1.2
Our Commitment to Science and Technology
Science and technology is, and always has been, the beating heart of NNL.
Keith Stephenson European Space Agency Lead
“The isotopes for space project has basically enabled the pursuit of a European space radioisotope power capability – no other fully credible routes for the production of suitable isotopes have been identified.”
Patrick Regan Professor of Nuclear Metrology and NPL Fellow, National Physical Laboratory
“The Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme (AFCP) provides the opportunity to bring together expertise from nuclear engineering, civil nuclear sector and academic nuclear physics communities in one focused, efficient joint research programme.”
Sarah Bibby Decontamination Technical Manager, Sellafield Ltd
“As part of Sellafield Ltd’s long-term partnership with NNL, we have been pleased to work together on a range of important science and technology developments to support the ongoing Post Operational Clean Out at the Sellafield site. Our collaboration has and will continue to be key to delivering innovation and, ultimately, enabling time and cost savings for the taxpayer.”
Our breadth of work in recent years has included:
- Helping the European Space Agency to develop a viable alternative to the existing radioisotope power systems used in space travel;
- Collaborating with Sellafield Ltd to successfully mitigate radioactive land contamination at their site;
- Influencing the operations of national and international reactors through our water radiolysis research.
As the UK’s only technical authority on nuclear fission, we know it is our responsibility to continually look to the future and consider the bigger picture.
Whether through our customer work or for society more broadly, we are seeking solutions to some of today’s biggest global challenges.
Without the support of nuclear, for example, it is difficult to see a scenario in which the UK will meet its climate change goals. Our Science and Technology Agenda is therefore designed to ensure our nation has what it needs to underpin new and existing nuclear clean energy technologies, such as advanced reactors and hydrogen production.
At the same time, we are keen to pursue new knowledge and applications that can support advances in healthcare or in environmental restoration efforts.
And, throughout, we will be helping to develop the crucial pipeline of skills and talent that the UK needs now and for the future; from supporting PhD candidates to giving our existing scientists the space they need to make breakthroughs.
It is critical that we continue to advance science and technology and take up opportunities to develop our national capabilities. If we do not do this now, these opportunities will be lost.
As we look ahead to a post-pandemic UK, our work will also play an important part in driving the national economic recovery. Not only will our activities unleash scientific innovation but, because of our ties to the North West, we will be levelling-up our northern communities and rebalancing the economy in the process.
Over the next five years and beyond, our science and technology activity will:
- Enable successful delivery of customer programmes;
- Create global thought leadership;
- Provide intelligent customer capability for government that will shape the future nuclear agenda;
- Create new ideas, approaches and services that enable successful implementation of NNL’s strategy;
- Deliver successful partnerships (nationally and internationally) with industry, national laboratories, academia and government for demonstration and selection of nuclear technologies;
- Make our custodianship of nuclear fission talent and critical national infrastructure deliver for the whole of the UK.