nuclear undone
  • blog
  • about
  • contact

undo your thinking

listen to the facts

absorb new ideas

Nuclear Energy Education in France

10/8/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
By Lenka Kollar

While studying my MBA at INSEAD, I'm having the opportunity to learn about the nuclear energy program in France. Even though the United States has the largest number of nuclear power plants, France derives the largest portion of electricity from nuclear power in the world, at about 75%. France has a long-standing policy for energy security and even recycles their nuclear fuel for greater efficiency. 

France is the world's largest net exporter of electricity due to its very low cost of generation, and gains over 3 billion euro per year from this. Meanwhile, the neighboring country of Germany is shutting down its nuclear power program mainly due to public opposition, and is now, ironically, importing (nuclear) electricity from France.

It's interesting to see people's reactions here in France when I tell them that I'm a nuclear engineer, as compared to other countries. The French respect nuclear energy and are very positive about the technology and what it can provide. The positive public opinion is largely due to education. Young students learn about nuclear energy as part of their regular curriculum, as evidenced by my classmate Claire-Elise who grew up in France:
"Along with most other french students, my whole high school class went on a field trip to a nuclear power plant. The tour included seeing where the reactors were, hearing about all the safety mechanisms and speaking with employees of the plant. I think that for most of us it removed the 'fear of the unknown' factor in evaluating the merits of nuclear power."
This quote proves that education is extremely important in the public perception of nuclear energy. Taking away the "fear of the unknown" is key for effectively communicating about nuclear technology.
2 Comments
Tim Finney
10/8/2014 03:39:24 am

Is there a key or legend to help better understand the meaning of the different colored dots in France shown in the picture provided?

Reply
Lenka link
10/9/2014 03:11:57 am

Red is open plants and the others are closed. Sorry for leaving that out! Click on the image for the source.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    American Nuclear Society
    Climate Change
    Diversity In Stem
    Energy
    Environmentalists
    Fuel Cycle
    I'm A Nuke
    International
    IYNC
    Navy
    Nonproliferation
    Nuclear Energy
    Nuclear Energy
    Nuclear Engineers
    Nuclear Technology
    Policy
    Radiation
    Reactors
    Science Education
    Sustainability
    UAE
    Women In Engineering

    RSS Feed


    Follow on Bloglovin
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos from Idaho National Laboratory, Jim.Richmond, Idaho National Laboratory, IAEA Imagebank