[Music] if you speak to my friends they tell you
if you speak to my friends they tell you
if you speak to my friends they tell you I’m an unlikely candidate to be someone
I’m an unlikely candidate to be someone
I’m an unlikely candidate to be someone urging others to have faith in humanity
urging others to have faith in humanity
urging others to have faith in humanity I’m perhaps a bit too preoccupied with
I’m perhaps a bit too preoccupied with
I’m perhaps a bit too preoccupied with some of the disappointing behavior that
some of the disappointing behavior that
some of the disappointing behavior that we see around us but there is one place
we see around us but there is one place
we see around us but there is one place my workplace that does cause me to have
my workplace that does cause me to have
my workplace that does cause me to have hope in the future generations this is
hope in the future generations this is
hope in the future generations this is where I work
where I work
where I work it’s the nru reactor at Canadian nuclear
it’s the nru reactor at Canadian nuclear
it’s the nru reactor at Canadian nuclear laboratories it’s a nuclear reactor used
laboratories it’s a nuclear reactor used
laboratories it’s a nuclear reactor used for science
for science
for science who knew that Canada’s most productive
who knew that Canada’s most productive
who knew that Canada’s most productive science facility was tucked away in the
science facility was tucked away in the
science facility was tucked away in the forest a short drive up the valley from
forest a short drive up the valley from
forest a short drive up the valley from our nation’s capital well two issues
our nation’s capital well two issues
our nation’s capital well two issues right away there first how can I make
right away there first how can I make
right away there first how can I make such a bold claim that nru is the most
such a bold claim that nru is the most
such a bold claim that nru is the most productive science facility we’ve ever
productive science facility we’ve ever
productive science facility we’ve ever built in Canada and second perhaps more
built in Canada and second perhaps more
built in Canada and second perhaps more fundamentally what does NIU stand for
fundamentally what does NIU stand for
fundamentally what does NIU stand for nru is national research universal an
nru is national research universal an
nru is national research universal an odd but an apt name for a facility that
odd but an apt name for a facility that
odd but an apt name for a facility that has made substantial contributions to
has made substantial contributions to
has made substantial contributions to every area of scientific endeavor
every area of scientific endeavor
every area of scientific endeavor physics chemistry biology engineering
physics chemistry biology engineering
physics chemistry biology engineering [Music]
[Music]
[Music] but those of us who work there just call
but those of us who work there just call
but those of us who work there just call it nru as for its contributions to
it nru as for its contributions to
it nru as for its contributions to Canada and the world
NIU provided the knowledge that launched
NIU provided the knowledge that launched and sustained two multi-billion
and sustained two multi-billion
and sustained two multi-billion international industries for decades one
international industries for decades one
international industries for decades one in the energy sector and the other in
in the energy sector and the other in
in the energy sector and the other in the health sector it has directly
the health sector it has directly
the health sector it has directly impacted hundreds of millions of
impacted hundreds of millions of
impacted hundreds of millions of people’s lives and enabled a new branch
people’s lives and enabled a new branch
people’s lives and enabled a new branch of science to come into existence which
of science to come into existence which
of science to come into existence which was recognized with a Nobel Prize more
was recognized with a Nobel Prize more
was recognized with a Nobel Prize more about all of that in a minute so how is
about all of that in a minute so how is
about all of that in a minute so how is a nuclear reactor used for science what
a nuclear reactor used for science what
a nuclear reactor used for science what good is splitting atoms do
good is splitting atoms do
good is splitting atoms do well I learned in high school that
well I learned in high school that
well I learned in high school that everything even me everything is made of
everything even me everything is made of
everything even me everything is made of atoms and atoms are the fundamental
atoms and atoms are the fundamental
atoms and atoms are the fundamental building blocks and there are 92 of
building blocks and there are 92 of
building blocks and there are 92 of those building blocks and we give them
those building blocks and we give them
those building blocks and we give them different names carbon hydrogen iron and
different names carbon hydrogen iron and
different names carbon hydrogen iron and each atom has in its Center and nucleus
each atom has in its Center and nucleus
each atom has in its Center and nucleus made of protons and neutrons and
made of protons and neutrons and
made of protons and neutrons and electrons spinning around the outside
electrons spinning around the outside
electrons spinning around the outside and that’s all the world nuclear means
