Course on modelling of nuclear reactors took place at Chalmers

From 8-12 December 2025, the GREAT-PIONEER Alliance, coordinated by Chalmers, offered the course "Core modelling for core design", which deals with the modelling of nuclear reactors during normal operation.

Some participants follow the interactive sessions onsite at Chalmers and some participants attend remotely, but they all use the same learning environment. This interactive course was preceded by a self-paced learning phase online for the 86 participants, who come from all over the world.

"The GREAT-PIONEER courses rely on the use of active learning techniques. For the second part of the courses in particular, activities based on group work and discussions represent one of the pillars of the pedagogy applied in the courses. The course participants implement some of the methods they learn during the first phase of the course to develop simple modelling software, so that they learn how to efficiently apply those methods. They also use industrial tools and compare those to simpler analytical solutions to gain physical understanding and critically reflect on the simulation outputs," says Physics' Prof. Christophe Demazière, project coordinator.

"We use the newly developed Active Learning Classroom at the Chemistry building at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering which allows for easier collaboration and group work thanks to its equipment. The course participants are active in the room, and as a result, learn much more efficiently."

The GREAT-PIONEER Alliance, which is the result of a former Horizon 2020 Euratom project, has received partial funding from the Energy Area of Advance at Chalmers and from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority.

"This funding was instrumental for covering some of the running costs of the Alliance, making it possible to continue offering the courses on the long run. The Energy Area of Advance funding in particular allowed giving the interactive phase of the courses from Chalmers, making Chalmers even more visible worldwide as a responsible actor to provide nuclear education and training. Also, this course, and the following one, "Core modelling for transients", are offered as ERASMUS+ Blended Intensive Programmes to all European universities and to our Enhance partners. This mobility funding mechanism further attracted students to the courses," says Christophe Demazière.

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