Where to Put Nuclear Waste?

At one end of the spectrum in Germany, the final disposal of low, medium, and high-level nuclear waste is delayed. On the other, radioactive waste is piling up in the already all-too-limited temporary storage facilities, including in the state of Berlin. At the same time, there is considerable public concern and resistance to both the interim and necessary final repositories. A vicious circle, indeed. The temporary and permanent disposal of radioactive waste has become an intergenerational task. Moreover, Russia's war in Ukraine once again highlights the significant security issues society faces.

Overcoming these challenges requires collaboration between several disciplines. Young people especially are needed who can competently deal with this issue. For this reason, TU Berlin is introducing the new interdisciplinary module “Interdisciplinary Challenges of Interim and Final Radioactive Waste Disposal” in February 2023 under the leadership of Professor Dr. Johann Köppel (Chair of Environmental Assessment & Planning Research) and Professor Dr. Christian von Hirschhausen (Chair of Economic and Infrastructure Policy). “One special feature of this module is that it is taught in cooperation with experts from the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management, TÜV NORD, as well as researchers from several academic chairs at TU Berlin, who all represent the breadth of this field of action,” says Prof. Dr. Johann Köppel.

The course addresses, among other things, the competences needed for the interim and permanent disposal of radioactive waste, which research questions will still arise, and which social discourses are emerging. Ultimately, the course aims to provide participants with an understanding of the complexity of this important field of work and research as well as the growing need for skilled workers. “Practical transfer is thus an integral component of the module,” says Köppel. The module serves as a practical contribution towards maintaining the knowledge and skills needed in the area of nuclear safety and disposal in Germany. The course is oriented towards TU Berlin students in a range of degree programs, including natural science, geoscience, environmental science, economics, and social sciences, as well as staff at BASE and TÜV NORD.

Registration for Interdisciplinary Challenges of Interim and Final Radioactive Waste Disposal is open until 16 January 2023: https://isis.tu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=29963