Socially Engaged Nuclear Design: Bridging Innovation and Community

The University of Michigan offers a course on nuclear energy technologies focusing on socially engaged design. This course uses virtual reality to teach students about nuclear systems, their social implications, and the importance of community engagement in engineering practices. Students explore ethical design and communication strategies.

The University of Michigan is pioneering an innovative course titled 'Socially Engaged Design of Nuclear Energy Technologies.' Spearheaded by experts in participatory design and engineering ethics, the course leverages virtual reality to provide first-year engineering students with insights into nuclear energy systems, emphasizing the intersection of technology, society, and environment.

Students are immersed in the principles of nuclear engineering, focusing on the design and community implications of technologies. The course underscores the ethical considerations and communication strategies essential for engineers, encouraging collaborative site planning with local communities and highlighting the impact of engineering on social life.

With rapid advances in microreactors and fusion systems, the course prepares students to include community voices in design processes. This approach fosters safer, innovative reactors suitable for carbon-neutral transitions in rural areas. By integrating AI tools and hands-on prototyping, the course equips future engineers to tackle societal challenges with a sociotechnical mindset.

(With inputs from agencies.)