HADES: A User Facility for High Activity Decommissioning Engineering Science

Lead Research Organisation: University of Sheffield
Department Name: Materials Science and Engineering

Abstract

HM Government's civil nuclear energy policy has the threefold objectives of: exploiting nuclear power for low carbon, reliable and affordable electricity generation; decommissioning the legacy of historic nuclear fuel cycle activities; and safe disposal of radioactive wastes. Building on the Nuclear Industrial Strategy, the Nuclear Sector Deal set the vision for the civil nuclear sector, to deliver by 2030:
* 30% cost reduction in cost of new build projects
* Savings of 20% in cost of decommissioning compared with current estimates
* Up to £2bn domestic and international contract wins
The HADES Facility for High Active Decommissioning Engineering Science aims to play a pivotal role in realisation of these objectives through investment of a suite of equipment to enable fundamental and applied research in thermal treatment of radioactive wastes. Such technology utilises the application of heat to immobilise radionuclides and chemotoxic species within a passively safe product (a glass, slag or ceramic) suitable for interim storage and disposal. The benefits afforded by this approach are potentially game changing and include radical volume reduction and elimination of waste reactivity and organic inventory. The estimated lifecycle cost savings arising from successful implementation of thermal treatment technology in legacy nuclear decommissioning programmes are £billions in each of the UK and USA. Thermal treatment of radioactive wastes from future advanced recycle of nuclear fuels will reduce the environmental footprint of future nuclear generation, and reduce the associated waste management cost, through development of next generation materials for high level waste immobilisation, which are compatible with the challenging characteristics of such wastes and achieve a greater efficiency of waste incorporation. The technological developments achieved in these domains will realise new intellectual property and highly skilled human capital to grow the UK share of the legacy and future nuclear decommissioning market.
The HADES Facility, the only one of its kind in the UK, will enable this impact to be realised by creating unique infrastructure to handle large radioactive inventories and real radioactive wastes at the laboratory scale, to develop waveform formulation, process envelope, and product disposability to advance thermal treatment technology and enable timely implementation by current and future site licence companies. In so doing, we will nucleate grow a world leading community of practice, producing highly skilled user-researchers, through effective training and networking activities. Additionally, the unique capability established within the HADES Facility will be a beacon to attract and engage international collaboration, enabling us to pool research resources to address trans-national challenges in radioactive waste management and extending the reach of impact from the arising research beyond the UK.

Planned Impact

The HADES Facility will be unique in the UK with its capability to enable thermal treatment research with high inventories of radionuclides. The Facility will be capable of addressing a diverse range radioactive waste management challenges relevant to decommissioning of UK and international nuclear sites. In summary, we therefore focus on three areas of immediate impact, each associated with a Sheffield led research projects with EPSRC and industrial support, although we have identified a considerable UK and international user base who could exploit the facility capability to advance their own research programmes.
1) Maturation of hot isostatic pressing technology to immobilise UK plutonium stockpile and residues and high dose spent adsorbents. HM Government has placed renewed focus on management of the plutonium stockpile, for which immobilisation of at least 5tHM is likely to be required. Upgrade of our existing Hot Isostatic Press with an Active Furnace Isolation Chamber and control system, will allow systematic investigation of ceramic and glass-ceramic formulations utilising U and effective Pu surrogate and optimisation of process envelopes. Translation of the research outcomes enabled by the Facility infrastructure, through effective collaboration with the National Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield Ltd., and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, will contribute to the evidence base required to inform HM Government decision on plutonium immobilisation and an investment in a waste treatment complex. This research, which cannot currently be undertaken at any other UK facility, is timely and has the potential to address one of the highest priority challenges on the Sellafield site, from the perspective of both research outcomes and the operational experience of radiological HIP application. This work is supported by several EPSRC grant
2) Thermal treatment is one potential treatment option for spent ion exchange resins which pose a challenge to low level waste disposal, for example, due to incorporated complexants (e.g. EDTA). We are developing proof of the efficacy of thermal treatment to such wastes, which results in destruction of the complexant species and incorporation of the radionuclide inventory into a compatible glass matrix. The proposed equipment investment will support future laboratory scale development of this approach utilising real radioactive resin wastes supplied by MOD, to understand the impact of radiolytic degradation of resin on the process envelope, evolved off gas, and product quality. MOD, are undertaking a Best Practicable Environmental Option assessment for these wastes, to reduce onsite hazard in line with regulator advice. Thus, our planned research, enabled by the Facility, will be opportune because the outcomes will arise during a key window of strategy development to allow uptake by MOD to refine their waste management strategy and potentially open the first route for vitrified resin disposal at LLWR. The research outcomes will also be of interest to other waste producers.
3) The NDA Research Board has highlighted the need to "ensure that thermally treated products meet the acceptability criteria for disposal" as being of "fundamental importance" so that "disposability does not become a "show stopper" at a late stage". The RWM Science & Technology Plan specifies the knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in this regard, which focus on understanding the mechanisms of plutonium (glass)-ceramics and vitrified ILW glass dissolution, and interaction with engineered back fill materials, in conceptual disposal concepts; note, also there still remain knowledge gaps concerning the fundamental mechanisms of HLW glass corrosion. The proposed equipment investment will enable the UK research community to address these challenges by enabling preparation and characterisation of conceptual wasteforms, incorporating key radioactive elements (U, Tc), for mechanistic dissolution studies.