and that’s all the world nuclear means
and that’s all the world nuclear means it just means about the nucleus
it just means about the nucleus
it just means about the nucleus chemistry is sticking atoms together you
chemistry is sticking atoms together you
chemistry is sticking atoms together you have two H’s and an O and you make an
have two H’s and an O and you make an
have two H’s and an O and you make an h2o but nuclear science is concerned
h2o but nuclear science is concerned
h2o but nuclear science is concerned with what’s inside the atom a nuclear
with what’s inside the atom a nuclear
with what’s inside the atom a nuclear reactor of course is reliant on one atom
reactor of course is reliant on one atom
reactor of course is reliant on one atom overall and that is the heaviest one
overall and that is the heaviest one
overall and that is the heaviest one that you’ll find in nature uranium and
that you’ll find in nature uranium and
that you’ll find in nature uranium and uranium has a special property if you
uranium has a special property if you
uranium has a special property if you add a neutron to a uranium it’s too
add a neutron to a uranium it’s too
add a neutron to a uranium it’s too heavy it cannot stay in that state it
heavy it cannot stay in that state it
heavy it cannot stay in that state it wants to split apart and those two
wants to split apart and those two
wants to split apart and those two halves are other atoms about half the
halves are other atoms about half the
halves are other atoms about half the size of a uranium atom and out comes
size of a uranium atom and out comes
size of a uranium atom and out comes some energy and two or three neutrons
some energy and two or three neutrons
some energy and two or three neutrons well if we needed a neutron to make the
well if we needed a neutron to make the
well if we needed a neutron to make the split and now we’ve made two or three
split and now we’ve made two or three
split and now we’ve made two or three more there you can go on and make other
more there you can go on and make other
more there you can go on and make other uranium split and on and on we’ll girl
uranium split and on and on we’ll girl
uranium split and on and on we’ll girl there’s only two other features needed
there’s only two other features needed
there’s only two other features needed and then we’ve got everything we need to
and then we’ve got everything we need to
and then we’ve got everything we need to know to make a nuclear reactor the first
know to make a nuclear reactor the first
know to make a nuclear reactor the first is that those neutrons are going too
is that those neutrons are going too
is that those neutrons are going too fast when they first come out and they
fast when they first come out and they
fast when they first come out and they they need to bounce into other lighter
they need to bounce into other lighter
they need to bounce into other lighter atoms to scrub off some speed and
atoms to scrub off some speed and
atoms to scrub off some speed and hydrogen would be perfect we know
hydrogen would be perfect we know
hydrogen would be perfect we know there’s a lot of hydrogen in h2o right
there’s a lot of hydrogen in h2o right
there’s a lot of hydrogen in h2o right and the last thing we need a material
and the last thing we need a material
and the last thing we need a material that will soak up neutrons when we want
that will soak up neutrons when we want
that will soak up neutrons when we want to stop the reaction no neutrons
to stop the reaction no neutrons
to stop the reaction no neutrons no more splits and really that’s all
no more splits and really that’s all
no more splits and really that’s all that’s in NR you although you saw it was
that’s in NR you although you saw it was
that’s in NR you although you saw it was a vast science facility it’s the size of
a vast science facility it’s the size of
a vast science facility it’s the size of a cathedral at its heart it’s a simple
a cathedral at its heart it’s a simple
a cathedral at its heart it’s a simple machine we have some uranium in long
machine we have some uranium in long
machine we have some uranium in long metal rods those are in a tank of water
metal rods those are in a tank of water
metal rods those are in a tank of water and we have some other rods made of
and we have some other rods made of
and we have some other rods made of cobalt in this case and they soak up the
cobalt in this case and they soak up the
cobalt in this case and they soak up the neutrons when we want to stop the
neutrons when we want to stop the
neutrons when we want to stop the reactor
when the designers of NIU back in the
when the designers of NIU back in the 50s designed and brought the facility
50s designed and brought the facility
50s designed and brought the facility into operation in 1957 they didn’t try
into operation in 1957 they didn’t try
into operation in 1957 they didn’t try to second-guess what it would be used
to second-guess what it would be used
to second-guess what it would be used for they wanted it to be a flexible
for they wanted it to be a flexible
for they wanted it to be a flexible versatile machine so that people could
versatile machine so that people could
versatile machine so that people could imagine dream up new types of
imagine dream up new types of
imagine dream up new types of experiments and use it to break
experiments and use it to break
experiments and use it to break frontiers they didn’t try to guess it
