News Archive

27.08.15

Complete the NI Membership Survey and Help Us Grow!

In January 2016 the Nuclear Institute will launch its new streamlined system of membership grades along with improved benefits for all our members. As part of this change we are asking you to have your say on how you feel the Nuclear Instit...
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11.08.15

Become a Science Council Assessor with the Nuclear Institute

Are you registered with the UK Science Council and a member of the Nuclear Institute? The NI needs your help! We are seeking Chartered Scientists, Registered Scientists, and Registered Science Technicians, registered through the Nuclear Ins...
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07.08.15

2015 Search for the Nuclear Stars of the Future

The National Skills Academy Nuclear (NSAN) and Cogent Skills are looking for nominations to find the 2015 nuclear stars of the future. The winners of the awards, who will receive free Learned Membership of the Nuclear Institute, will be announce...
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05.08.15

Nominate the Science Council's 100 Leading Scientists for 2016

In 2014 the Science Council, in partnership with member organisations, including the Nuclear Institute, compiled a list of 100 leading practising scientists in the UK. From explorer scientists to entrepreneurs, from teachers to policy makers, th...
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05.08.15

NI Western Branch and At-Bristol Launch Joint Initiative – Let there be light!

  NI Western Branch has developed a relationship with At-Bristol, a leading Science centre in the heart of Bristol, to help to support children with their science learning. In response to an NI charitable donation, At-Bristol has devel...
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30.07.15

The Human Side of Nuclear Safety and the Future of Nuclear Energy

The 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan has, as might be expected, led to improvements in equipment at plants around the world that have fortified safety systems and allowed for better protection against rare, extre...
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07.07.15

Preferred contractor announced to manage records at NDA's National Nuclear Archive

NDA Archives Ltd, a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, has named its preferred contractor to set up and manage the UK’s new Nuclear Archive when the building is constructed. Crimson will be responsible for the safe and se...
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06.07.15

New standards introduced for Chartered Scientist

The Science Council has updated its assessment criteria for Chartered Scientist (CSci) to bring standards of chartership in line with the new career framework for professional scientists, independent of discipline. The Chartered Scientist r...
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06.07.15

NI Central England Branch AGM- Chairman's Report

Chairman’s Report to AGM, 25 June 2015 Central England Branch enjoyed an excellent lecture/event programme during 2014/15 with the venue for lectures mainly being our regular place at Milton Park, local to UKAEA’s Harwell site....
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22.06.15

NI welcomes new Trustee and Chair of E&T Committee

On Thursday, June 4th, the Nuclear Institute welcomed John Robertson as the new Chair of NI’s Education and Training Committee. Mr. Robertson, who has also recently been appointed to the Nuclear Institute’s Board of Trustees, brings...
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27.05.15

NI North West Branch hosts 68th Annual Dinner in style

On May 14th, the Nuclear Institute North West Branch held its 68th Annual Dinner at the LCCC’s The Point, Old Trafford. Over 550 guests were in attendance from more than 45 of the most prestigious establishments in the UK nuclear sector. ...
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07.05.15

International Nuclear Leaders Sign Climate Change Declaration

On Monday, May 4th, leaders from thirty-nine international nuclear societies, including the Nuclear Institute, gathered in Nice, France, to sign the Nuclear for Climate Declaration and pledge their commitment to continue the fight against...
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05.05.15

Nuclear Organisations Join Forces to Bridge the Knowledge Gap

Three leading players on the nuclear skills landscape have joined forces to sign a new collaborative agreement that promotes the highest standards of professionalism across the UK’s nuclear industry. The agreement, which is supp...
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13.04.15

Call for Papers Issued for NPC 2016

On Monday, 13th April, the call for submission of abstracts was issued for the International Conference on Water Chemistry of Nuclear Reactor Systems (Nuclear Plant Chemistry Conference, NPC 2016) to be held in the Brighton Dome from 2nd-7...
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26.03.15

Success for nuclear at the National Big Bang Fair 2015

   Photo: Nuclear Institute volunteers Dorothy Stonell and Teny Pattery explain the exciting challenges of a career in Nuclear at Big Bang 2015 The Nuclear Institute and the ECITB enjoyed four successful days promoting nuclea...
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23.03.15

National College for Nuclear: Collaboration to Combat Future National Skills Shortage

Four education providers have been named as partners in the National College for Nuclear in an announcement on Friday 20th March, made by Business Minister Matt Hancock. The National College for Nuclear is a key part of the government’s st...
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17.03.15

Clive Smith nominated for “Outstanding Leadership in Skills” at the UK Nuclear Skills Awards

