Student insight on the "Future of Nuclear Energy" study
Researchers shared findings and recommendations from the new MIT interdisciplinary study, “The Future of Nuclear in a Carbon-Constrained World,” at a series of events and meetings in Washington last week. Study participants from MIT and other institutions involved in the report spoke with a variety of energy stakeholders and discussed nuclear energy's potential to help address climate change — and how industry and government could solve issues of cost and policy currently limiting that potential. For four of the graduate students from the research team who participated in the events, the Washington visits held additional significance, as they saw their years of work on the study come to fruition. Karen Dawson, a doctoral candidate in nuclear science and engineering, said she found it valuable to participate in the panel and meetings “because it felt like I was moving from the minor leagues to the major leagues.” “It was also really fulfilling to see industry...