The Hub, which opened in September 2016, brings together academia, industry and the whole of the nuclear supply chain to act as the focal point for the regional nuclear community and address technical challenges faced by the industry. The Hub will play an ever more important role as the construction and development of Hinkley Point C in North Somerset gathers pace.
Professor Tom Scott, Co-Director of the South West Nuclear Hub said: “This is another exciting new addition to the nuclear hub activity – our brand just got bigger and more exciting”.
We’re keen to add many more organisations over the coming months and, together with the strong leadership and vision we have in place, we really can make a game-changing difference for energy in the UK.”
Radioanalytical Expertise from the University of Southampton
The South West Nuclear Hub integrates varied and complementary skill sets aimed to produce innovation and real impact for the nuclear sector at a national level. A new member to the Hub is GAU-Radioanalytical, a leading University of Southampton Enterprise and Research Group that holds ISO17025 accreditation. It brings to the Hub a 30-year record of serving the nuclear waste characterisation, defence, regulatory and environment sectors.
Alongside its main activity of delivering industry-focused radioanalytical services, GAU also actively trains next-generation PhD scientists fit for the nuclear sector through the NDA, AWE and other industry funding streams. The group’s international reputation in radioactive waste characterisation, contract delivery and problem solving has led to its membership of the Magnox RATS and WCASS Frameworks. It is also distinguished through several nationally-significant environmental radioactivity projects involving high precision isotopic measurements (Greenham Common Study, AWE Environmental Study, Severn Estuary OBT Study).
Professor Phil Warwick (GAU Executive Director), Professor Andy Cundy (GAU Director of Research) and Professor Ian Croudace (Honorary Director) are unanimous in their view that joining the SWNH is an exciting and mutually beneficial opportunity.
Ian Croudace, GAU’s founder and leader for 30 years, said: “We are delighted to have become members of the Hub and to be able to contribute GAU’s expertise in land remediation, waste characterisation, nuclear forensics and lab-on-chip technology for the community benefit. We offer our capability in high quality contract delivery and nuclear-related innovative solutions to the Hub and contribute to the burgeoning regional nuclear developments”.
Phil Warwick says “We see our membership adding to Hub synergy through our unique radioanalytical expertise as well as novel instrument developments. A particular example of the latter has arisen through a NEXUSS DTP with a Rolls-Royce Case award. With partners in the Ocean Technology Engineering Group (based at the National Oceanography Centre) we see our lab-on-chip technology interfacing nicely with the activities of the National Centre for Nuclear Robotics Hub and the UWE’s Bristol Robotics Laboratory.”
Andy Cundy said: "Membership of the Hub will certainly offer exciting opportunities to exploit GAUs key areas of expertise (including geochemical/radiological site baseline assessments and innovative land remediation technologies). These will complement the impressive skills available in the SWNH consortium and lead to strong partnerships.”