Publications

10 25 50

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Bailey D (2020) Ce and U speciation in wasteforms for thermal treatment of plutonium bearing wastes, probed by L 3 edge XANES in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering

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Blackburn L (2020) Hot Isostatically Pressed Zirconolite Wasteforms for Actinide Immobilisation in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering

 
Description Research undertaken in the HADES facility is supporting several aspects of the national nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste disposal mission. For example: * We are developing a systematic understanding of the solid solution mechanisms in titanate ceramics, to support design and selection of the ceramic formulation to immobilise the 140 tonne UK plutonium inventory, if required; see e.g.: J. Nucl. Mater., 556 (2020) 153198; J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 104 (2021) 2937; npj Mat. Deg., 5 (2021) 1; RSC Adv., 11 (2021) 25179; J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 40 (2020) 5909; J. Nucl. Mater., 535 (2020) 152137. * We established critical UK expertise in the application of hot isostatic pressing technology to the treatment of Sellafield and Fukushima radioactive wastes, including development of the first radiological HIP facility in the UK: J. Haz. Mater., 413 (2021) 125250; IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng., 818 (2020) 012009. * We developed mechanistic understanding of chlorine solubility within glass-ceramic materials designed for the immobilisation of around 5 tonnes of heavily (PVC) contaminated plutonium residues on the Sellafield site; this work established that a pre-treatment facility would not be required to remove chlorine contamination of the residue feed, de-risking the technology roadmap and reducing the projected capital and operational plant costs: RSC Adv., 10 (2020) 32497. These challenges will improve the effectiveness of NDA and Sellafield strategy, and government policy, by providing evidence and data to derisk technology options for waste treatment and disposal, supporting future strategic and investment decisions.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Sector Energy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy
Impact Types Societal

Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description (PREDIS) - PRE-DISposal management of radioactive waste
Amount € 23,773,743 (EUR)
Funding ID 945098 
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 08/2020 
End 08/2024
 
Description Development of disposal-MOX
Amount £10,000 (GBP)
Organisation Orano 
Sector Private
Country United States
Start 07/2022 
End 03/2023
 
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 06/2020 
End 06/2021
 
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 06/2020 
End 06/2021
 
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 08/2020 
End 06/2021
 
Title Stirred-Reactor Coupon Analysis test 
Description Previously in the nuclear waste performance community, the single-pass flow-through (SPFT) method ASTM C1662 (e.g., ASTM C1662-18 2018) has been the most common test chosen to evaluate waste form corrosion in dilute conditions. The test method consists of a target solution passed at a relatively low flow rate over a sample material (usually in particle form) and measuring the composition of the effluent by solution analyses. The typical analytical techniques for solution analyses have detection limits that can require lowering flow rates (and thus decreasing the dilution of the contacting solution) just so the concentration of ions in the resultant sample is high enough to measure. This higher concentration impacts the resultant measured rate to the extent that extrapolations of multiple measurements must be made to estimate the dissolution rate in infinitely dilute conditions. A new technique, termed the stirred-reactor coupon analysis (SRCA) method, has been developed to achieve solution dilution through a large, well-mixed volume rather than via solute flow. In this method, monolithic glass coupons are masked with an inert material before undergoing corrosion in a large volume of solution with known chemistry and temperature for a pre-determined duration. After terminating the test, the mask is removed and the step height difference between the protected and corroded portions of the sample coupon is measured to determine the extent of glass dissolution. The step height can be converted to a rate measurement using the test duration and glass density. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The method will be developed into an ASTM standard for application to understanding the durability of radioactive waste in geological disposal environments. 
 
