promoting interest in science, engineering and nuclear ... · international conference on human...

Jožef Stefan InstituteLjubljana, Slovenia

1International Conference on Human Resource Development for Introducing and Expanding Nuclear Power Programmes14-18 March 2010, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Promoting Interest in Science, Engineering and Nuclear Power

in Slovenia

Igor Jenčič, Melita LenošekJožef Stefan Institute

Milan Čopič Nuclear Training CenterLjubljana, Slovenia

International Conference on Human Resource Development for Introducing and Expanding Nuclear Power Programmes14-18 March 2010, Abu Dhabi, UAE 2


Slovenia – the smallest “nuclear country”• Slovenia: 2 million inhabitants, 21000 km2• NPP Krško

� 2-loop Westinghouse PWR, 696 MW� In operation since 1983, owned 50:50 with Croatia

• TRIGA research reactor (Jožef Stefan Institute)• LLRW repository location in the vicinity of NPP� Silo type, built by 2016• Spent fuel stored in the spent fuel pit for plant lifetime• Closed uranium mine

• A new unit of Krško NPP being discussed for ~2020+• Interest of young generation in science and technology decreasing


Nuclear Training Center

• An organizational unit of the Jožef Stefan Institute• Training of future NPP operators and other nuclear professionals• Radiological protection training• Public information


Public information• In 1990-1995 strong movement to prematurely close the NPP• Very strong opposition to RW repository in any local community• First exhibition in the basement of NTC set up in 1991• Since 1993 visits of organized groups

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0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009


Why informing youngsters?

• responsive, can learn, fun to work with

• coming as organized groups• teachers like to come because of required extracurricular activities

• good multiplication effect (homework, parents...)

� informing youngsters is a long term project


Geographic distribution (cumulative since 1993)

100100 %75 - 10050 - 7525 - 500 %


What to expect from public information• Public information of nuclear issues a very long-term activity• Some people will not change their opinion whatsoever• Others will be prepared to re-think certain previous beliefs

� after they will hear some opposite arguments repeatedly� from people they trust

• After 15 years of public information:• Changes in public attitude towards nuclear are visible

� partly due to increased acceptability of nuclear worldwide� results of independent opinion polls can be linked to our activity


Information activities

Live lectures and radlab TRIGA reactor tourInfo materials

Exhibition about nuclear power and fusion Website


Change in information strategy

New approach includes:•Nuclear energy as part of the energy mix

•Global warming•Security of supply in the changing world

•New technologies (fusion)

Before:Nuclear power plant description and radwasteissues


Live Lecture – an opportunity for dialogue

Electricity from Nuclear Energy

Radioactivity WorkshopRadioactivity

and Radioactive Waste

Nuclear Fusion

We encourage discussion and questions that are answered immediately during the lecture. The number of questions is recorded by the lecturer for later analysis.


Radioactivity Lab

• simple experiments attract significant attention


Exhibition tour

• several mockups of repositories• computer games and quizzes• “carousel of radioactivity”• human powered electricity• TRIGA reactor barrel• fusion – energy of future

� complements the existing nuclear technology exhibition


Website www.icjt.org

• 300.000 hits/month• 10.000 visits/month• nuclear database• copies of our lectures• FAQ� new questions answered within days

• source of reliable information, also for media


Polling of visitors• Monitoring social acceptability of nuclear energy• Regular polling every year

� The same basic set of questions since 1993• Polled before the lecture or visit to the exhibition (uninformed opinion)• ~1000 youngsters polled every spring• Goal:

� monitoring trends between youngsters� provide feedback for our information activities

• In the last years several independent polls on a representative sample of population ...


Eurobarometer poll 2005:comparing nuclear knowledge


Agency for radwaste’s poll 2007:Whom do you trust most?


EPIS poll 2008:testing nuclear knowledge

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

electricity from NPP Krškocheaper than thermal - TRUE

radiation from RW repositorydetectable 1 km away -

FALSE

over 200 NPPs operate inEurope - TRUE

nuclear does not contribute togreenhouse effect - TRUE

> 65 y. 55 - 64 y.45 - 54 y.35 - 44 y.25 - 34 y.18 - 24 y.


EPIS poll 2008:agreement with a new NPP in Slovenia

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

18 - 24 y.

25 - 34 y.

35 - 44 y.

45 - 54 y.

55 - 64 y.

> 65 y.


Conclusions

• Small nuclear program → nuclear training center has to go beyond pure nuclear training• Public information is a very extensive activity of NTC

� it reaches around ½ of one school generation in Slovenia� lectures, permanent exhibition, lab, publications, web page, opinion polls

• Being part of academic institution increases credibility• Several independent opinion polls show positive changes in public attitude• They can be attributed to our information activity

promoting interest in science, engineering and nuclear ... · international conference on human...

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