Nuclear Upended: Innovation Bootcamp

Students today haven't learned that the nuclear industry tends to move slowly. It's to the industry's future advantage to encourage them to think fast. To spark innovation in nuclear energy, we must teach students how to innovate. The next generation must be provided with the tools they need to both build upon nuclear's past successes and incorporate lessons from outside the industry.

There is invaluable institutional and technical knowledge transfer already taking place to enable the U.S. nuclear sector to continue thriving. But a successful transition requires work to be done on both sides of the generational divide.

The Nuclear Innovation Bootcamp, from August 1 to 12 at UC Berkeley, promises to be an event that will change the landscape of nuclear innovation. We chose the name Nuclear Upended for this year's Bootcamp intentionally - we want to upend the traditional ways of thinking.

Twenty-five students from across the country - including at least five with non-technical backgrounds - will come together and learn to apply entrepreneurial thinking to nuclear energy while working on group design projects. The program will culminate in a late-afternoon event on August 12 where the students will present their projects to an audience including of nuclear stakeholders, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, and the general public. These presentations will be judged and a cash prize awarded.

By including experts from across the nuclear sector as speakers and mentors, the Bootcamp will be an opportunity to make the inter-generational connections we need. These students will be prepared to take full advantage of the burgeoning restructuring of the United States' federal research and development infrastructure and to bring advanced reactor designs to fruition.

Applications are open through May 11 for students with both technical and creative or non-technical backgrounds. Since the best ideas happen when we bring different thought-patterns together, all students passionate about nuclear energy are encouraged to apply, regardless of their academic focus, including current graduate students and undergraduate juniors/seniors from engineering, physics, journalism, social science, and art programs. If you are a student or know students who may be interested, please encourage them to apply.

There are fantastic opportunities still available to get involved for students, professionals, and companies, particularly as professional mentors and corporate sponsors. If you have any questions about the program or would like to get involved, please email nuclearinnovationbootcamp@gmail.com.