Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa
Abstract:
Nuclear is one of the greenest and safest technologies available for energy production, although it still lacks widespread public endorsement. This may be largely because of fears over the accumulating high-level waste, which now amounts to about 250,000 tonnes globally.
Nuclear agencies throughout the world have spent decades studying aquitards for isolation of nuclear waste in deep geological repositories. Over this time, the field of isotope geochemistry has developed important tracers and geochronometers to reconstruct the history of aquitard porewaters and gases. This talk presents the development of these tools, their role in assessing the integrity of aquitards for nuclear waste isolation, and where we are today in resolving the issue.
A reception in STC 1001 Main Commons follows the Lecture. Come meet with alumni and friends!