On April 29, at the Polytechnic Lyceum of NTUU “KPI” in Kyiv, the interactive game “How a Nuclear Power Plant Works”– an introduction to nuclear energy for technically oriented schoolchildren – was held.
The event was organized by Strategic Communications Directorate of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” and Ukrainian Nuclear Society. The author and moderator of the game was Vitalii Khomenko, design engineer of Design and Technological Department of the South Ukrainian NPP, active member of Ukrainian Nuclear Society.
The lyceum, where future “engineering specialists” study, became an ideal platform for the implementation of such a cognitive project.
High school pupils joined the game with great interest, it took place in the format of a competition: they were getting acquainted with the technological processes of a nuclear power plant, “building” a reactor, “loading” fuel, “mounting” a pipeline, checking the cable using the “identification” method, starting the “turbine” and even “connecting” to the power grid. All those activities were implemented using mini-models of NPP equipment specially developed by Vitalii Khomenko.
In addition to the active participants, high school pupils-fans received an exciting experience: a creative task was organized for them to create a power unit using paper stencils; that also became an interesting part of the educational process. All participants received a clear idea of professions in nuclear industry and saw what nuclear power plant equipment looked like.
The virtual demonstration aroused particular interest – with the help of VR glasses, schoolchildren were able to delve into the internal structure of the power unit. After the event, many participants expressed a desire to visit a real NPP to see the operation of such a complex enterprise from the inside.
This educational project is an excellent example of effective career education, which opens up new horizons for future technical specialists. Energoatom and Ukrainian Nuclear Society continue their important mission – popularization of nuclear industry among young people in an accessible and interesting way.