Title CSD 2036872: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Sarah E. O'Sullivan, Eduardo Montoya, Shi-Kuan Sun, Jonathan George, Cameron Kirk, Malin C. Dixon Wilkins, Philippe F. Weck, Eunja Kim, Kevin S. Knight, Neil C. Hyatt|2020|Inorg.Chem.|59|18407|doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03044 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc26cjkp&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 2036873: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Sarah E. O'Sullivan, Eduardo Montoya, Shi-Kuan Sun, Jonathan George, Cameron Kirk, Malin C. Dixon Wilkins, Philippe F. Weck, Eunja Kim, Kevin S. Knight, Neil C. Hyatt|2020|Inorg.Chem.|59|18407|doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03044 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc26cjlq&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 2036874: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Sarah E. O'Sullivan, Eduardo Montoya, Shi-Kuan Sun, Jonathan George, Cameron Kirk, Malin C. Dixon Wilkins, Philippe F. Weck, Eunja Kim, Kevin S. Knight, Neil C. Hyatt|2020|Inorg.Chem.|59|18407|doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03044 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc26cjmr&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 2107209: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Malin C. Dixon Wilkins, Lucy M. Mottram, Ewan R. Maddrell, Martin C. Stennett, Claire L. Corkhill, Kristina O. Kvashnina, Neil C. Hyatt|2021|Inorg.Chem.|60|18112|doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c02733 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc28qqh7&sid=DataCite
 
Title HERMES - a GUI-based software tool for pre-processing of X-ray absorption spectroscopy data from laboratory Rowland circle spectrometers 
Description HERMES is a GUI based utility for rapid and robust pre-processing of transmission laboratory XAS data from Rowland circle spectrometers, for import into software such as ATHENA for further analysis. Following development, the HERMES backronym was later coined as Handy Energy Recalibration and Mu Evaluation Software. HERMES is free to download and distributed under the MIT Licence approved by the Open Source Imitative, the documentation is distributed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 licence, enabling users to adapt and modify the source code to better meet their needs, as may be desirable. HERMES is written in Java 15 and compiled and tested to work on the common laboratory Microsoft Windows and Macintosh OSX platforms. Plotting graphics are implemented using JFreeChart. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2021 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact The software is the first freely available and open source software that meets the needs of a growing user community in laboratory / instrument based X-ray absorption spectroscopy for pre-processing of data to enable import into standard analysis packages. The software was developed through dialogue with an instrument manufacturer and has been recommended to, and utilised, by their customer base. 
URL https://github.com/xasheffield/hermes
 
Description 'A very real problem': How resurgent nuclear reactions at Chernobyl might be dealt with to avert disaster 
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 Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Prof Neil Hyatt was interviewed by The Independent on the potential resurgence of nuclear fission within the fuel debris of the Chernobyl reactor and the relevance to Fukushima Dai-ici, the article highlighted our recent work on the synthesis and characterisation of Chernobyl and Fukushima corium and fuel debris.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chernobyl-nuclear-reactions-robots-drilling-b1846990...
 
Description 'It's like the embers in a barbecue pit.' Nuclear reactions are smoldering again at Chernobyl 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Prof Neil Hyatt was interviewed by Science magazine on the potential resurgence of nuclear fission within the fuel debris of the Chernobyl reactor and the relevance to Fukushima Dai-ici, drawing on recent research on Chernobyl and Fukushima corium and fuel debris.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.science.org/content/article/nuclear-reactions-reawaken-chernobyl-reactor
 
Description Chernobyl's nuclear fuel is smoldering. To prevent another accident, researchers are studying the site's radioactive lava. 
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 Industry/Business
Results and Impact Prof Neil Hyatt and Prof. Claire Corkhill were interviewed by Business Insider on the potential resurgence of nuclear fission within the fuel debris of the Chernobyl reactor and discussed ongoing research to understand the formation and behaviour of corium materials at Chernobyl and Fukushima Dai-ici, and management of radioactive wastes more broadly.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.businessinsider.com/chernobyl-radioactive-lava-prevent-nuclear-accident-2021-5?r=US&IR=T
 
Description Chernobyl: nuclear material may be re-igniting 
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 Neil Hyatt was interviewed by the Naked Scientist podcast on the potential resurgence of nuclear fission within the fuel debris of the Chernobyl reactor and the relevance to Fukushima Dai-ici.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/chernobyl-nuclear-material-may-be-re-igniting
 
Description Collaboration Workshop on Facilities for Materials and Environmental Radiochemistry Research 
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 A one day Collaboration Workshop on Facilities for Materials and Environmental Radiochemistry Research was held on 24th February 2020, to kick off development of the HADES project and showcase the NNUF 2 investment in this and the RADER and UTGARD facilities. The capability of the facilities was presented with a tour of the HADES facility. A workshop activity was also delivered to enable the user community to identify gaps in available capability for future development. One important gap identified by the community was the lack of facilities and fragile capability for studies of surrogate spent nuclear fuel disposal, which require rigorously anoxic glove box capability. This led to development and submission of the PLEIADES facility proposal to the NNUF2a call.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Covid and clean air 
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 Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Prof Neil Hyatt was interviewed by BBC Science In Action on the potential resurgence of nuclear fission within the fuel debris of the Chernobyl reactor and the relevance to Fukushima Dai-ici, drawing on recent research on Chernobyl and Fukushima corium and fuel debris.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1l3m
 
