Dodgeball and energy density feature in nuclear comic book

Tuesday, 22 October 2024

The Department of Energy's comic book and animation is geared toward younger readers and follows three middle-schoolers on a quest to collect enough 'joules' to qualify for a regional power fair. The students are struggling to collect enough 'joules' in time - but then find out about uranium fuel's energy density via a trip to a coal plant that has been converted to nuclear. And a game of dodgeball between uranium-235 atoms and 'neutron balls' atoms shows the squad how to start and sustain a chain reaction - and generate more than enough joules to complete their quest.

As well as the Spark Squad comic book, the DOE has developed a Dodgeball Fission activity and worked with its national labs to create an accompanying STEM toolkit to help engage learners of all ages.

The USA operates the largest fleet of reactors in the world, with 94 units located at 54 sites across the country that support thousands of high-paying jobs and contribute millions of dollars each year to their communities through federal and state taxes used to improve local infrastructure projects and schools, Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy's Director of STEM Programs Melinda Higgins said. "Hundreds of thousands" of new jobs could be created in the sector as current nuclear plants work to extend their operations and new plants come online to help meet rising energy demand with clean power.

"To help cultivate this future workforce, it’s important to engage youth at an early age with activities like this comic book and the accompanying activities to spark their interest in future STEM careers," Higgins said.

The launch of the comic book has been timed to coincide with Nuclear Science Week 2024, which runs from 21-25 October.

_{Previous editions of the Spark Squad comic book series feature marine power and hydro power (Image: DOE)}