Argentina invests in nuclear education

Wednesday, 10 November 2021

Updated and relaunched every year, Tecnopolis is a public art, science and technology park in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. It features thematic zones such as culture, childhood, human development, urban life, as well as energy. Dozens of pavilions showcase the work of Argentine national science and technology organisations, while the overall space hosts a programme of cultural events.

"Tecnópolis is one of the most important events of the year," said Isidro Baschar, director of Nucleoeléctrica, adding: "Our stand is a proposal that allows an interactive tour of the 70 years of nuclear development in Argentina."

Nucleoeléctrica has held a prominent space in Tecnópolis since its inception in 2011. The company's renewed pavilion gives visitors the chance to learn about nuclear energy from the perspective of a reactor operator using a specially designed control room. They can also tour both of the country's nuclear plants, Atucha and Embalse, using a '4D' experience.

Children operate the simulator  (Image: Tecnópolis)

The non-power applications of nuclear energy are showcased in part of the space by the National Atomic Energy Commission.

More than 250,000 people have visited Tecnópolis since it was launched by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in 2011. At the time, she said: "Tecnópolis is an appeal to the future of all Argentines," and stressed that “science, technology and knowledge shall provide the needed added value to continue the qualitative and quantitative leap forward that Argentina is carrying out."