 in the body of the report. HM Government accepted this recommendation and the National Policy Statement was amended to reference to new paragraphs within the 'Implementing Geological Disposal - Working with Communities' white paper published in 2018. A further important impact of the project has been the development of a deep and long lasting partnership between the University of Sheffield in the UK and Washington State University in the USA. Our research partnership has supported multiple two way secondments and access to unique research and facilities in the partner country. This partnership has attracted new funding support, both within and between the UK, to support collaboration on a wide range of research topics. In particular, the US Co-PI, Prof. John McCloy was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship and SY Chung Fellowship to undertake a research sabbatical at the University of Sheffield, associated with the project. This facilitated an enhanced depth of knowledge exchange and assisted in promotion of the research outcomes to both UK and US legislatures. Building on this partnership and the project research outcomes, our research collaboration has continued through a US DOE funded project on glass dissolution behaviour in support of the safety case for disposal of vitrifed wastes on the Hanford site. The research outcomes of the project were highlighted by US NEUP as an exemplar of successful UK - US research collaboration in their report "US-UK: Drawing on International Expertise", 2020. The techniques and methods developed through the project were later applied to understanding the mechanism of chlorine incorporation in glass-ceramic materials designed for immobilisation of plutonium residues, published as RSC Advances, 10 (2020) 32497 (chlorine is present as a contaminant as a result of the degradation of PVC packaging). This understanding, which established the chlorine incorporation capacity of the glass matrix to exceed that expected in the waste (under conservative assumptions) could realise considerable impact through application in a future waste treatment plant utilising this technology. The importance of this research is in demonstrating that an up stream pre-treatment plant would not be required to remove the chloride contaminant, which could realise substantial cost savings. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Impact on Draft National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Written evidence to the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on the Draft National Policy statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure, was cited as the key basis for Recommendation 5 "We recommend that the Government clarifies in the NPS the level of uncertainty regarding the inventory and explains to prospective host communities how this will affect their right to reject the GDI at any point during the siting process" - as set out at paragraph 34 in the body of the report. |
| URL | https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmbeis/1092/1092.pdf |
| Description | A new precision cutting saw for radiological materials science |
| Amount | £10,990 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | DECC - MIDAS capital grant |
| Amount | £800,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department of Energy and Climate Change |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | ERDF: Royce Translational Centre |
| Amount | £4,005,654 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 02/2018 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Improved glass formulations for advanced oxide fuels - Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | NDA - Plutonium Disposition / IAA match |
| Amount | £214,712 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | NDA Bursary Scheme - Brannerite glass ceramics |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | NDA Bursary Scheme - Plutonium surrogates |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Description | NDA Bursary Scheme - damaged fuels |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | Pyrochemical Waste Treatment - Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Sir Henry Royce Institute - Sheffield Build |
| Amount | £8,770,885 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P025285/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Sir Henry Royce Institute -Sheffield Equipment |
| Amount | £15,229,114 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P02470X/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | THERAMIN |
| Amount | € 3,972,539 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 755480 |
| Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 06/2017 |
| End | 05/2020 |
| Description | Thermal Treatment of Spent Ion Exchange Resins |
| Amount | £25,010 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Award value is confidential |
| Organisation | Ministry of Defence (MOD) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | US DOE - GLAD |
| Amount | £232,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | U.S. Department of Energy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2016 |
| End | 01/2018 |
| Description | UoS & Suppliers - MIDAS equipment match |
| Amount | £335,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | hermodynamics of caesium pertechnetate volatility - Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme |
| Amount | £75,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with ESRF XMAS and DUBBLE beamlines |
| Organisation | European Synchrotron Radiation Facility |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Extended application focus of beamline techniques to XAS data acquistion in the hard X-ray regime. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Beamline optimisation to acquire XAS data from glass and ceramic materials in support of plutonium disposition. |
| Impact | See publications section. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Collaboration with The University of Hong Kong |
| Organisation | University of Hong Kong |
| Department | Department of Microbiology |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Application of TEM and electron diffraction methods to characterisation of zirconolite crystallisation in glass-ceramic materials. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Application of TEM and electron diffraction methods to characterisation of zirconolite crystallisation in glass-ceramic materials. |
| Impact | See publications section. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DELTA (Dortmunder ELekTronenspeicherring-Anlage) |
| Organisation | Technical University of Dortmund |
| Department | Dortmund Electron Storage Ring System (DELTA) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Development of beamline XAS applications to low concentration detection in disordered systems and expansion of international user programme. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Acquisition of XAS data in hard X-ray regime. |
| Impact | See publications section. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | PNNL |
| Organisation | U.S. Department of Energy |
| Department | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
| Impact | See publications section. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Rutgers University |
| Organisation | Rutgers University |
| Department | Materials Science and Engineering |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
| Impact | See publication section. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Washington State University at Pullman |
| Organisation | Washington State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
