Simulated Used Nuclear Fuel Dissolution as a Function of Fuel Chemistry and Near Field Conditions
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Materials Science and Engineering
Abstract
This research is a joint UK and US effort to understand the long-term safety of used nuclear fuel (UNF), the primary waste arising from the generation of electricity by nuclear fission. With more than 440 commercial nuclear power stations operating worldwide, a significant cumulative inventory of UNF has been produced, on the order of 300,000 metric tonnes. In the UK, several new nuclear reactors are planned for construction (e.g. Hinkley Point C), and the UNF reprocessing capability at Sellafield (ThORP) is due to close in 2018. Hence, the UK inventory, currently estimated at 3,500 - 8,000 tonnes, will continue to grow. The US currently (April 2016) has 80,150 metric tonnes of UNF, with a prediction of a total of approximately 140,000 metric tons by around 2050 when all currently operating reactors reach their designated life.
The UK and the US presently have no final disposal route for UNF; fuel is currently stored in cooling ponds (UK and US) or dry storage (US only), but this is not a sustainable final solution. Both countries agree that disposal in a deep (200 m - 1000 m) geological formation is the most suitable solution, since it will isolate the UNF from the biosphere and future populations for more than 100,000 years - the period of time for which this material will be highly radioactive. In such a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), the release of radionuclides to the environment will be controlled by the interaction of the UNF with groundwater, and with the materials that have been built as an engineered barrier around the waste, particularly the fuel cladding and the metal canister. Fundamental mechanistic understanding of how UNF interacts with groundwater under GDF conditions is of paramount importance for UK and US waste management programs, which seek to satisfy citizens and regulators regarding the reliability of long-term degradation predictions for UNF originating from a variety of fuel designs, burn-ups, reactor operations, and storage conditions.
This research project is envisioned as a collaborative and joint enterprise between leading researchers from the UK and US who, collectively, bring mutually complementary and compatible skills, capabilities, and interests required to achieve a paradigm shift in our fundamental understanding of UNF dissolution in the presence of cladding and canister materials, and local groundwater conditions. This understanding will underpin the maturation of models for UNF evolution and interaction under different repository conditions, enabling reliable prediction of degradation and adjustment of repository conditions to achieve desired long-term performance and providing confidence in predicting behaviour for up to one million years.
The UK and the US presently have no final disposal route for UNF; fuel is currently stored in cooling ponds (UK and US) or dry storage (US only), but this is not a sustainable final solution. Both countries agree that disposal in a deep (200 m - 1000 m) geological formation is the most suitable solution, since it will isolate the UNF from the biosphere and future populations for more than 100,000 years - the period of time for which this material will be highly radioactive. In such a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), the release of radionuclides to the environment will be controlled by the interaction of the UNF with groundwater, and with the materials that have been built as an engineered barrier around the waste, particularly the fuel cladding and the metal canister. Fundamental mechanistic understanding of how UNF interacts with groundwater under GDF conditions is of paramount importance for UK and US waste management programs, which seek to satisfy citizens and regulators regarding the reliability of long-term degradation predictions for UNF originating from a variety of fuel designs, burn-ups, reactor operations, and storage conditions.
This research project is envisioned as a collaborative and joint enterprise between leading researchers from the UK and US who, collectively, bring mutually complementary and compatible skills, capabilities, and interests required to achieve a paradigm shift in our fundamental understanding of UNF dissolution in the presence of cladding and canister materials, and local groundwater conditions. This understanding will underpin the maturation of models for UNF evolution and interaction under different repository conditions, enabling reliable prediction of degradation and adjustment of repository conditions to achieve desired long-term performance and providing confidence in predicting behaviour for up to one million years.
