Aiken’s Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness recently taught a class at USC Aiken Center for Lifelong Learning to give participants an overview of the world’s current energy climate and the need for nuclear energy as a solution.
The course, "Energy Supply and the Promise of Nuclear," was led by CNTA Executive Director Dr. Jim Marra, CNTA Board of Directors Chair Steve Sheetz, and CNTA Board of Directors Member Joel Leopard. The classes provided an overview of the challenges pertaining to energy supply, security and impact on the environment.
“CNTA was excited to again participate in the Lifelong Learning program,” said Marra. “The class was full of eager learners, and we had a lot of good discussion during the three-day session.”
Approximately 25 people attended this course for an hour each day.
The first day featured Marra, a retiree from the Savannah River National Laboratory and a frequent subject matter expert for the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency. Marra introduced energy issues and the need for alternative and cleaner energy sources as well as near- and long-term alternatives.
Sheetz, who works for TechSource, Inc. to provide consultation on SRS missions, provided an overview of the current energy climate and the ways that nuclear energy is answering the charge. The final session was led by Leopard, who serves as a Communications Coordinator for Southern Nuclear. He provided an overview of the process leading to deployment of Plant Vogtle’s Units 3 and 4.
“The class was excellent, and I would like to give a shout out to the speaker from Southern Nuclear. He gave a simple explanation on how nuclear reactors work and provided an overview of the exciting events at Plant Vogtle with the soon start-up of Units 3 and 4,” said one attendee.
CNTA supports the Center for Lifelong Learning and its mission to provide continuing education opportunities for adults in the CSRA. CNTA teaches one class each spring. Presentations and other resources from the class can be found online at cntaware.org/lifelong-learning-resources.
