University unveils £2 million training simulator

A North West university has launched a £2 million immersive training facility to help address skills gaps across the UK nuclear sector.

Lancaster University has unveiled its Nuclear Operations Simulator, a high-fidelity control room simulator designed to support teaching in areas including nuclear engineering, cyber security, psychology and safety behaviour.

Funded by the Office for Students, the facility is described as the first of its kind in the UK because of its highly reconfigurable design and ability to simulate different reactor types.

The simulator features a three-sided wrap-around screen, advanced audio-visual equipment and software that can model Pressurised Water Reactors, Small Modular Reactors and tokamak fusion reactors.

It will allow undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students to apply theory in realistic control room scenarios, while also supporting teaching around decision-making in high-risk and emergency settings.

Professor Rebecca Lingwood, deputy vice-chancellor at Lancaster University, said: “This fabulous new facility will augment Lancaster’s long-established strength across disciplines such as nuclear engineering and cyber security, providing our students with a truly excellent learning experience.

“Lancaster University plays a vital role as an economic anchor institution in North West England and this facility will further enable us in helping to deliver a new generation of young people equipped with the skills needed to support a low-carbon energy sector vital for national energy security, as well as a critical sector for the region’s economy.”

Professor Paul Smith, chair in networking and principal investigator of the initiative, added: “This high-fidelity simulator will enable us to create simulations of scenarios where nuclear facilities are cyber attacked, providing valuable in-depth learning experiences for our cyber security students, some of which may become future cyber security professionals protecting our critical national infrastructure.”

The facility builds on Lancaster University’s strengths in nuclear engineering, cyber security and nuclear science research.

It will be ready for teaching from the start of the next academic year in autumn.

Dr Samuel Murphy, director of studies for nuclear engineering at Lancaster University, added: “This exciting and deeply immersive new facility will greatly enhance the experience and learning opportunities for students on our nuclear engineering programmes, helping to maintain Lancaster’s position as a leading provider of nuclear education in the UK.”

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