Planned Impact
Through the generation of much-needed fundamental science on dissolution mechanisms of UO2 and related used nuclear fuel materials, particularly in the presence of cladding materials and under different oxidising / reducing conditions, this research has the potential to impact the plans to deliver a geological disposal facility in the UK and the US. Importantly, the generation of improved understanding in the long-term behaviour of used nuclear fuel, and its interactions with the other materials in the engineered barrier, could influence public confidence in the disposal concepts under consideration. This is vital, particularly for the success of the UK voluntary site selection process that is currently underway. Once a site for geological disposal has been selected, there will be a significant reduction in the hazard arising from nuclear waste currently stored around the UK in above-ground facilities, and indications from Government are that future investment in new nuclear power will be made once a final disposal solution is in place. This will reduce the threat from the 'energy trilemma' and have far-reaching impacts to the economy, the environment and society.
The impacts will be realised through the primary beneficiaries, who include academic and non-academic researchers in the field of used nuclear fuel dissolution, and international waste management organisations responsible for implementing geological disposal solutions for used nuclear fuel, and also the early career researchers involved in the proposed project. The impacts to these groups include:
- New scientific understanding and data to support development of a post-closure safety case for geological disposal;
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and lay-person articles (e.g. The Conversation);
- Potential reduction of the estimated £18Bn cost of radioactive waste disposal in the UK, through more appropriate disposal facility design led by an improved understanding and confidence in spent fuel durability;
- Improved public confidence in UK radioactive waste disposal strategy, through provision of underpinning scientific understanding and data;
- Strengthened UK-US collaborative efforts in nuclear waste management and disposal.
The Pathways to Impact will focus on developing a forum for the exchange of knowledge with the primary beneficiaries; this will take the form of a final workshop in Y3 of the proposed project, with presentations on the research and round-table discussions about how this, and future research, can be incorporated into plans for US and UK geological disposal facility plans. The knowledge exchange forum will also extend to publicising the progress of the research to the wider public, and presenting key findings to the primary beneficaries, on the PI's website (funded through her EPSRC ECR Fellowship), the "Nuclear Waste Repository".
The impacts will be realised through the primary beneficiaries, who include academic and non-academic researchers in the field of used nuclear fuel dissolution, and international waste management organisations responsible for implementing geological disposal solutions for used nuclear fuel, and also the early career researchers involved in the proposed project. The impacts to these groups include:
- New scientific understanding and data to support development of a post-closure safety case for geological disposal;
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and lay-person articles (e.g. The Conversation);
- Potential reduction of the estimated £18Bn cost of radioactive waste disposal in the UK, through more appropriate disposal facility design led by an improved understanding and confidence in spent fuel durability;
- Improved public confidence in UK radioactive waste disposal strategy, through provision of underpinning scientific understanding and data;
- Strengthened UK-US collaborative efforts in nuclear waste management and disposal.
The Pathways to Impact will focus on developing a forum for the exchange of knowledge with the primary beneficiaries; this will take the form of a final workshop in Y3 of the proposed project, with presentations on the research and round-table discussions about how this, and future research, can be incorporated into plans for US and UK geological disposal facility plans. The knowledge exchange forum will also extend to publicising the progress of the research to the wider public, and presenting key findings to the primary beneficaries, on the PI's website (funded through her EPSRC ECR Fellowship), the "Nuclear Waste Repository".
Publications
Cordara T
(2020)
Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP): A novel method to prepare Cr-doped UO2 nuclear fuel
in MRS Advances
Corkhill C
(2018)
Nuclear Waste Management
Ding H
(2022)
Chemical characterisation of degraded nuclear fuel analogues simulating the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident
in npj Materials Degradation
Ding H
(2020)
Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor SIMFuel Fabricated by Hot Isostatic Pressing: a Feasibility Investigation
in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
Ding H
(2021)
Safely probing the chemistry of Chernobyl nuclear fuel using micro-focus X-ray analysis
in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Karcher S
(2022)
Benefits of using multiple Raman laser wavelengths for characterizing defects in a UO 2 matrix
in Journal of Raman Spectroscopy
Mao H
(2022)
Effects of cuticular wax on the postharvest physiology in fragrant pear at different storages.
