supercurricular lecture: nuclear design

Alumnus Luke returns to UGS to inspire our students and the wider school community

We were delighted yesterday evening to launch our new programme of supercurricular lectures with a very special first guest speaker: UGS alumnus and reactor system design engineer Luke Crampton.

Luke is an expert in the field, and delivers university lectures alongside his work, in addition to having been invited to speak at the Houses of Parliament on skills in the nuclear energy industry, and on what a sustainable mix of power might look like for the future of the UK.

It was fantastic to see so many students from across the year groups. their parents and carers, and staff, turn out to attend and to listen to Luke's informative and engaging presentation.

Luke shared how much life and learning at UGS had inspired him towards his next steps and academic and career pathways, and how the opportunities he had been presented with while studying here provided the framework and mindset that he would take forward to pursue and fulfil his ambitions.

On completion of his A level studies here, Luke went on to study chemical engineering at Loughborough University, which included career-defining placements at Sellafield and in New Zealand, with keen rugby player Luke even having got to play with the iconic All Blacks while over there!

The audience learnt a great deal about the nuclear fuel cycle and the technicalities of Luke's role, including reactor circuit design, and Luke encouraged us to engage with questions and answers throughout.

Luke also emphasised how throughout his degree, and in his professional role, he constantly applied the skills and knowledge acquired at school; and he advised our students that, now already, they are being equipped with the transferable skills to take them forward.

There were many questions from our students, their families, and staff at the end, on nuclear energy, the industry, reactor applications, and academic and career pathways and choices.

As lecture series organiser Miss Hammond concluded, Luke's fantastic lecture successfully challenged preconceptions of nuclear energy and the industry; and Luke himself embodies a superb example of where study at UGS can take you.

With huge thanks to Luke for giving his time to return to school to inspire our current cohort; to Miss Hammond for organising this great opportunity for our wider school community; and to all the students, parents, carers and staff who came along.

We look forward to the next lecture that will focus on the field of Biology. Watch this space for updates!