From Campus to Community: Spreading Nuclear Energy Awareness with NiCE Clubs

Many people are unaware of the benefits of nuclear energy for powering our modern society. Its low carbon intensity, small resource and land footprints, reliable and abundant electricity production, and exemplary safety record are not the first facts that come to mind when people are asked their opinions about nuclear energy. Instead, high-profile incidents like Fukushima, Chernobyl, and Three Mile Island, nuclear weapons, and general fears about radiation stoked by popular culture dominate public opinion. Changing the conversation about nuclear energy requires cutting through the cultural fog and equipping people with the tools to talk about nuclear energy's role in transitioning us away from overreliance on fossil fuels. Inspired by efforts at MIT and UC Berkeley, we helped launch the NiCE (Nuclear is Clean Energy) club at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in January 2024. Students from various disciplines came together to create a vibrant club focused on nuclear energy advocacy and science communication. In this talk, we will share our experiences, discuss building connections with the UC Berkeley chapter, and encourage you to start your own chapter. NiCE clubs empower a new generation of science communicators to engage with the public, advocate for the advancement of nuclear science and technology, and possibly change the world.