frontiers they didn’t try to guess it
frontiers they didn’t try to guess it was built to be a universal science
was built to be a universal science
was built to be a universal science facility and I used full of holes you
facility and I used full of holes you
facility and I used full of holes you don’t think of nuclear reactors being
don’t think of nuclear reactors being
don’t think of nuclear reactors being full of holes but then ru is and that’s
full of holes but then ru is and that’s
full of holes but then ru is and that’s because the designers wanted scientists
because the designers wanted scientists
because the designers wanted scientists to get access to the core and use it to
to get access to the core and use it to
to get access to the core and use it to do great things and I’m always amazed
do great things and I’m always amazed
do great things and I’m always amazed when I hear the stories of innovation
when I hear the stories of innovation
when I hear the stories of innovation that have come out from NIU and I have
that have come out from NIU and I have
that have come out from NIU and I have three of those stories that I think will
three of those stories that I think will
three of those stories that I think will really illustrate the point the first
really illustrate the point the first
really illustrate the point the first thing that happened I must say I don’t
thing that happened I must say I don’t
thing that happened I must say I don’t want to imply that innovation started
want to imply that innovation started
want to imply that innovation started just when NIU became available there
just when NIU became available there
just when NIU became available there were other research reactors before that
were other research reactors before that
were other research reactors before that and smart inventive people use those as
and smart inventive people use those as
and smart inventive people use those as soon as they were available but NIU as
soon as they were available but NIU as
soon as they were available but NIU as the pinnacle it’s a real culmination of
the pinnacle it’s a real culmination of
the pinnacle it’s a real culmination of all that’s gone before so when those
all that’s gone before so when those
all that’s gone before so when those earlier reactors and then NIU became
earlier reactors and then NIU became
earlier reactors and then NIU became available one thought that came up in
available one thought that came up in
available one thought that came up in scientist Minds was now we can make
scientist Minds was now we can make
scientist Minds was now we can make isotopes an isotope is just a heavier
isotopes an isotope is just a heavier
isotopes an isotope is just a heavier version of an atom in the nucleus of an
version of an atom in the nucleus of an
version of an atom in the nucleus of an atom there’s protons and neutrons
atom there’s protons and neutrons
atom there’s protons and neutrons neutrons don’t do much they just make an
neutrons don’t do much they just make an
neutrons don’t do much they just make an atom heavier and the neutron heavier
atom heavier and the neutron heavier
atom heavier and the neutron heavier Ataman there are three atoms of hydrogen
Ataman there are three atoms of hydrogen
Ataman there are three atoms of hydrogen they’re all hydrogen they’re all
they’re all hydrogen they’re all
they’re all hydrogen they’re all different weights so why did scientists
different weights so why did scientists
different weights so why did scientists want to make isotopes we’ve got a big
want to make isotopes we’ve got a big
want to make isotopes we’ve got a big tank of water making trillions of
tank of water making trillions of
tank of water making trillions of neutrons in NIU
neutrons in NIU
neutrons in NIU you can add neutrons to atoms and make
you can add neutrons to atoms and make
you can add neutrons to atoms and make isotopes why some isotopes are not happy
isotopes why some isotopes are not happy
isotopes why some isotopes are not happy in their state they want to spit out
in their state they want to spit out
in their state they want to spit out some energy and settle to a more stable
some energy and settle to a more stable
some energy and settle to a more stable state and that energy is an x-ray and
state and that energy is an x-ray and
state and that energy is an x-ray and there were two really clever ideas
there were two really clever ideas
there were two really clever ideas emerging about how we could use an x-ray
emerging about how we could use an x-ray
emerging about how we could use an x-ray and today in nru we make some isotopes
and today in nru we make some isotopes
and today in nru we make some isotopes and they shine a very low energy a
and they shine a very low energy a
and they shine a very low energy a gentle x-ray and they can be injected in
gentle x-ray and they can be injected in
gentle x-ray and they can be injected in patience and the x-rays shining out to
patience and the x-rays shining out to
patience and the x-rays shining out to the patient can be used to make a
the patient can be used to make a
the patient can be used to make a diagnostic image a cat scan and in a
diagnostic image a cat scan and in a
diagnostic image a cat scan and in a regular year we can make enough for five
regular year we can make enough for five
regular year we can make enough for five million cats cats helping all those
million cats cats helping all those
