Scientific, communication-based journalism provides opportunities for individuals to learn more about the current events in certain STEM fields that are hosted by UT or student-led organizations on campus; however, few are led by students themselves. One of the exceptions is the Nuclear Noodle Newsletter.
Robert Corrigan, a senior in nuclear engineering and editor-in-chief of the Noodle, started the newsletter as a means of communicating topics related to nuclear engineering and nuclear energy to an audience who may feel apprehensive about the field. When asked what the public perception was of the word “nuclear,” Corrigan mentioned weapons and warfare.
“Weapons are a big perception of what people think nuclear engineers do,” Corrigan said. “Nuclear reactors are nothing like nuclear weapons. They use the same physical principles, but you’re controlling the reactions. You’re not trying to cause this insane, massive reaction that goes critical.”
Corrigan also reflected that the reason the public does not completely understand topics like nuclear energy is due to the lack of transparent education from other nuclear engineers in the field.
Matthew Herald, a senior in nuclear engineering and assistant editor of the Noodle, acknowledged the lack of communication when attempting to educate the public on problems within the nuclear community.
“I could go on a rant all day, but you may not know what I’m talking about,” Herald said. “It’s important to put that rant in the context that others can understand, especially when that context helps them understand how they personally are affected.”
Corrigan invited Herald to write for the Noodle after noticing his passion for advocacy and education regarding nuclear energy, and both are active advocates on Twitter. Both seniors have their hands full with their curriculum and running the Noodle, so a collaboration was key for the success of the newsletter.
Other students help write for the newsletter or assist with copy editing as well. Corrigan and Herald emphasized that an individual does not need to be a nuclear engineering student in order to write for the Noodle.
“When you write about a topic, you learn more about it,” Herald said. “It helps your own development of communication skills.”
Corrigan added that even if you pursue a certain degree, you will still have holes in your knowledge that you can fill by simply researching online.
“Just because we’re through most of our degrees in nuclear engineering doesn’t mean we know everything about the field,” Corrigan said.
Both Corrigan and Herald believe that public understanding of a topic that is as skewed as nuclear energy can only be solved if multiple parties come together to educate each other.
“There are the engineers we want to help communicate more effectively, the public, and the members of the nuclear industry that need to be more informed about stuff that’s going on,” Corrigan said. “We’re still working out the balance of ‘the Noodle’s audience’. Are we talking to people in the industry or are we talking to the public? Right now, it’s a little bit of both.”
The current goals that Corrigan and Herald have for the Noodle are to publish six issues this academic year – three in the fall and three in the spring. Their current focus is boosting the Noodle’s readership so that more people can access their content.
As for future plans, Corrigan is interested in teaching or pursuing a career as a research professor, while Herald will be going to graduate school in Birmingham, England to study chemical engineering. However, both noted that they will still be involved with nuclear advocacy and education no matter where their journeys lead them.
To read content on the Nuclear Noodle, visit the web address http://ansutk.com/the-nuclear-noodle/.