| Impact | See publications section. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | A long term solution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Claire Corkhill was invited by RWM Ltd to present a short video explaining the benefits of geological disposal of radiaoctive wastes, in recognition of her expertise developed through several EPSRC research projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoPSaWV-tQU |
| Description | GDF Conference 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was invited as the facilitator and panel chair for the Geological Disposal Facility Conference 2021, delivered by Radioactive Waste Management, in recognition of his international standing in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/geological-disposal-programme-now-under-way |
| Description | IAEA Summer School on Radiation Effects on Radioactive Wasteforms |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised Joint ICTP-IAEA Workshop on Radiation Effects in Nuclear Waste Forms and their Consequences for Storage and Disposal, 12-16 September 2016, with engagement of over 30 international researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://indico.ictp.it/event/7633/ |
| Description | IAEA Workshop on Management Strategies for Separated Plutonium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Expert workshop to identify and assess options for managing separated plutonium stockpiles, the presentations and discussion will input into an IAEA Technical Document. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | International Plutonium Pathways Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | International workshop to assess the current status of plutonium management strategy internationally. Presentation and discussion will input into expert summary report to be published by Federation of American Scientists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Interview with BBC Radio Cumbria |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was interviewed live on BBC Radio Cumbria, discussing the end of nuclear fuel reprocessing operations at THORP and Sellafield decommissioning challenges. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Interview with Chemical & Engineering News: What caused a plume of radioactive ruthenium in Europe in 2017? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was interviewed for Chemical & Engineering News on trace radiation detected across northern Europe, based on expertise in radioactive waste management developed in EPSRC sponsored research on nuclear fuel reprocessing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://cen.acs.org/safety/industrial-safety/caused-plume-radioactive-ruthenium-Europe/97/web/2019/0... |
| Description | Interview with Daily Mail newspaper: GDF siting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Daily Mail newspaper on launch of siting process for UK Geological Disposal Facility for radioactive waste. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Joint ICTP-IAEA Workshop on Radiation Effects in Nuclear Waste Forms and their Consequences for Storage and Disposal |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Workshop aimed to gain awareness on the most recent findings of research into radiation effects in nuclear waste forms and their role for waste storage and disposal. It specifically aimed to contribute to the transfer of specific knowledge to Member States towards their capacity building efforts and competence in nuclear waste immobilisation and disposal. The workshop was attended by 35 participants from 18 nation states, including experienced and early career researchers from universities, industry and government laboratories. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://indico.ictp.it/event/7633/overview |
| Description | Letter to the Guardian: Strategies for nuclear weapons and waste |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt published a letter in The Guardian newspaper in response to an earlier article on radioactive waste, highlighting the need for a sustainable and definite end solution, informed by EPSRC sponsored research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/strategies-for-nuclear-weapons-and-waste |
| Description | MRS Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XL |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised flagship 40th anniversary MRS symposium on scientific basis for nuclear waste management, showcasing research in multiple EPSRC sponsored projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Media and public engagement workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a media and public engagement skills summer school for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers in DISTINCTIVE consortium, which was open to attendance to EPSRC sponsored researchers in nuclear energy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | New Scientist Interview: SMRs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview on potential for advanced modular reactor technology for New Scientist magazine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Organised: MRS Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management Symposium, 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised the MRS Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management Symposium, 2018, which attracted more than 100 experts from around the world for a 4 day symposium on state of the art research outcomes in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Participation in International Glass Working Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Participation in International Glass Working Group - dissemination of research outcomes from multiple EPSRC sponsored projects with the aim of developing a state of the art unified model for glass corrosion, relevant to radioactive waste disposal; participation in expert group designing collaborative international experiments using International Standard Glass. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Royal Society Workshop on Nuclear Co-Generation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was invited to participate in the Royal Society meeting on Nuclear Co-generation in recognition of his expertise in radioactive waste management developed through several EPSRC research projects, outcomes from which were highlighted in discussion contribution. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Sheffield scientists pioneer new method for managing radioactive waste |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Television interview as part of World Science day, discussing radioactive waste management research associated with EPSRC sponsored projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://vimeo.com/191056195 |
| Description | TUC Congress: Panel Debate on Nuclear Decommissioning |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Claire Corkhill was invited to participate in an Expert Panel Debate on Nuclear Decommissioning at the TUC Congress, in recognition of her expertise developed through several EPSRC research projects, outcomes of which were highlighted in the opening remarks and panel debate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | The nuclear dilemma |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Claire Corkhill was featured in the BBC short "The nuclear dilemma", explaining the nature, management and disposal of radioactive wastes in the context of nuclear power generation to address climate change and the Fukushima dai-ici accident. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/the-nuclear-dilemma/p09rsq3p |