RULES

I recently completed my IGCSEs and am applying to universities to do my foundation.

The current plan I have in mind is to do my pre-u and bachelors degree in the country I live.

Afterwards, finishing my masters in Nuclear Engineering and finding a job abroad since the country I currently live in doesn't really have much of a nuclear industry.

I am still unsure on what I'd like to work as in the industry but what I currently have in mind is either do research or work in a power plant.

One of the universities I've applied to and been accepted would be able to lead me to go to China, but, this university doesn't offer a bachelors directly correlated to nuclear.

Rather, it has:

1. Bachelor of Science in Physics (Honours)
2. Bachelor of Engineering in New Energy Science and Engineering (Honours)
3. Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Honours)
4. Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours)
5. Bachelor of Engineering in Software Engineering (Honours)
6. Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Technology (Honours)

I also do have another university that I've applied to but am still waiting to get accepted, and this university does offer a bachelors directly correlated to nuclear - Bachelor in Nuclear Engineering (Honours) - but, this university is more Japanese oriented, with a department solely dedicated to sending its students to Japan. However, the previously stated degree is outside that department.

The programs under that department are:

1. Bachelor of Electronic System Engineering
2. Bachelor of Chemical Process Engineering
3. Bachelor of Mechanical Precision Engineering

I don't particularly mind either countries as I can speak the basics of both Chinese and Japanese and I believe that in the span of my pre-u and degree, I am able to learn to speak either languages to the point that I won't have any issues once I reach the country. And also due to my background, I am already quite familiar with the cultures of both countries but I've heard that Japan is less "secure" in prospective jobs once I complete my studies when compared to China.

In your opinion, what should I do? Should I go to Japan or China? If Japan, should I pursue the Nuclear engineering degree or go to the Japanese department? And, if China, which aforementioned bachelors would be best?

I understand that this post is very vague and long but I would truly appreciate your opinions/advices and experiences.

Thank you.

Hi there, I just was laid off as a mechanical engineer in the aerospace industry (US), and have considered a career pivot to clean energy, and nuclear is of course an industry I am considering. I have a BS in mechanical engineering and ~4 years of MechE experience (no significant nuclear work).

Any advice on where to start? Are there a lot of early career-ish roles for MechEs without a degree specifically in nuclear engineering? Open to fission or fusion opportunities! What are people expecting for the nuclear industry under the incoming American federal gov't? Should I look at masters programs? I don't terribly want to go back to school, but all options are on the table right now. If masters programs are the route I decide to go, I need to move pretty quickly to apply for the fall (if it is not too late). That was a lot of questions, but any thoughts are welcome! Thanks in advance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_TdX_ZhyyA

As my professor has said: "Although I do support nuclear, but when one looks back, Brokdorf should not have been built. It sealed the fate for German nuclear industry."

Echoing his view, the Three Horsemen of Apocalypse for German Nuclear Industry: Brokdorf, Wackersdorf, and then Chernobyl.

I still believe that had West Germany stopped building new reactors after 77 or 78 at the absolute latest, German nuclear industry might be still here. What a pity. Sigh......

I am 23, graduated college in December of 2023 with a BS in Environmental Science. I live in an area where the jobs are pretty shit especially for my degree except for the local power plant. I live with my boyfriend and he's got a home grant that means he has to stay here for like 5/10 years. I think nuclear operations would be a really interesting career and I know if we leave the state, there will be jobs available for me. I'm completely lost on the process and don't even know where to start. Do I have to have an engineering degree? Is there a step by step guide that I can follow? I could use some help to figure out if this is even feasible for me (student debt loan and shitty job)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/us-development-bank-considers-investing-in-polish-plant

Found out about this LEGO idea in the Nuclear News Daily newsletter from the American Nuclear Society today. Seems like a great idea to help educate people on nuclear reactors and the basics of what they are and how they work in a visual and fun way (who doesn't like LEGO).

The Nuclear News article states that "[T]he model 'needs 10,000 supporters to reach LEGO’s evaluation phase. With this milestone, the model could be considered as an official LEGO set for the public.'" As of the posting of this, it has just over 550 supporters with 381 days left to reach the 10,000 threshold.

The LEGO CROCUS Reactor

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/oklo-secures-partnerships-750-megawatts-131500939.html

’Oklo, an advanced fission power and nuclear fuel recycling company, has received Letters of Intent (LOIs) and is partnering with two major data center providers to deliver up to 750 megawatts (MW) of low carbon power for data centers across the U.S. These commitments expand Oklo’s customer pipeline to approximately 2,100 MW, underscoring the demand for Oklo’s dedicated clean energy solutions.’

