For some odd reason, we stopped building nuclear reactors 20yrs or so ago. Denver university research professor Robert Amme plans to build one in Second Life however, with the goal of training the next generation of environmental assessment specialists in a risk free simulation geared towards distance learning and collaboration.
In a way, running experiments and teaching classes in Second Life offers a number of advantages over real life: students watching from their computer screens won’t have to wear expensive radiation badges or obtain clearance to enter an actual laboratory. Instead, they can attend in the guise of “avatars” — virtual likenesses, like personalized computer game characters, whose appearance and features can be customized.
One commenter on the InsideHigerEd site wondered if there were enough hippies in Second Life to organize a protest. I shouldn't think that would be a problem, would you? :)
Thanks George!
nuclear power rockzzzz
Cool idea. I saw nothing in the article about having models for end user consumption of the power. Would be interesting if over time they could build a small or mock city that uses the power and is affected by experimental ways to store the byproducts, as well as to run disaster scenarios.
But I particularly like the "HigerEd" link. Says something for our higher ed :)(just kidding)
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Delmarco
Nuke plants contribute roughly 30% of japans total power supply, with some new ones coming on line soon as well I think.
The July 16 Niigata quake knocked out the worlds largest 7 reactor plant.
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200708210467.html has an interesting report as to how this knock out affected TEPCO's power capacity to supply Tokyo during the summer heat.
I'm not really sure how good a simulation SL could actually do.
A litte known fact about nuke plants is their voracious consumption of water and the ambient environmental effects caused by heating/cooling issues.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/20/africa/nuke.php is a good article on this.