million cats cats helping all those people in their families we make other
people in their families we make other
people in their families we make other isotopes like cobalt 60 that shines a
isotopes like cobalt 60 that shines a
isotopes like cobalt 60 that shines a very very strong x-ray and it will kill
very very strong x-ray and it will kill
very very strong x-ray and it will kill anything that it shines on and back in
anything that it shines on and back in
anything that it shines on and back in the 50s when this technology was first
the 50s when this technology was first
the 50s when this technology was first contemplated here in Canada engineers
contemplated here in Canada engineers
contemplated here in Canada engineers worked with medical professionals to
worked with medical professionals to
worked with medical professionals to design machines that Shawn that x-ray
design machines that Shawn that x-ray
design machines that Shawn that x-ray onto tumors in cancer patients to kill
onto tumors in cancer patients to kill
onto tumors in cancer patients to kill the cancerous tissue and treat cancer
the cancerous tissue and treat cancer
the cancerous tissue and treat cancer patients in the first cancer therapies
patients in the first cancer therapies
patients in the first cancer therapies were performed here in Canada in the 50s
were performed here in Canada in the 50s
were performed here in Canada in the 50s and that technology was sold around the
and that technology was sold around the
and that technology was sold around the world and today the cobalt that we make
world and today the cobalt that we make
world and today the cobalt that we make in NIU every year treats 60 million
in NIU every year treats 60 million
in NIU every year treats 60 million cancer cancer patients in 80 countries
this is our 60th anniversary I said we
this is our 60th anniversary I said we started in 1957 and we’ve done the math
started in 1957 and we’ve done the math
started in 1957 and we’ve done the math and over its life NIU has made well over
and over its life NIU has made well over
and over its life NIU has made well over well over half a billion patient
well over half a billion patient
well over half a billion patient treatments half a billion there was
treatments half a billion there was
treatments half a billion there was another entirely different idea taking
another entirely different idea taking
another entirely different idea taking shape in some people’s minds when NIU
shape in some people’s minds when NIU
shape in some people’s minds when NIU became available and the reactors that
became available and the reactors that
became available and the reactors that preceded it and that was can you use a
preceded it and that was can you use a
preceded it and that was can you use a nuclear reaction to boil water like
nuclear reaction to boil water like
nuclear reaction to boil water like steam drive a turbine turn a generator
steam drive a turbine turn a generator
steam drive a turbine turn a generator and make electricity the challenge with
and make electricity the challenge with
and make electricity the challenge with that technology is in the center of the
that technology is in the center of the
that technology is in the center of the nuclear reactor the conditions are very
nuclear reactor the conditions are very
nuclear reactor the conditions are very harsh and they’re not like anything you
harsh and they’re not like anything you
harsh and they’re not like anything you see anywhere on earth so how would you
see anywhere on earth so how would you
see anywhere on earth so how would you choose the right materials to build that
choose the right materials to build that
choose the right materials to build that structure the investment in a nuclear
structure the investment in a nuclear
structure the investment in a nuclear power reactor these machines are much
power reactor these machines are much
power reactor these machines are much much bigger than nru or a research
much bigger than nru or a research
much bigger than nru or a research reactor the investment is very big it’s
reactor the investment is very big it’s
reactor the investment is very big it’s rather like a hydro dam it costs a huge
rather like a hydro dam it costs a huge
rather like a hydro dam it costs a huge amount of money to build but once you’ve
amount of money to build but once you’ve
amount of money to build but once you’ve built it it then just makes cheap
built it it then just makes cheap
built it it then just makes cheap reliable clean electricity
reliable clean electricity
reliable clean electricity decades and decades unless you’ve chosen
decades and decades unless you’ve chosen
decades and decades unless you’ve chosen the wrong materials to make the reactor
the wrong materials to make the reactor
the wrong materials to make the reactor from in which case it doesn’t last and
from in which case it doesn’t last and
from in which case it doesn’t last and your investment is wasted
your investment is wasted
your investment is wasted so in nru scientists can get a long
so in nru scientists can get a long
so in nru scientists can get a long stick and literally put 25 samples of
stick and literally put 25 samples of
stick and literally put 25 samples of different bits of steel on the end and
different bits of steel on the end and
different bits of steel on the end and put that into the reactor and leave it
put that into the reactor and leave it