’Under these LOIs, Oklo will work with one of the fastest-growing data center companies to deploy its powerhouses in select markets, addressing the provider’s critical need for sustainable, reliable power. This collaboration supports Oklo’s expanding footprint, including its announced sites in Idaho, Ohio, Texas, and Wyoming, reinforcing the company’s commitment to advancing clean, resilient power options nationwide.’

’Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse design provides power directly on-site or nearby, with flexible 15 MW and 50 MW units that can be deployed in phases. This approach aims to minimize project risks, reduce financing costs, and deliver efficient, resilient energy to meet the evolving needs of industrial and commercial clients.’

’"The strong customer response reflects confidence in Oklo’s clean, reliable, and affordable power solutions," said Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo. "Our approach helps enable customers to scale sustainably with reliable power aligned to their long-term goals." By building, owning, and operating each powerhouse, Oklo makes it easier for customers to adopt nuclear power generation while creating a steady revenue stream for Oklo by selling power, not power plants.’

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/second-japanese-bwr-set-to-restart-next-month

The World Association of Nuclear Operators has confirmed via Swissnuclear Organisation that Beznau, Gösgen, and Leibstandt have met the overall safety and reliance standards as established by WANO. ONWARDS to 60+ years of operation for all four operating reactors in Switzerland.

Swiss laws dictate that there’s ZERO cap on reactor lifetime, as long as the reactor is deemed safe by ENSI(Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Authority). Therefore, as long as the Schweizer Nuklearsicherheitsinspekt satisfies, all four are rhetorically capable to run 80+ years of operation.

However, regarding new builds in Switzerland. That won’t happen… Swiss public hostilities toward nuclear have indeed waned since Kaiseraugst, but they are still here. Any national referendum on such an issue regarding new build will fail.

We are looking for someone to help with a street journalism effort focused on local residents, stories about the plant and what it means for the community. Part of a nonprofit research project to understand how communities relate to the nuclear plants in their backyard.

Thanks!

The biggest cost of such ships would obviously be the reactor. If we take the NS Savannah into consideration, her total cost was 46.9M$, of which 28.3M$ for the reactor (= 60% of the total cost).

Modern commercial ships (cargo or even cruise) cost around 2B$ to build. HMM's ships like the Copenhagen cost 1.6B$ to build, while Icon-class cruise ships cost 2B$ each.

So if we consider 2B$ to be the cost of the ship (40% like Savannah's) and the remaining 60% to be the cost of the reactor, we get a total of 5B$. Modern submarine classes cost around 3B$ per ship, so I think it kinda makes sense.

On a strategic level, these ships could travel much faster than current ships. An aircraft carrier like a Nimitz-class carrier can travel at 30-32 knots, so a cargo ship that is much longer (= longer hull means higher hull speed) could travel at like 35-40 knots. This is twice as fast than a normal cargo ship usually going at 15-20 knots.

Many modern ships have all kinds of tech. They could have bow and stern thrusters for tight spaces/docking maneuvering, and pump-jets to gain better propulsive efficiency. They could also have HEU reactors like military submarines in order to operate unrefueled for 40 years.

What do you guys think?

Full table is here.

I was just curious what the entry-level salary looks like at Westinghouse for Nuclear Engineers / Nuclear Design Engineers straight out of college.

By this I mean exchange the fuel rods for a powered heating source and simplify every process. Would it be as simple as only making the two water loops, a heat exchanger between the two, and a turbine and coolant tower? Would I need any of the more intricate details to allow for the simple process of heating water to spin a turbine?

I am looking to change careers from Actuary (where I basically do the math behind insurance) to Nuclear, interviewing for an EO position where I would work on the exam to become an RO. I already passed my POSS and BMST and have an interview coming up soon. I am used to interviews in my field, but not sure what questions they may ask me here and what I should ask them. I don't want to ask anything that makes me sound stupid or like I didn't do my research about this field. Here are the type of questions I am thinking of asking:

1. What does the day-to-day of the job look like?

2. Can you describe what a multi-week shift cycle would look like?

3. How much overtime would I likely do? Am I able to do more or less overtime, or is it mostly prescribed by the shift cycle?

4. What happens upon passing my exam for RO? Am I automatically moved to the new role, or does that happen as soon as there is an opening?

5. What is the culture like at your company?

Would you say these are good questions to ask? Anything you would add or remove? Feel free to answer any of these yourself if the answer is not company-specific.