Tartans Studying Nuclear Chemistry Visit San Onofre

St. Margaret’s grade 11 chemistry students visited the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) this week as an experiential conclusion to a unit on nuclear chemistry.

 

SONGS has been closed as a generator since 2013, but the facility still offered students insight into nuclear power production. Students got a first-hand look at the lengthy decommissioning process of a nuclear plant, and during a guided tour learned more about independent spent fuel storage installations, security protocols, how the plant generated electricity when it was open, how workers are protected from radiation and other containment measures in place at the plant.

 

Based on what they learned both at SONGS and in the classroom during the nuclear chemistry unit, the students are now writing an opinion piece giving evidence-based arguments as to whether nuclear power production should return to the community.