Claire Corkhill has enjoyed some exciting visits this last month, as part of her role advising HM Government on radioactive waste management and disposal.
At the very tip of Scotland was Claire’s first stop; visiting Dounreay (near John O'Groats), where the UK's now-decommissioned prototype fast breeder nuclear reactor is sited, as well as Vulcan, the UK's site for submarine nuclear reactor prototypes. Here she met with those responsible for cleaning up radioactively contaminated land, as well as scientists designing new mineral-based materials for the disposal of unusual radioactive wastes that only come from exotic nuclear reactors like those at Dounreay and Vulcan.
Closer to home, she visited the Hinkley Point B reactor to learn how the facility is being decommissioned and shut down by EDF, and also Hinkley Point C, to meet Big Carl (the World's largest crane, pictured) and to investigate how radioactive waste management, disposal, climate change and sea-level rise are being factored into the design and build process of the exciting new nuclear reactor.
Finally, she spent a jovial evening in London, with the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Committee, hosted by Greg Clark MP, celebrating the publication of a new report to which she contributed oral evidence at a session with cross-party MPs, "Delivering Nuclear Power in the UK".
The overarching message from all of the visits and discussions with technical specialists and MPs alike was clear: the UK needs a geological disposal facility for radioactive waste if we are to use nuclear energy to meet the country's Net Zero by 2050 ambitions. The skills and knowledge of Earth scientists is crucial if we are to achieve this – if you want to get involved, please get in touch with Claire!