Clive Smith, Chair of the Nuclear Institute Membership Committe, was a finalist for the Outstanding Leadership in Skills Award at the seventh Nuclear Skills Annual Awards Dinner on March 12, 2015. The award celebrates the efforts of individ...
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16.03.15

The Nuclear Delta™ is now trademarked by the Nuclear Institute

The Nuclear Institute (NI) has today announced that the Nuclear Delta™ has been officially trademarked, supporting its authority as a unique definition of attributes to identify nuclear professionalism across the industry. Professionalism...
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12.03.15

YGN Cammell Laird Site Visit

On the 23rd January 2015, members of the Young Generation Network were privileged to attend the Cammell Laird site in Birkenhead, Merseyside for an exclusive tour of their dock yard. Attendees were from a vast array of companies including those...
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12.03.15

The Hitch Hikers Guide to Nuclear – NE Region First Annual Dinner and Conference

"Standards and Expectations in the Nuclear Industry" Conference Nearly 50 delegates attended the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to Nuclear" seminar at Darchem Engineering in Stillington on the Thursday 12th February. The seminar was o...
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09.03.15

NI Cumbria celebrate nuclear research and development at day seminar and dinner

On Thursday 12th February members of Cumbria’s nuclear industry assembled at the Energus Centre in West Cumbria for a day seminar celebrating nuclear research and development and the Nuclear Institute Cumbria Branch’s 11th Annual Din...
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19.02.15

New Memorandum of Understanding between the ECITB and the NI

The Nuclear Institute and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) have today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two companies. The MOU, signed in London by David Edwards...
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19.02.15

NI appoint Vice President to the Board of Trustees

The Nuclear Institute has today announced the appointment of Neil Thomson of EDF Energy Generation to the NI Board of Trustees as Vice President. Neil has 35 years of power generation experience holding senior technical and operational posi...
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19.02.15

Call for assessors to help develop nuclear professionals

Do you want to help increase nuclear professionalism? Are you just starting out in the nuclear sector and want to increase your skill set, gain valuable career experience and insights and widen your contact base? Do you struggle to find eng...
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18.02.15

Volunteers prepare for four active days at Big Bang Fair

Fifteen Nuclear Institute staff and member volunteers are set to represent the nuclear sector to tens of thousands of school-aged children at the Big Bang UK Science and Engineering Fair in just a few weeks time. The Nuclear Institute will...
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17.02.15

Likely options for the UK Small Modular Reactor market

The Nuclear Energy Insider publishes an update on the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs) to enter the UK market, with comment from NI trustee Mark Lyons... Attention SMR designers: the UK could be a significant market...
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16.02.15

Government funding boost given to Cumbria-based programme Innovus

Cumbria-based innovation and technology development scheme Innovus has secured £1.5 million further funding from the government. Innovus will receive the backing from the Regional Growth Fund, the government's flagship economic stimul...
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15.01.15

New Professional Development recording system for NI Members

The Nuclear Institute is introducing the mycareerpath® Professional Development System for NI members, an online tool which is designed for professionals who want to enhance their careers. It will allow all NI members to record activiti...
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13.01.15

Sellafield control handed over to the NDA

Ownership of Sellafield Ltd has reverted to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), as Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) lose the £9bn Parent Body Organisation (PBO) contract to decommission the nuclear waste and reprocessing site. ...
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06.01.15

The NI is to inspire future nuclear scientists at National Big Bang Fair

The Nuclear Institute will be exhibiting at the Big Bang Fair, the UK's largest celebration of science and engineering, in support of showing young people the exciting world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The ev...
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10.12.14

NI award excellence prizes to young professionals

The Nuclear Institute awarded prizes to Natalie Baines, Mathew McKay and Lynsay Kelly, last weekend, as upcoming young people in the nuclear industry. Natalie Baines was selected as winner of the NI Young Technician/Apprentice Award as a ri...
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09.12.14

Fun and sophistication at the nuclear industry's social event of the year

Over 1,400 nuclear industry professionals turned out in all their finery to attend the NIA NI Annual Dinner and enjoy five-course dining, a plenitude of wine and to hear celebrity speaker Rory Bremner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Th...
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09.12.14

Volunteers needed for National Big Bang Fair 2015

The Nuclear Institute is seeking volunteers to promote careers in the nuclear sector and nuclear technology to young people at the National Big Bang Fair. The Nuclear Institute (NI) aims to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and...
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08.12.14

Five new Trustees elected to the NI Board

The Nuclear Institute is delighted to announce the election of Fiona Rayment, Rebecca Weston, Clive Smith, Paul Pearson and Alastair Laird as new Trustees to the Board. The five (profiles below) were formally elected as Trustees at the Nuc...
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08.12.14

