MSc Nuclear Science and Technology / Course details

The module explores nuclear decommissioning processes and how technical, environmental, and policy dimensions contribute to decisions on nuclear site end states. It clarifies the principles governing nuclear decommissioning and radioactively contaminated land management challenges, outlines decontamination and clean-up procedures at nuclear sites, and emphasizes the environmental principles that inform radioactive waste end-states in the context of site decommissioning and radioactively contaminated land.

This in person module will be delivered through lectures / seminars along with industry guest lectures and lab sessions:

• Underpinning scientific understanding of radionuclides and their environmental behaviour in site decommissioning and disposal;

• Case study examples, e.g. clean-up of radioactively contaminated land at Sellafield, site decommissioning;

• Environmental chemistry laboratory skills for research in radioactively contaminated land, in the National Nuclear User Facility Radioactive Waste Disposal and Environmental Remediation Laboratories.

• Decommissioning practices on nuclear sites, case study example (e.g. GE Healthcare, Amersham), introduction to strategic environmental assessments.

• Radioactively contaminated land monitoring, remediation and end states

To introduce and develop expertise in technical, environmental, and policy dimensions concerning nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste end-states including radioactively contaminated land in the UK, including the development of theoretical, conceptual, and analytical competencies in nuclear environmental science.

To develop subject matter understanding in real clean-up case studies relevant to UK decommissioning and radioactive waste end-states including radioactively contaminated land. Through nuclear environmental chemistry understanding and case study examples, develop theoretical, conceptual, and analytical environmental science capabilities in nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste end-states.

ILO 1: Demonstrate a logical approach to evaluating and emphasizing the significance of scientific, environmental, and socio-political issues related to the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. Assessed

ILO 2: Critically consider and evaluate the overall nuclear environmental chemistry principles applicable to plant decommissioning, nuclear waste end states, and radioactively contaminated land. Assessed

ILO 3: Demonstrate the practical environmental chemistry techniques required for nuclear decommissioning of radioactively contaminated land challenges. Assessed

ILO 4: Critically consider and evaluate the environmental impacts of radioactive legacy waste and decommissioning. Assessed

ILO 5: Analyse the key practical aspects inherent in a decommissioning project by employing an experimental methodology

Teaching is facilitated through in-person lectures, seminars and laboratory practical exercises. Course materials are shared via Canvas. Lectures are supplemented with PowerPoint presentations. Canvas serves as the central platform for accessing materials, including links to YouTube videos. Turnitin streamlines assignment submissions and communication with students.

In-class lectures and seminars will be supplemented by online material uploaded to Canvas (background reading; supplementary lectures). Laboratory practical exercises will offer invaluable experience in the real-world study of nuclear decommissioning challenges in the NNUF RADER laboratory suite (DEES, University of Manchester) and a unique assessment opportunity.

Group presentation - 15 minutes (3-6 students per group) - Presentations will be given at the end of the NTEC N04 week - 20%

Laboratory report - 1000 words - feedback 2 working weeks after the submission - 20%

Coursework Assignment - 2000 words - feedback 3 working weeks after the submission - 60%

Bayliss CR and Langley KF (2003). Nuclear Decommissioning, Waste Management and Environmental Site Remediation. Elsevier Butterworth (Chapter 9) Heinemann. ISBN: 0-7506-7744-9. 

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (1988) Twelfth Report: Best Practicable Environmental Option.Cmd 310. (HMSO).

BNFL (2003). Discharges and monitoring of the environment in the UK. BNFL, Risley, Warrington. Available at: http://www.sellafieldsites.com/UserFiles/File/BNFL-2003.pdf.

IAEA Technical Report Series No. 424, 2004. Remediation of sites with dispersed radioactive contamination. Available at: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/TRS424_web.pdf

IAEA 2005 Radioactive Waste Management: Status and Trends Issue No 4. Available at:http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/WMDB-ST-4.pdf.

UKAEA document: Remote Control (Phase 1 Decommissioning, Windscale Pile 1) 

R. Kimber, F. R. Livens, and J. R. Lloyd, in Nuclear Power and the Environment, ed. R. M. Harrison, R. E. Hester, R. Harrison, and R. Hester, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2011, ch. 4, pp. 82-115. 

L. Newsome et al. (2014) The biogeochemistry and bioremediation of uranium and other priority radionuclides, Chemical Geology, Volume 363, 2014, Pages 164-184 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2013.10.034 

C. Robinson et al. (2022) Bioremediation Options for Nuclear Sites a Review of an Emerging Technology, Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology Vol.20 No.3 pp.307-319, DOI: 10.7733/jnfcwt.2022.026