What comes to your mind when you hear "nuclear"? The finale of World War II? Toxic waste that lasts for generations? Perhaps its something more positive - such as life saving medicine, or reliable carbon-free power that could be a major asset to fighting climate change?
I've been working in the nuclear industry for over 3 years now, and I get questions all the time from friends and family who want to know what my work is about. Not just my job as a Nuclear Engineer, but about my career - why do we use nuclear technology and why is there so much conflicting information about it? These questions are what led to the creation of this course - a simple and easy to understand introduction to the exciting world of nuclear technology.
In this self paced reading course, you'll discover:
Why radiation exists and how we can control it to our benefit
What causes nuclear fission and nuclear fission, and why splitting and fusing atoms both produce energy
How nuclear power fights climate change without generating carbon emissions
How doctors and cancer patients fight tumors with brachytherapy radiation treatments
How nuclear propulsion powers the US Navy's submarines and aircraft carriers
Who manages nuclear waste in the United States and how they plan to dispose of it in the long term
Who prevents nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands
Each section also has a simple assignment for you to complete to see how nuclear technology impacts your community - interview a patient who received radiation therapy, check out a research reactor at a university near you, or look up historical records about how the press responded to a nuclear weapon test done in your country. A new world will open up to you once you see how radiation is everywhere and that society is using nuclear technology to help improve everyone's lives!
By the end of this course, you'll become familiar enough with nuclear technology and vocabulary that you'll no longer be afraid when you see "nuclear" or "radiation" in the news or in your favorite video games - you'll know exactly what is going on and can proceed with confidence in what you know!
"I'm not good with science, there's no way I could understand something as crazy advanced as nuclear technology!"
Worry not! I wrote this course to be accessible for everyone without any of the confusing mathematics my college programs put me through. Each lesson will have helpful images to explain what you are reading, and there is an even more simplified summary at the end so you will know what is important to take away from the reading. I've also provided additional video and reading resources for you to check out in case my own explanations are too much! Still not sure? Check out some of the free previews of the course I've provided - they are a good way to see if you'll enjoy the type of learning I use to teach the fundamentals.
My name is William Roysdon Murray, and I got hooked on nuclear technology as a 15 year old high school student. I want this course to give you the same spark of hope and inspiration I felt when nuclear fission was first explained to me in my sophomore year chemistry class - if a high school student can eventually become a Nuclear Engineer, so can you!