Papers needed for Nuclear Future Special Issue

The NI journal Nuclear Future will be publishing a Special Issue on Transport of Radioactive Material in the spring. Extra editions are to be distributed at RAMTrans2015 - a major event in the transport and storage calendar! The E...
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27.11.14

Staff and volunteers represent the NI at NDA Supply Chain Event

The Nuclear Institute staff and volunteers travelled to Event City in Manchester to represent the institute at the NDA Estate Supply Chain Event earlier this month. Volunteers from the North West Branch assisted NI staff at the ex...
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25.11.14

Autumn action in the North West - NI NW Report

This autumn has been a busy one for the NI North West Branch with many activities such as holding two evening lectures, getting involved with the north west region inter-institutional ‘Engineering Your Future’ initiative, and as...
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19.11.14

Nuclear Institute appoints John Warden as CEO

The Nuclear Institute is delighted to announce the appointment of John Warden as Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Institute following the resignation of Elaine Boyes, after three years as Executive Secretary, earlier this year. John will b...
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14.11.14

Northern Scotland and CASS Branch Merge

The Nuclear Institute Central and Southern Scotland Branch (CASS) has now joined with Northern Scotland to form one new branch. The CASS Branch committee members will continue on the new Scotland Branch and will be joined by Alan McGill and...
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12.11.14

Apprenticeship Scheme Approval Assessors Needed

The Nuclear Institute are looking for more volunteers to join our panel of assessors for approval of apprenticeship schemes against Technician Membership and the Nuclear Delta. Our collaboration project with the National Skills Academ...
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11.11.14

NI honours future leaders in engineering with scholarships

The Nuclear Institute (NI) attended Arkwright Awards Ceremonies to present engineering scholarships to students who will be supported into higher education by the NI in partnership with Sellafield Ltd. The Arkwright Scholarships Trust ...
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31.10.14

Industry, educators and government work to tackle skills shortage

Industry, educators and the government have been working together to confront the skills shortage currently facing the nuclear industry, with the STEM Alliance and the 2014 Universe of Engineering report both launched last week. T...
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28.10.14

NI Volunteers meet Lord Coe and Helen Skelton

NI volunteers were able to meet Lord Sebastian Coe and Helen Skelton while promoting the Nuclear Institute at the Sellafield Excellence Day on 23rd October. Lord Seb Coe spoke at the event held at the Energus Centre in West Cumbria to...
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21.10.14

NI branches network under the lights of London

Last Thursday 16th October saw the Nuclear Institute London and South East branches host a free networking event on board the Tattershall Castle situated on the banks of the River Thames. The event, kindly supported by Atkins, was attended...
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15.10.14

NI & NSAN approve apprenticeships at Sellafield, Springfields and Nuvia

Fifteen apprentice programmes from Springfields Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Sellafield Sites Ltd and Nuvia Ltd have been approved at the highest nuclear standard, signalling a leap forward in the promotion of nuclear professionalism in the UK. The p...
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14.10.14

Volunteers needed for NI Case Study of Nuclear Professionals

The NI are seeking volunteers to take part in a series of case studies exploring the professional life of a nuclear professional. Participants would have their completed case studies published and could be used in their own career portfolio...
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14.10.14

Final results are in for YGN Speaking Competition 2014

Six young nuclear professionals took to the podium at the YGN National Speaking Competition Final to practice their public speaking skills and complete for the £300 cash prize on Tuesday 7th October. Each finalist had already won...
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14.10.14

Summer Fun at the NI Annual Golf Tournament

Twenty four players took part in the annual golf tournament of the Nuclear Institute this summer on 24th July, with six teams of four players representing AMEC, the Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR), Risktec and NRL at the Portal Premier Golf C...
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13.10.14

NI welcomes important step for Hinkley Point C

The Nuclear Institute (NI) welcomes the European Commission’s decision to approve the Hinkley Point C State aid case, which is an important step forward for the first new nuclear power station in a generation. The approval means that...
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10.10.14

Western Branch receives record attendance at lecture series

The 2014/15 evening lecture series brought in record attendance for Western Branch with four presentations on a topical range of subjects taking place in September and October. This season’s events have had a highly enthusiastic response w...
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09.10.14

Women in Nuclear - “12 heads are better than one!”

