Theory meets practice: many tasks will remain even after the phase-out of nuclear power - and competence will still be needed. The Technical University of Berlin, the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) and TÜV NORD will offer a joint university course from 27 February to 3 March 2023. The aim of the course entitled "Interdisciplinary Challenges in the Search for an Interim and Final Disposal Site for Radioactive Waste" is to provide an expert overview of the technical, scientific and social challenges of nuclear waste disposal. The students will be given a comprehensive understanding of the technical basics of nuclear waste disposal, and also get an impression of the career prospects offered by these important environmental projects.

Events on nuclear power plant dismantling and interim storage

Following an introduction to the historical and social framework conditions of waste management, the participants will learn about the current challenges of the waste management path, from dismantling nuclear power plants and the resulting radioactive waste to interim storage and final disposal. BASE will offer lectures and workshops on topics such as the regulatory framework for nuclear waste disposal, the long-term safety of repositories, and public participation in the search for a repository. TÜV-NORD will present safety aspects of interim storage and interim storage inventories. The Technical University of Berlin will elaborate on topics such as environmental planning and geoscientific requirements for the search for a final repository, and provide a scientific perspective on the use of nuclear energy. Renowned experts from the respective institutions will give presentations, be available for discussions with the students, and offer an insight into the practical aspects of their work.

Exhibition at BASE

At the end of the week, the course will also take a look into the future of long-term documentation and atomic semiotics. A visit to the Federal Office is scheduled for Friday. The students will have the opportunity to visit the guest exhibition "After Nuclear Power. Conversions of the Nuclear Age" in the foyer at BASE.

The university course will take place in this form for the first time. With this project, the three partner institutions wish to make a concrete contribution to the long-term maintaining of competence for one of the most important environmental projects in Germany. And it has already become clear that the new, interdisciplinary course is meeting with great interest among the students.