put that into the reactor and leave it there for a while and let them
there for a while and let them
there for a while and let them experience those harsh conditions pull
experience those harsh conditions pull
experience those harsh conditions pull it out a year later and then do
it out a year later and then do
it out a year later and then do experiments on those 25 steels which
experiments on those 25 steels which
experiments on those 25 steels which steel was the best which retained its
steel was the best which retained its
steel was the best which retained its strength which is the best candidate for
strength which is the best candidate for
strength which is the best candidate for building of the big power reactors and
building of the big power reactors and
building of the big power reactors and nru the knowledge gained from
nru the knowledge gained from
nru the knowledge gained from experiments there have sustained
experiments there have sustained
experiments there have sustained Canada’s nuclear industry over those
Canada’s nuclear industry over those
Canada’s nuclear industry over those decades if you’re a government trying to
decades if you’re a government trying to
decades if you’re a government trying to plan climate change goals greenhouse gas
plan climate change goals greenhouse gas
plan climate change goals greenhouse gas reduction goals and you have a domestic
reduction goals and you have a domestic
reduction goals and you have a domestic technology that makes a sixth of the
technology that makes a sixth of the
technology that makes a sixth of the country’s electricity well over half of
country’s electricity well over half of
country’s electricity well over half of Ontario’s electricity all with zero
Ontario’s electricity all with zero
Ontario’s electricity all with zero greenhouse gas that’s a huge boon just
greenhouse gas that’s a huge boon just
greenhouse gas that’s a huge boon just because a few people answered some
because a few people answered some
because a few people answered some practical questions using the
practical questions using the
practical questions using the capabilities of nru so the third story
capabilities of nru so the third story
capabilities of nru so the third story is about this guy Burt Brockhaus Burt
is about this guy Burt Brockhaus Burt
is about this guy Burt Brockhaus Burt was a young man in world war ii and
was a young man in world war ii and
was a young man in world war ii and worked as a sonar operator and then in
worked as a sonar operator and then in
worked as a sonar operator and then in the 50’s found himself at shore proved
the 50’s found himself at shore proved
the 50’s found himself at shore proved elaborate orys where the earlier reactor
elaborate orys where the earlier reactor
elaborate orys where the earlier reactor was operating already and nru was coming
was operating already and nru was coming
was operating already and nru was coming into operation and he dreamt up machines
into operation and he dreamt up machines
into operation and he dreamt up machines that could get neutrons shining out of
that could get neutrons shining out of
that could get neutrons shining out of holes I said there was holes in the side
holes I said there was holes in the side
holes I said there was holes in the side of nru direct those neutrons and shine
of nru direct those neutrons and shine
of nru direct those neutrons and shine them onto samples of material and by
them onto samples of material and by
them onto samples of material and by measuring how the neutrons scattered
measuring how the neutrons scattered
measuring how the neutrons scattered from the sample he was able to to gain
from the sample he was able to to gain
from the sample he was able to to gain fundamental knowledge about how
fundamental knowledge about how
fundamental knowledge about how materials were knit together at the
materials were knit together at the
materials were knit together at the molecular level
molecular level
molecular level an astounding technique and here’s the
an astounding technique and here’s the
an astounding technique and here’s the magic it can be used on anything with
magic it can be used on anything with
magic it can be used on anything with that technique you can look at metals
that technique you can look at metals
that technique you can look at metals polymers glasses ceramics gels
polymers glasses ceramics gels
polymers glasses ceramics gels semiconductors and
semiconductors and
semiconductors and and so many of the innovations of the
and so many of the innovations of the
and so many of the innovations of the 20th and 21st century rely on advanced
20th and 21st century rely on advanced
20th and 21st century rely on advanced materials burst was recognized with the
materials burst was recognized with the
materials burst was recognized with the Nobel Prize in 1994 and by that time he
Nobel Prize in 1994 and by that time he
Nobel Prize in 1994 and by that time he shared the prize with cliff Shaw from
shared the prize with cliff Shaw from
shared the prize with cliff Shaw from the USA and by 94 this technique these
the USA and by 94 this technique these
the USA and by 94 this technique these instruments were installed in research
instruments were installed in research
instruments were installed in research reactors in every developed country
reactors in every developed country
reactors in every developed country because it is such a powerful technique
because it is such a powerful technique