in Journal of the science of food and agriculture
Mohun R
(2018)
Investigating the role of irradiation defects during UO2 oxidative dissolution
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Paraskevoulakos C
(2022)
Investigating the mechanical behaviour of Fukushima MCCI using synchrotron Xray tomography and digital volume correlation
in npj Materials Degradation
Paraskevoulakos C
(2021)
Investigating the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of simulant "lava-like" fuel containing materials from the Chernobyl reactor unit 4 meltdown
in Materials & Design
Smith H
(2024)
Fabrication, defect chemistry and microstructure of Mn-doped UO2.
in Scientific reports
Smith H
(2022)
Cr2+ solid solution in UO2 evidenced by advanced spectroscopy.
in Communications chemistry
Weber M
(2022)
Characterization of vacancy type defects in irradiated UO2 and CeO2
in MRS Advances
Description | Using simulant materials (uranium dioxide) we are gaining insight to the type of damage caused to UO2 fuel when it is subject to alpha radiation. This type of radiation will dominate when the fuel is disposed of in a geological disposal facility. It is important to understand how the microstructure and chemistry of the fuel will be influenced since these also influence the long-term stability. They key finding from this work is that grain boundaries in the UO2 are capable of repairing some of the damage caused by radiation. However, we also find that doping the UO2 with fission products, as the case in real spent UO2 fuel, reduces this repair mechanism. |
Exploitation Route | It is anticipated that these findings will be of interest to the UK and US spent nuclear fuel storage and disposal implementers. |
Sectors | Energy Environment |
Description | Research on the topic of spent nuclear fuel, approached in a highly collaborative way between UK and USA academic researchers, has led to several notable impacts. Firstly, the research has developed a deeper understanding of how fission products and other nuclear fuel dopants impact the microstructure and durability of spent nuclear fuel in a geological disposal facility, which has been used in a series of "claims, arguments and evidence" (CAE) relating to spent nuclear fuel disposal by the UK radioactive waste disposal implementers, Nuclear Waste Services. This CAE information underpins a knowledge base that will be ultimately used to develop a post-closure safety case for the disposal spent fuel, used in a license application to construct a geological disposal facility. Secondly, this research has sparked a renewed research effort in the USA, funded by the US Department of Energy, into the long-term storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Finally, due to successful collaboration between the three key partner institutions (Sheffield, Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest Nuclear Laboratory), there have been applications for collaborative follow-on funding as well as exchange of researchers in both directions. |
First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
Sector | Energy,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
Description | Member HM Goverment Committee on Radioactive Waste Management |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Development of disposal-MOX |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Orano |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 07/2022 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Disposal MOX fabrication and characterisation |
Amount | £250,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2020 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | Dissolution of neutron poisons from zirconolite - NNL |
Amount | £69,657 (GBP) |
Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2020 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | Long-term durability of plutonium-containing glass ceramics |
Amount | £305,946 (GBP) |
Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
Department | Radioactive Waste Management |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | Platform for Long-term Experimental Investigation of Alteration in Disposal Environments and Storage - PLEIADES |
Amount | £597,980 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V035215/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2021 |
End | 09/2023 |
Description | Plutonium wasteform dissolution - RWM |
Amount | £988,914 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RWM313 |
Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
Department | Radioactive Waste Management |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2021 |
End | 02/2026 |
Description | DISCO European Project |
Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Thanks to the platform built from my EPSRC ECR Fellowship, I was invited to join a European consortim researching the disposal of modern nuclear fuels. I was awarded funding to participate in this project for four years. |
Collaborator Contribution | 1 year of postdoc research and 4 years of PhD research, sharing of samples and access to equipment. |
Impact | 1. Organisation of the International Spent Nuclear Fuel Workshop in Sheffield, May 2018. 120 delegates from 18 different countries attended. 2. Presentation at the Materials Research Society conference by Theo Cordara: Synthesis and Characterisation of Cr2O3 and Al2O3 doped fuel 3. Several publications by Hannah Smith. 4. Invitation to join the follow-on EU project, SAREC. Currently pending funding decision. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | The NEUP Project |
Organisation | Washington State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Characterization and irradiation of surrogate nuclear fuels |
Collaborator Contribution | Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) and TGA measurements of the irradiated pellets |
