Nuclear Energy from Different Perspectives

Abstract

For the past several years, the Energy Education project has been getting thousands of daily visits by people curious about energy. Part of the power of this site is the interactive data visualizations. This paper discusses three simulations that help the public understand how nuclear science and technology can meet society’s energy demands. The first two use publicly available data to illustrate the role of nuclear power in the energy stories of different countries, such as how it compares in terms of the production, imports, and exports of a given country. The following perspectives also help give the energy story of nuclear power: Total Primary Energy supply (TPES), Total Final Consumption (TFC), and conversion losses from turning TPES to TFC. The third simulation demystifies the nucleus’ inner workings by linking the periodic table with the chart of the nuclides. These tools can foster enthusiasm about nuclear science and technology.