Following two successful events in June, the UK’s Women in Nuclear chapter continues to grow from strength-to-strength. The positive feedback from attendees has meant more events are planned for the rest of the year. This will include...
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30.09.14

NI Cumbria Branch visit Nuclear Submarines at BAE Systems Shipyard

On Wednesday 24th September 2014 the Nuclear Institute Cumbria branch visited the BAE Systems Shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness for an opportunity to find out more about the work conducted on the site where nuclear submarines are constructed for the...
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15.09.14

NI Partners with Sellafield to Sponsor Arkwright Scholarships

The Nuclear Institute is pleased to announce that it will be partnering with Sellafield Ltd to sponsor scholarships with the Arkwright Trust. Scholars are being encouraged, through the scheme, to pursue engineering (or related areas of desi...
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09.09.14

Best Nuclear Student at Cambridge is awarded NI Prize

The NI prize for the best MSc student has been awarded to James Fan at the University of Cambridge. The NI Best Dissertation Award is given annually to the best MSc Student dissertation at a university teaching a nuclear course. James...
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05.09.14

Detailed boiler inspections extend UK reactor shutdowns

Investigations into potential cracks in boiler spines at two units at each of the Heysham I and Hartlepool sites are likely to take until the end of the year to complete, EDF Energy has announced. On 11 August, the company said it had shut...
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01.09.14

Election of Trustees 2015 - Call for Nominations

Do you want to help run the Nuclear Institute? Have you ever considered getting more involved in Nuclear Institute activities, its decisions and strategy? The Board of Trustees is looking for nominations for new Trustees. The NI Board of Tr...
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29.08.14

UK regulators clear ABWR for next step

The third stage of the generic design assessment (GDA) for the Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) is to begin in September after regulators completed their initial high-level assessment of the Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy reactor design without...
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07.08.14

Volunteers needed for Science Council UK Workforce Research

About the project The Science Council has commissioned TBR to undertake the next stage of research into the UK science workforce.  The study was commissioned earlier in the year and the data analysis is now almost completed.  This...
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05.08.14

Nuclear Institute appoints Tony Lawrence as Interim CEO

The Nuclear Institute is delighted to announce the appointment of Tony Lawrence as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Institute following the resignation of Elaine Boyes, after three years as Executive Secretary, who will be leaving...
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04.08.14

The Nuclear Institute takes a stance on Small Modular Reactors

The Nuclear Institute (NI) has produced an official statement announcing its support for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology to enter the UK nuclear energy industry. The Nuclear Institute's statement responds to the questions posed by th...
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01.08.14

UK Government launches new long-term plan to dispose of radioactive waste

On 24th July 2014, the Government launched a new long-term plan to deal permanently with the UK's radioactive waste. It follows a consultation on improving the process of finding a site to host a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), which safely...
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22.07.14

NI SE report on humanoid robots and Fanta-can radioactivity at Big Bang Near Me

On 1st July 2014, the Big Bang Near Me, South East event, took place at the South of England Show Ground and some members from SE Branch went along to represent the Nuclear Institute. Suksun Hutangkabodee, NI SE Branch Chairperson,&nb...
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22.07.14

Innovation in the Sellafield Decommissioning Programme

In the final talk of the Nuclear Institute Cumbria Branch Summer Lecture series on Tuesday 15th July, Professor Neil Smart was welcomed from Sellafield Ltd to speak about supply chain innovation in the nuclear decommissioning programme at S...
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21.07.14

NI Cumbria reports on the Successor programme

The Successor programme will replace the UK’s Vanguard fleet of Nuclear powered Ballistic Missile Submarines, and Graeme Corkill and Russ Watson from BAE Systems came to Cumbria on Tuesday 8th July to talk about it. The speakers...
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17.07.14

NuGen provides an update on Moorside

On Tuesday 1st July, the Cumbria Branch of the Nuclear Institute hosted a talk from Nu-Gen based around the development of their Moorside Project, which is looking to build three AP1000 reactors on a site adjacent to the Sellafield Reprocessing...
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15.07.14

GE Hitachi explains PRISM Plutonium disposal in Cumbria

On Tuesday 24th June, David Powell from GE Hitachi presented an update to the Cumbria branch of the Nuclear Institute on the GE Hitachi’s PRISM technology, a fourth generation fast reactor technology that is being proposed as a potential s...
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08.07.14

Europe Formally Adopts New Nuclear Safety Directive

The EU’s amended Nuclear Safety Directive has been officially adopted, providing “more power and independence” for national regulatory authorities, a high-level EU-wide safety objective, and a European system of peer reviews. ...
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07.07.14

Dame Sue Ion becomes first woman to win RAEng President's medal

Internationally recognised as a nuclear engineering expert, Dr Dame Sue Ion DBE FREng has received one of the Royal Academy of Engineering's most prestigious accolades - the President's Medal - for her outstanding service to the nuclear industry...
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01.07.14

