As of earlier this year, the South West Nuclear Hub Team has now fully re-established itself as a three-piece (for the first time in around two years!). With renewed invigoration, we have lots of exciting work in the pipeline for the remainder of 2024, and indeed for 2025!
A large part of the SWNH’s remit and strategic vision is the realisation of an academic consortia which brings research of the highest quality to meet industrial challenges set by our Applied Research members and beyond. In an effort to solidify our ties with our existing Academic Members, staring with the University of Southampton, the Team embarked on a trip down to the National Oceanography Centre, located on Southampton's working port.
Overlooked by NERC’s research ship 'RRS James Cook', we joined Professor Andy Cundy, Dr Richard Marsh and Professor Phil Warwick in the centre. We spent an informative morning learning more about the incredibly well equipped NNUF-EXACT Facility hosted by the University, as well as an in-depth discussion about Southampton’s unique model for delivering commercial contracts in the nuclear space through the facility. We were really impressed by Southampton’s commitment to providing CPD and advocating for knowledge exchange, aiding in their mission to embed industry needs and real-world context into the delivery of its world-class research.
Of particular interest was the model for delivering over 300 commercial contracts per year, aided by the Geoscience Advisory Unit (GAU), a supporting facility of NNUF EXACT. There was an eclectic mix of capabilities showcased to the Team: waste characterisation; separation and characterisation of radionuclides (aka Tritium); remediation/clean up technology and nuclear forensics.
“It was great to meet Andy, Phil and Richard and hear about their amazing research and to look around their state-of-the-art NNUF-EXACT Facilities” said Louise Moore, the Partnerships Officer for the SWNH. “This visit has really helped us understand the ways Southampton is contributing to closing the skills gap in the nuclear industry and how we can work together in the future. I am looking forward to helping to build stronger connections with Southampton and within our academic network as part of my role here at the South West Nuclear Hub”.
We were also able to meet Dr Frances Burrell, a radiochemist linked with the GAU Radioanalytical Labs. Frances, alongside her research, has already been able to assist with some joint-communications planning activity, in collaboration with the SWNH.
Looking forward, the Hub Team are planning future visits with the aim of continuing to strengthen our network and be more representative of the amazing work and people who comprise it!
Watch this space.