The Cambridge Festival - Nuclear Energy Futures CDT Participate
29th March 2025 - Department of Engineering
About the Cambridge Festival – follow this link to discover The Cambridge Festival - https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/
"This year at the Cambridge Festival, Cohort 5 of the Nuclear Energy Futures CDT proudly brought the Atomic Arcade to life—a hands-on, game-filled exhibit that made learning about nuclear science fun and approachable for all ages. Designed like an arcade, our interactive displays helped explain key concepts in nuclear research through engaging, playful activities.
Visitors lined up to try Criticality 3000, a game where they could step into the role of a nuclear reactor operator using a CDT-built mock control panel. Atomic Pinball was another crowd favourite—it turned the complex topic of radiation damage in materials into an exciting, fast-paced pinball experience. Our interactive Monte Carlo Sim allowed attendees to explore how neutrons behave inside a reactor, bouncing around, getting absorbed, and triggering fission events. And then there was the Energy Bike, where people could pedal their hearts out on a stationary bike to compare human power output with the energy contained in nuclear fuel. Despite some heroic efforts, no one managed to beat a few micrograms of uranium!
What really made the event special for us was the chance to connect with so many curious minds, almost 500 of them attended in total. Members of the cohort loved chatting with visitors of all ages—explaining the science behind each game, answering questions, and hearing people’s thoughts about nuclear energy. Kids, parents, teachers, and science enthusiasts all gave fantastic feedback, and many said they walked away having learned something new. It was especially rewarding to see young students excited by what they’d discovered, asking thoughtful questions and diving deep into the exhibits. We hope that, through our arcade and conversations, we sparked some inspiration—and maybe even planted the seed for a few future nuclear scientists!
Oliver Adams, Imperial College London - Nuclear Energy Futures Centre for Doctoral Training
About the Cambridge Festival – follow this link to discover The Cambridge Festival - https://www.festival.cam.ac.uk/