Another edition of the Atomic Bus successfully completed!
The second edition of the biggest project carried out by the ATOM FORUM Foundation has been a success. The Atomic Bus completed its tour of Poland on 5 December. This time, in addition to academic centres throughout Poland, the Foundation’s activities were concentrated in the northern regions of the country, particularly in the Pomeranian and West Pomeranian Voivodeships.
This year’s Atomic Bus route covered 10 Polish cities and started, as before, from the central part of Poland, from Warsaw. Heading south, the Bus then made its way to Krakow, then hooked up with Wrocław in the west of the country, before setting off to conquer the north. In Pomerania, it started at the universities in Szczecin and Koszalin. In Gdańsk, the mobile exhibition was organised in the Science and Technology Park. The bus then visited Puck, Choczewo and Wejherowo. The project was completed at the University of Białystok.
In face-to-face discussions with local residents around the information and education stand, Foundation staff offered free, objective and as up-to-date knowledge as possible on, among other things, radiological protection, the nature of radioactivity, the reactor construction technologies and safety systems used, and the costs of building a future nuclear power plant, taking into account environmental aspects. The project also planned to hold seminars at university and polytechnic faculties on various aspects of nuclear power.
The Atomic Bus is first and foremost a mobile information centre, equipped with a range of teaching aids (audiovisual equipment, demonstration facilities and equipment and a mini atomic science laboratory). In addition to presentations and distribution of leaflets and brochures, the Foundation staff involved in the project had the opportunity to conduct interesting demonstrations and experiments in nuclear physics and radiological protection, as well as demonstrate the operation of a typical nuclear power plant using specially prepared models and mock-ups!
‘Surprisingly high interest in the topics presented by the FORUM ATOMOWE Foundation’s experts was shown by high school and junior high school students,’ said Foundation President Łukasz Koszuk. – Contrary to expectations, more students from local schools turned up at exhibitions in various cities than the students the message was intended to reach. This is satisfactory information, because in a dozen years or so, it will be this generation that will benefit from the energy generated by the nuclear power plant, and will decide the development of Poland’s nuclear power programme,” continues Łukasz Koszuk. After this year’s experience, we realise how important it is to educate the youngest – to pass on this knowledge to them and to explain all the ambiguities. If we start educating adolescents now, they will be able to make informed and mature decisions in the future. We are not going to convince anyone – our aim is to educate,” concludes the President of the Foundation.
In summary, in 10 days the Atomic Bus travelled about 2,600 km, visited 10 cities and towns – universities, high schools, public institutions. The Foundation’s staff spent 60 hours conducting demonstrations at stands and answering questions from visitors, and gave 32 popular science seminars during this time. We estimate that the mobile exhibition was visited by at least 3,500 people.
The ATOM FORUM Foundation wants to keep the idea of the Atomic Bus alive, as the project has been a great success. The formula of transmitting knowledge about nuclear energy in the form of a mobile “science picnic” once again proved attractive, worth the commitment and effort put into the implementation of this action. A great asset of the whole undertaking is the Foundation’s Team, which brings together people who are interested in the subject, have specialist knowledge and a willingness to share it with others. It is thanks to them, their openness and their ability to hold a dialogue that the Atomic Bus has already won many allies. The visits of the mobile laboratory have aroused great interest in each city, which is why the Foundation is already planning the next edition of the project in 2013.
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