Impact | Collaboration has allowed us to correlate our experimental data with new PAS results |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | UK-US spent nuclear fuel research |
Organisation | Washington State University |
Department | Washington State University Spokane |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Professor John McCloy from Washington State University and I are collaborating on a US-UK NEUP-EPSRC grant, to understand the behaviour of spent nuclear fuel during disposal and storage. We have provided materials and shared expertise and networks within the European spent nuclear fuel research community. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have shared expertise and equipment. |
Impact | Publications to date include: 1. Brehault A., Patil D., Kamat H., Youngman R. E., Thirion L. M., Mauro J. C., Corkhill C. L., McCloy J. S. and Goel, A. Compositional dependence of solubility / retention of molybdenum oxides in aluminoborosilicate-based model nuclear waste glasses. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 122, 1714 - 1729 (2018) 2. Chong S., Peterson J. A., Riley B. J., Tabada D., Wall D., Corkhill C. L. and McCloy J. S. Glass-bonded iodosodalite waste form for immobilisation of 129I. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 504, 109 - 121 (2018) |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | A long-term solution: film for Radioactive Waste Management Limited |
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 | Was the presenter of a short film describing the UK Government's policy on nuclear waste geological disposal. Participating in the filming has enhanced relationship with key policy makers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoPSaWV-tQU |
Description | BBC 5 Live / BBC Cambridge / The Naked Scientists podcast |
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 | Interviewed for BBC Radio Cambridge and the Naked Scientists podcast on radioactive waste disposal. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://twitter.com/NakedScientists/status/1246857392463269888 |
Description | BBC Breakfast: Chernobyl |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Appeared on BBC Breakfast show to discuss the decommissioning efforts at Chernobyl and Fukushima and our research that supports them. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | BBC Inside Science |
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 | Interviewed on BBC Inside Science about radioactive waste disposal, radioactive waste from fusion energy and Fukushima Daiichi clean up-related research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0013zm3 |
Description | BBC Look North interview with Peter Levy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview with Peter Levy on the 6.30pm BBC Look North evening news, about the proposed siting of a geological disposal facility for radioactive waste at the Theddlethorpe site. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | BBC R4 Today programme: feature on geological disposal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for BBC R4 Today Programme feature on geological disposal of nuclear waste. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | BBC R4 World Tonight interview: radioactivity release in Russia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interviewed on BBC R4 The World Tonight to discuss the release of radioactivity in Russia after a failed missile test. This sparked further media interest in the topic. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | BBC Sheffield interview: Chernobyl |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed by Kat Cowan on the BBC Radio Sheffield breakfast show, to discuss the Chernobyl accident and our research that is helping to support the decomissioning efforts at both Chernobyl and Fukushima. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | BBC World Service - nuclear fuel removal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interviewed by Ritulah Shah on BBC World Service News Hour programme, to discuss the removal of nuclear fuel from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-47933031 |
Description | BBC World Service Science in Action interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interviewed on the BBC World Service Science in Action programme about the radioactivity release associated with the Russian missile test failure, and our research in nuclear forensics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csym26 |
Description | BBC5Live Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed on the Sarah Bretty show on BBC5Live to discuss the science behind the decommissioning of the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear reactors. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | CNN interview - Fukushima contaminated water release |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave CNN interview on the topic of radioactive water stored at the Fukushima site. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/24/asia/japan-fukushima-waste-ocean-intl-scli/index.html |
Description | Chernobyl Live Tweet |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I live tweeted 6 episodes of Sky Atlantic's "Chernobyl" mini-series, giving the scientific facts and truths behind the show, including how our EPSRC-funded research is being used to help clean up the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plants. My tweets received millions of impressions and hundreds of thousands of likes and solicited a great amount of media interest in our research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://twitter.com/clairecorkhill |
