Let's Talk Nuclear Resources

Pickering nuclear power generation station

Physics, Nuclear Energy

January 31, 2022

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Discover a list of resources to get you thinking about all things nuclear!

Controlled nuclear energy generation has been with us only a relatively short time, compared to a number of other human ways of generating energy. The Chicago Pile-1 reactor, the world's first artificial nuclear reactor, came on-line in 1942. Given that this was the dark days of the Second World War, it is unsurprising that this human first was actually in the pursuit of making weapons out of nuclear science. Since the end of that war, however, the actual use of nuclear energy has been peaceful. One common use is, of course, in generating electricity; approximately 15% of Canada's electricity generation came from nuclear reactors in 2018. While it still requires relatively scarce resources, nuclear-powered electricity has a key advantage over some other forms of generation in that it does not produce greenhouse gases. Nuclear science isn't just about electricity generation, though. Nuclear medicine has become a key factor in the detection and treatment of certain diseases, including various forms of cancer.

Join Let's Talk Science virtually for an exploration of nuclear energy and power generation here in Canada, as well as the many ways radioactivity is used for diagnosing and treating disease. Industry speakers will give short talks explaining how we harness nuclear reactions for electricity and medicine, as well as the science of radiation protection. A career panel will explain the diverse array of jobs available in the nuclear industry and what a day in their lab, office, or reactor might look like. Below are a set of resources designed to get you thinking about the major aspects of nuclear energy and medicine, as well as some career profiles of people who work in and around the industry.