NI President launches N-Group at Nuclear UK Conference

Rear Admiral Tim Chittenden, Nuclear Institute President, delivered an introductory speech at the Nuclear UK Event which launched a new collaboration between nuclear organisations. The N-Group brings together national organisations from acr...
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30.06.14

Plans confirmed for Europe's largest new build at Moorside

It was today confirmed that Japanese firm Toshiba and France's GDF Suez have finalised a deal to take forward the nuclear new build project at Moorside in Cumbria. The project will become the UK’s largest new nuclear output from a sin...
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26.06.14

North East Branch promote STEM at Big Bang

The Nuclear Institute was involved in two Big Bang Near Me regional events in the North East earlier this month with volunteers engaging school children in nuclear energy. The Big Bang is a free programme of events designed to show how scie...
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23.06.14

NI Branch lecture considers the importance of Cumbria

On Tuesday 17th June 2014 the Nuclear Institute Cumbria Branch held the first of five weekly summer lectures, beginning with Dr Ian Hudson, General Manager for Nuclear Management Partners. The evening talk was focussed on ways in...
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19.06.14

NI announces Awards Nomination Opening

The Nuclear Institute (NI) are pleased to announce the opening of nominations from employers and training providers for our awards that recognise the achievements of nuclear professionals who are the future leaders of the UK nuclear industry. ...
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19.06.14

Cumbria Branch host Decommissioning & Waste Management Seminar

Nuclear Institute Cumbria Branch hosted their 2014 Seminar on Decommissioning & Waste Management on 10 June 2014 at Westlakes Science Park. The subject matter continues to be a very significant activity in the nuclear industry and is vi...
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12.06.14

NI Proposal to change Membership Grades

The Nuclear Institute is proposing to reduce the number of membership grades from seven to four, in line with many other professional institutions. This will streamline and simplify the current application processes, enable the majority of nucle...
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04.06.14

Dr Mike Weightman toasts the NI's vital role in nuclear

At the 67th North West Annual Dinner held on 22 May 2014, Dr Mike Weightman delivered a thought-provoking speech toasting the "Nuclear Institute and its vital role into the future" after receiving the renowned Hinton Medal award. The Hinton M...
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04.06.14

67th North West Dinner Goes Down a Treat

The President of the Nuclear Institute, Rear Admiral Tim Chittenden, welcomed 650 people from over 45 nuclear establishments to the 67th Annual Dinner of the NI North West Branch on Thursday 22nd May 2014.  The event was held at The Po...
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19.05.14

NI South East Branch Visit La Hague and Flamanville

On 5th May 2014, I and a group of 16 people with a keen interest in the nuclear industry set sail to Cherbourg, France for a two-day trip to the AREVA La Hague Reprocessing Facility and Flamanville Power Station. On the first day, the group...
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15.05.14

Cumbrian Winner Sweet-Talks at YGN Speaking Comp

On Tuesday 13th May the NI Cumbria Branch and YGN hosted the local stage of the 2014 YGN Speaking competition, supported this year by Studsvik.  The competition attracted a very high standard of speakers with a wide range of topics inc...
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15.05.14

Calling Cumbria to 2014 Student Bursary Competition

The Cumbria Branch of the Nuclear Institute runs an annual bursary competition which offers Cumbrian Year 13 students the chance to win a contribution towards their university tuition fees. Entrants must submit a CV and short personal state...
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14.05.14

Board and Staff Set the Strategy for NI Future

Nuclear Institute Board Members and staff met together at the Macdonald Hotel in Manchester for the first ever vision-setting strategy away-day for the organisation on 22-23 April 2014. The meeting brought the brilliant minds of the Board o...
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13.05.14

Fantastic NI Volunteering Opportunities Available

The Nuclear Institute Nominations Committee are currently looking for suitable candidates for two Honorary Officer roles, as the present post-holders come to the end of their second term in December 2014. The places available are for: ...
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12.05.14

Taking on Fukushima: Interview with Naohiro Masuda

One month after being put in charge of decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi, Naohiro Masuda talked to World Nuclear News about his priorities for the site and its workforce. Masuda was superintendent of the Fukushima Daini nuclear po...
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17.04.14

Fiona is awarded NI MSc Prize as Best Nuclear Student

The NI prize for the best MSc student was awarded to Fiona O'Farrell at the University of Surrey's graduation ceremony on Saturday 12 April 2014. The Master's Distinguished Performance Award is given annually to the best MSc Student at a un...
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