Description | CoRWM presentation at NDA Integrated Waste Management Programme Stakeholder Workshop |
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 | Gave a talk on behalf of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's Integrated Waste Management Programme Stakeholder Workshop. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.marickpartners.co.uk/iwmp/ |
Description | Engineering Matters Podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for Engineering Matters podcast on radioactive waste decommissioning and disposal |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://engineeringmatters.reby.media/2020/03/13/50-dealing-with-nuclear-waste/ |
Description | Expert participant in BEIS public dialogue on Advanced Nuclear Technologies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | I participated as an expert in radioactive waste management for the BEIS-sponsored Public Dialogue on Advanced Nuclear Technology. Groups of the public from different areas of the country discussed the issues around new nuclear power. The outcomes highlighted two key points: (1) the participants of the study were not aware that nuclear power is a modern technology; and (2) they were strongly resolved that there should be no new nuclear power stations until a geological disposal facility for radioactive waste is available. BEIS have taken this on board and are now building in public engagement and waste disposal matters into their emerging Advanced Modular Reactor programme. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-dialogue-on-advanced-nuclear-technologies-ants |
Description | Financial Times interview |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for Financial Times article "UK returns to grappling with toxic nuclear waste dilemma" - quoted in main article. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.ft.com/content/2321bfae-839a-468f-b933-d699b6ff6864 |
Description | ITV This Morning |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Appeared on the sofa with Holly and Phil on ITV's This Morning show to discuss radioactivity, Chernobyl and our research to support decommissioning at Fukushima and Chernobyl. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x2PcB-XaVA |
Description | International Atomic Energy Agency Coordinated Research Project on Severely Damaged Nuclear Fuel |
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 | Invited to attend as an expert contributor to the International Atomic Energy Agency Coordinated Research Project on Severely Damaged Nuclear Fuel, which met in Fukushima Prefecture to discuss latest R&D in degraded nuclear fuel materials, and to identify future research needs. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | International Spent Nucleear Fuel Workshop |
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 | My team and I organised the bi-annual International Spent Nuclear Fuel Workshop in Sheffield, in May 2018. There were 125 participants from 16 countries, including academic researchers in materials science and engineering, environmental science and social science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Invited talk Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management, IAEA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave keynote talk at the Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management conference, hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Sparked debate about future research requirements in the field. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited talk at the IChemE |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave invited talk at IChemE webinar on the application of synchrotron x-ray techniques to understand radioactive materials. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.icheme.org/membership/communities/special-interest-groups/nuclear/events/24-02-21-new-op... |
Description | Lead contributor - 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 | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I was filmed for a BBC Ideas short documentary about nuclear power. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/the-nuclear-dilemma/p09rsq3p |
Description | MRS conference presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave talk on high level waste glass dissolution at Materials Research Society Symposium: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | NDA Blog interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority blog regarding the decommissioning of Chernobyl and Fukushima, and how research being performed in support of Sellafield decommissioning is supporting this. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://nda.blog.gov.uk/2019/06/07/chernobyl-drama-sparks-huge-interest-in-nuclear-so-lets-talk-abou... |
Description | NERC RATE programme blog |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for NERC Radioactivity and the Environment research programme knowledge exhange blog, about our research associated with Fukushima and Chernobyl fuel debris. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://rateknowledgeexchange.com/post/chernobyl-hbo |
Description | Nature News article: How nuclear scientists are decoding Russia's mystery explosion |
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 | Interviewed for Nature News article "How nuclear scientists are decoding Russia's mystery explosion". Article solicited further media interest in our research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02574-9 |
