Virtual Boot Camp on Nuclear Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability

Tribune School Desk

Noida, November 12

Shiv Nadar School, Noida, (a not-for-profit initiative of the Shiv Nadar Foundation in K12 education) organised a first-of-its-kind Energy Boot Camp as part of its STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) programme to bring awareness about clean energy, climate change and sustainability. 

  The Boot Camp was organised virtually in association with the Indian Youth Nuclear Society (IYNS), from November 6 to 8, 2020 and witnessed participation from around 2000 students (Grade VI to XII).  

 Renowned scientists participated in the camp to help students understand the dynamics of nuclear energy and its socio-economic and climatic implications in the world. These included Dr Nitendra Singh, founder and president of IYNS and visiting scientist at Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire, France; Dr Arvind Kumar from CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore; Dr Nikhilesh Iyer, Scientific Officer, Hydro Metallurgy Section, Materials Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, and Dr. Joyeeta Sinha, Plasma Physicist, ITER France; among others. 

 The school conducted various awareness sessions for a month prior to the camp to help students prepare for the same. Sessions covered topical issues surrounding environment, nuclear science and sustainable energy. Students were oriented on how nuclear energy can be harnessed for the benefit of mankind, for instance the use of nuclear medicine in treatment of cancer, power generation through nuclear fission and its use in forensic science and space exploration. They also conducted experiments learning kitchen thermodynamics and applying energy saving hacks and simulation of a nuclear reactor, among others.  

 To further enhance students’ learning, participating scientists took sessions with students in groups consisting of 100 each and shared more on nuclear disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima Dacchii, while helping them understand the need for nuclear energy as a possible solution for the complex problem of global warming.

Students also deliberated on problems such as pollution, climate change and sustainable alternatives. The three-day boot-camp held interactive sessions on nuclear radiation and radioprotection, nuclear waste management and fusion reactor technology. 

 The key highlight of the boot camp was the e-visits to nuclear facilities in India and abroad. Students virtually visited the Irradiation facility of Nuvia India (Mathura Road), which is a part of the international Nuvia Group specialising in nuclear products and services in support of India’s most complex civil nuclear projects, Tarapur Atomic Power Station, the first commercial nuclear fission reactor built in India and ITER(France) where students delved deeper to understand what they were taught in class about nuclear energy.

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