“The Tale of the Nuclear Age: from the Manhattan Project to Global Warming”, a lecture by Dr. Roberto Ponciroli, a nuclear engineer at Argonne National Laboratory.
Friday, February 1, 2019 at 7:00 PM
Italian Cultural Institute
500 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1450
December 2017 marked the 75th anniversary of the world’s first artificial nuclear chain reaction, which took place at the University of Chicago’s original Stagg Field, under the direction of Enrico Fermi, Argonne National Laboratory’s first director. Argonne was created in 1942 as the “Metallurgical Laboratory”, which then became part of the Manhattan Project. In the following years, at the request of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Argonne started designing nuclear reactors for the nation’s peaceful nuclear energy program. Argonne played a prominent role in developing this technology, leading the way in the design of most of the commercial nuclear power plants that have electrified millions of homes, businesses and factories around the world.
The talk will explore the history of nuclear energy, starting from the “Atom for Peace” speech by President Eisenhower and the design of the USS Nautilus, the economic growth of the 60s, the stagnation of the 70s, and touching upon the Three Mile Island before addressing the role of nuclear energy in today’s world. In a period characterized by concerns, such as the climate change, greenhouse emissions, the growing diffusion of renewables, is there still room for nuclear power in the US energy portfolio?
Roberto Ponciroli is a nuclear engineer at Argonne National Laboratory. He received his PhD in “Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology” (2014), his Master degree in “Nuclear Engineering” (2010), and his Bachelor degree in “Energy Engineering” (2008) from Politecnico di Milano in Italy. Currently, his research is mainly focused on the Hybrid Energy Systems dynamic modeling, advanced control system design, the power plant economics, and the development of model-based diagnostic algorithms.
The event is organized in collaboration with AIRIcerca and is part of the series “Caffè scientifico” (Café scientifique)
AIRIcerca is an association of Italian researchers in the world, created with the aim of promoting networking among Italian researchers that live and work in different countries, in the hopes of creating scientific collaborations and exchanging useful information. Since 2017 AIRIcerca has had a Chicago chapter, which attracts Italian researchers active in the City of Chicago and the surrounding areas.
Free and open to the public. This event will be held in English.
A reception will follow.
RSVP at https://taleofthenuclearage.eventbrite.com