because it is such a powerful technique for understanding materials and making
for understanding materials and making
for understanding materials and making new innovation and it’s those stories of
new innovation and it’s those stories of
new innovation and it’s those stories of innovation from history but the ones I
innovation from history but the ones I
innovation from history but the ones I hear about me every week the dime at
hear about me every week the dime at
hear about me every week the dime at work that make me such a proud so proud
work that make me such a proud so proud
work that make me such a proud so proud to be a member of the NIU team and here
to be a member of the NIU team and here
to be a member of the NIU team and here are some of the members of that team we
are some of the members of that team we
are some of the members of that team we run the facility 24/7 Christmas Day New
run the facility 24/7 Christmas Day New
run the facility 24/7 Christmas Day New Year’s shifts
Year’s shifts
Year’s shifts we can’t ever all be in one photograph
we can’t ever all be in one photograph
we can’t ever all be in one photograph but because we operate nru today every
but because we operate nru today every
but because we operate nru today every day of the week a PhD student a
day of the week a PhD student a
day of the week a PhD student a professor a researcher a scientist comes
professor a researcher a scientist comes
professor a researcher a scientist comes through our front door with a new idea
through our front door with a new idea
through our front door with a new idea for an experiment to give Canada
for an experiment to give Canada
for an experiment to give Canada thousands of years of electricity from
thousands of years of electricity from
thousands of years of electricity from thorium fuel or develop the next
thorium fuel or develop the next
thorium fuel or develop the next generation of medical isotope products
generation of medical isotope products
generation of medical isotope products or develop a new material which well
or develop a new material which well
or develop a new material which well which will what enable a new type of
which will what enable a new type of
which will what enable a new type of heart implant or a supersonic train or a
heart implant or a supersonic train or a
heart implant or a supersonic train or a faster computer I don’t know but those
faster computer I don’t know but those
faster computer I don’t know but those first two examples are real thousands of
first two examples are real thousands of
first two examples are real thousands of years of electricity from thorium and
years of electricity from thorium and
years of electricity from thorium and the next generation of medical isotopes
the next generation of medical isotopes
the next generation of medical isotopes those experiments have been in nru this
those experiments have been in nru this
those experiments have been in nru this year so we’ve proved that this works get
year so we’ve proved that this works get
year so we’ve proved that this works get a powerful capable scientific tool and
a powerful capable scientific tool and
a powerful capable scientific tool and put it in the hands of imaginative
put it in the hands of imaginative
put it in the hands of imaginative scientists and great things will happen
scientists and great things will happen
scientists and great things will happen as a country we made an investment a big
as a country we made an investment a big
as a country we made an investment a big investment to build nru but not out of
investment to build nru but not out of
investment to build nru but not out of proportion with the things government
proportion with the things government
proportion with the things government spends money on the same as a big city
spends money on the same as a big city
spends money on the same as a big city hospital law
hospital law
hospital law four or five fighter jets and that
four or five fighter jets and that
four or five fighter jets and that investment has paid us back many times
investment has paid us back many times
investment has paid us back many times over half a billion patient treatments
over half a billion patient treatments
over half a billion patient treatments billions of tons of greenhouse gas
billions of tons of greenhouse gas
billions of tons of greenhouse gas avoided nru will end operation next year
avoided nru will end operation next year
avoided nru will end operation next year in 2018 in the spring and our 60 years
in 2018 in the spring and our 60 years
in 2018 in the spring and our 60 years will will stand as a proud record of all
will will stand as a proud record of all
will will stand as a proud record of all that we’ve done but I’m confident that
that we’ve done but I’m confident that
that we’ve done but I’m confident that the coming generation of scientists
the coming generation of scientists
the coming generation of scientists though starting their careers today will
though starting their careers today will
though starting their careers today will continue to astound us with new
continue to astound us with new
continue to astound us with new innovation as we put into their hands
innovation as we put into their hands
innovation as we put into their hands capable powerful scientific tools like
capable powerful scientific tools like
capable powerful scientific tools like nru
”
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