Leading the way to a safer nuclear future

Getting the government and public on-side to support a healthy nuclear future depends upon a demonstration of technical excellence combined with convincing explanations that historical mishaps, which remain strong in the public memory, have taught us many things which will give great confidence that similar events shall not happen in the future. A significant input to this learning of lessons to the processes of design, construction, operation and eventual dismantling of nuclear installations is a demonstration that every possible eventuality has been identified, considered, and mitigated against.

A review of a number of historical nuclear events reveals patterns in errors and uncertainties which 'critical thinking' can ensure are not repeated. Thinking 'outside the box' is seen to be as important as following rigorously tested procedures, and that suitably experienced and qualified individuals are engaged and allowed to have an independent voice, such that 'groupthink' is not allowed to lead to a less than ideal decision.

The talk will include some brief exercises designed to illustrate how easy it is to come to a wrong decision, and will conclude with a look at examples of new reactor designs and waste-management ideas which have already demonstrated that designers and planners are still needing to learn these lessons.

There will be an talk followed by a Q&A, hosted by Dalton Champion Francesca Brooks-Ward.

Professor Anthony Wickham obtained a first class degree in Chemistry from Imperial (London) in 1968 and immediately joined the nuclear power industry (CEGB Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories) where he spent the first three years researching the radiation chemistry of reactor coolants for his PhD. He remained at Berkeley for 27 years, finally heading up the graphite monitoring work in support of the Magnox and AGR reactors. He has continued working independently as a nuclear graphite specialist, supporting reactor operation, decommissioning, and nuclear safeguards internationally with extensive work of the International Atomic Energy Agency, US national labs, and numerous organisations in Japan, Germany, South Africa and France, as well as long-term support to EdF Nuclear Operations in the UK (as a member of the Independent Graphite Validation Group). He has recently completed work for the European Commission and the Lithuanian Energy Ministry in regard to dismantling of the Ignalina RBMK reactors, and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in support of future SMRs. Currently, in common with the UoM Nuclear Graphite Research Group, he is supporting Nuclear Restoration Services in their ambition to accelerate the dismantling of Magnox reactors for site recovery with innovative options for disposing of irradiated graphite. He is the only person on the planet to have attended all 25 International Nuclear Graphite Specialist Meetings, which he helped to found via the IAEA.

This series brings together leaders from the Dalton Community and our partners to share their views and experiences across the breadth of nuclear with a wider audience. The series is hosted by the Dalton Champions - members of Manchester's nuclear research community who work to enhance the Dalton network. Champions are based throughout the University, representing the many departments in which nuclear related research takes place.

The University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute brings together the University's community of over 195 PhD researchers, postdocs and fellows, and 120 academics. Spread across three faculties, their work covers the full nuclear fuel cycle, fusion, health and social research. Together this community forms the most advanced nuclear research capability in UK academia.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Dalton Nuclear Institute