Professor Steve Skutnik will present “Trash or Treasure? Options for Managing Spent Nuclear Fuel” at the Science Forum on Friday.
His talk will be held from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Thompson-Boling Arena Café, Rooms C-D. The forty-minute presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer discussion.
The Science Forum is free and open to the public. Attendees may bring their own lunch or purchase it at the café.
Nuclear power is the largest non emitting source of electricity generation in the United States. However, one of the most intractable challenges for the continued use of nuclear energy is in the ultimate fate of spent fuel. To date, nearly all spent fuel is stored on site in pools and concrete casks. Although a daunting task, viable technical options for spent fuel are numerous. During the talk, Skutnik will discuss the current challenges with managing spent nuclear fuel and potential pathways forward.
Skutnik is an assistant professor in UT’s Department of Nuclear Engineering, where his research focuses on more sustainable nuclear fuel cycles, including nuclear waste management and nuclear nonproliferation and safeguards.
The Science Forum began in 1933 and is one of UT’s oldest organizations. It was designed to provide the general public, students, and other researchers a chance to learn about the latest scientific research.
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CONTACT:
Mark Littmann: (865-974-8756; littmann@utk.edu)
Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)