Description | Nuclear Waste Dig Deep or Aim High? Talk at Sheffield Round Table |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Gave talk on the geological disposal of nuclear waste at the Sheffield Round Table monthly seminar series. Lively debate about nuclear energy ensued, with audience members reporting change in opinion (for the positive) regarding nuclear waste disposal. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Numerous TV, radio and newspaper interviews regarding the status of nuclear power and Chernobyl during the Russian/Ukrainian war |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for numerous TV and radio broadcasts, and newspaper articles, regarding the status of nuclear installations in Ukraine. Offered reassurance to the public in the face of growing panic in the media. The following is not an exhaustive list of the articles / appearences: > BBC News, web interview, Feb 25th (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60514228) > BBC News, web interview, Feb 25th (https://bbc.in/3tZUdOY) > Independent, newspaper interview, Feb 25th (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chernobyl-update-nuclear-radiation-ukraine-b2023062.html) > BBC News, web interview, Feb 26th (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60528828) > Chemistry World, interview, March 1st (https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/fears-for-ukraines-nuclear-facilities-follow-russian-troops-taking-charge-of-chernobyl-site/4015308.article) > BBC Science in Action, radio interview, March 3rd (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct1l53) > BBC 2, TV broadcast, March 4th > BBC News, web interview, 4th March (https://bbc.in/3MOpZXX) > BBC News at 6pm, TV interview, 4th March > Sky News, TV interview, 4th March (https://news.sky.com/video/could-chernobyl-happen-again-12557735) > Channel 5 News, TV interview, 4th March > Financial Times, Newspaper interview, 4th March (https://www.ft.com/content/6caaa71c-fa11-4c24-ad19-035d694618a2) > BBC News, web interview, 4th March (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-60617145) > BBC News, web interview, 9th March (https://bbc.in/3KPyv7e) > LBC News, radio / tv interview, 9th March (https://twitter.com/LBC/status/1501634578703859720) > BBC Newsnight, tv interview, 9th March (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006mk25/newsnight) > BBC Breakfast News, tv interview, 10th March (https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/1501813668190773251) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Presentation to Allerdale Borough Council on behalf of CoRWM |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Delivered presentation to Allerdale Borough Council (part of the Allerdale Geological Disposal Facility Working Group) about CoRWM and support available from CoRWM during the GDF siting process. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Sky News article: Chernobyl became a huge hit |
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 | Interviewed for Sky News opinion piece: "How Chernobyl quietly became a huge TV hit: A nuclear scientist, a TV writer and a journalist who grew up in the Soviet Union speak to Sky News about Chernobyl's success." |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://news.sky.com/story/how-chernobyl-quietly-topped-the-tv-charts-11732879 |
Description | Spent Nuclear Fuel workshop, Ghent |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave presentation at the bi-annual spent nuclear fuel workshop -- my team also gave presentations. Lively debate ensued with academic peers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Talk at Tapton School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Gave talk on "The mineralogy of a nuclear meltdown" at the Tapton School science club seminar series, sparking questions about materials science and how to go about studying it at University. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | The Conversation: "Nuclear Powered" missile accident in Russia - what really happened? |
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 | Authored article for The Conversation on the radioactivity released from a failed Russian missile test. There were 51,00 readers of the article and it prompted discussion with 43 comments made. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/nuclear-powered-missile-accident-in-russia-what-really-happened-121966 |
Description | The Conversation: Nuclear waste is piling up: Governments need to stop dithering and take action |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Authored article in The Conversation, titled "Nuclear waste is piling up: Governments need to stop dithering and take action". Article was read by 5000 people and 33 comments were made in the discussion section. The article was also published in other news outlets e.g. phys.org. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/nuclear-waste-is-piling-up-governments-need-to-stop-dithering-and-take-a... |
Description | Trade Union Congress panel on Delivering Geological Disposal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Participated in an expert panel on "Radioactive Waste: Delivering Geological Disposal", at the Trade Union Congress Fringe event, organised but TUSNE (Trade Union for Safe Nuclear Energy). Discussed aspects of environmental impact, benefits, policy, location and safety of geological disposal of nuclear waste. Audience members reported a change in opinion after the event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://nda.blog.gov.uk/2019/09/26/radioactive-waste-management-takes-gdf-to-the-tuc-congress-2019/ |
Description | Yorkshire Post |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed by the Yorkshire Post about my research supporting the clean up of nuclear waste and its eventual disposal in a geological disposal facility. Also discussed our work on nuclear fuel debris to support decommissioning operations at Chernobyl and Fukushima. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/environment/meet-sheffield-scientist-clearing-worlds-nuclear-wa... |