Description Experimental User community 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 A day-long webinar describing the capabilities and research outputs of the National Nuclear User Facilities -- PLEIADES, HADES, EXACT and RADER -- was held. Approximately 40 people (postgrad students, academic staff, regulators and nuclear industry representatives) attended to learn about how to access the facilities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
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 HADES Facility Open Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A one day open day was held on 6th February 2020, to showcase the HADES facility to potential national and international users and research collaborators. The event attracted 30 delegates who participated in tours of the facility and demonstrations of instrumentation and equipment. An overview presentation of facility equipment and capability was also provided. This event elicited expressions of interest in future use of the facility and collaboration from the delegates.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Joint Research Conference on Thermal Treatment of Radioactive Wastes with the EC THERAMIN Project 
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 The conference attracted more than 120 delegates from the UK, Europe and USA for a two day meeting (4 - 5th February 2020) on development of thermal treatment technology and its applications. The meeting renewed and established collaborative partnerships with several chimerical organisations, who expressed an interest in using the capability within the HADES facility.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Journal Highlights 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Our paper in MRS Advances titled "A feasibility investigation of laboratory based x-ray absorption spectroscopy in support of nuclear waste management" (https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2020.44), was featured as a highlight article in the Materials Research Society Bulletin in January 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://link.springer.com/article/10.1557/s43577-021-00233-x
 
Description Nuclear reactions are discovered smouldering 'like embers at a barbecue' in an inaccessible chamber at Chernobyl, sparking gears of another explosion at the power plant. 
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 Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Prof Neil Hyatt was interviewed by The Daily Mail on the potential resurgence of nuclear fission within the fuel debris of the Chernobyl reactor and the relevance to Fukushima Dai-ici, drawing on recent research on Chernobyl and Fukushima corium and fuel debris.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9570439/Nuclear-reactions-smouldering-like-embers-ba...
 
Description Nuclear reactions at Chernobyl are spiking in an inaccessible chamber 
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 was interviewed by New Scientist on the potential resurgence of nuclear fission within the fuel debris of the Chernobyl reactor and the relevance to Fukushima Dai-ici, drawing on recent research on Chernobyl and Fukushima corium and fuel debris.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.newscientist.com/article/2277195-nuclear-reactions-at-chernobyl-are-spiking-in-an-inacce...
 
Description Participation in the MRS 2022 Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A virtual session of the MRS 2022 conference was organised for the Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management Symposium, which was also recorded and available for all conference participants to view for 28 days.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Preparation of poster for Plutonium Futures 2022 Conference 
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 Poster presentation at an international conference, this disseminated the research to other academics, as well as industrial partners who are interested in Pu science and underpinning Pu disposal policy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Preparation of presentation for the NWS RSO Conference 2023 
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 The Conference is designed to bring together industrial partners and academics working in collaboration with NWS, to share the latest research regarding the disposal of nuclear waste in the UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Seminar series - Cloud Conference on Radioactive Waste Management 
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 A seminar series - Cloud Conference on Radioactive Waste Management, was organised immediately following the UK national lockdown in March 2020. Five seminars were held on a monthly basis attracting 70-100 participants on each occasion. Talks were drawn from across the UK research community, featuring early and mature research investigators from academia and industry, working within the broad area of radioactive waste management. Participants reported their appreciation of this networking activity to maintain community collaboration and knowledge transfer in the absence of in person events and travel.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/materials/news/cloud-conference-brings-current-research-nation-lockdown
 
Description Simulant material could aid in Fukushima cleanup 
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 Article on Paul Scherrer Institute and Swiss Light Source website, as front page, highlighting our research on synthesis and characterisation of Fukushima corium.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.psi.ch/en/media/our-research/simulant-material-could-aid-in-fukushima-cleanup
 
Description The Continuing Story of the Nuclear Waste Bill 
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 Radio Interview on BBC Inside science discussing management and disposal of radioactive waste and highlighting recently published research on synthesis and characterisation of Fukushima coriums.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0013zm3
 
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
 
Description Webinar on UK Active Research Facilities 
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 A one day webinar was held on 10 June 2020, in partnership with the TRANSCEND project, to showcase UK facilities for working with high activity materials and the TRANSCEND Active Research Fund. The webinar featured presentations on the HADES, UTGARD, DCF and NNL Central Laboratory facilities. The webinar facilitated a Q&A session with facility operators to assist the user community with planning future access. The event elicited interest from both existing and future users of the facilities for future access.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020