For many of us, the height of our accomplishments with Lego blocks might have been constructing little square houses as children. For others, these versatile building blocks are a medium for creating complex models of sophisticated machinery—models that have practical and educational applications. One such individual is ANS member Vincent Lamirand, a reactor physicist at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Laboratory for Reactor Physics and Systems Behavior (LRS) in Switzerland.

A fascinating interactive LEGO model of CROCUS, a zero-power, uranium-fueled, water-moderated fission reactor used for teaching and research purposes at Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), has been created by Vincent Lamirand, a scientist at EPFL’s Laboratory of Reactor Physics and Systems Behaviour. Lamirand, who teaches courses on reactor experiments and radiation detection and leads the experimental research with CROCUS, is using the model to teach his students about the reactor. He is hoping that the LEGO company will eventually produce his model for the public to purchase.

A creative fan of Lego—and nuclear power—has designed a nuclear power plant out of the famous building blocks and has submitted the idea to the Lego Group for possible production—but first, the idea needs the support of the public.