Nuclear power engineering won’t withstand an information vacuum

The nuclear energy information centre was technically opened in the National Centre for Innovative and Technical Creativity in late November. The information centre was set up on the initiative of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom, and the Belarusian Education Ministry. The centre is expected to introduce visitors to the principles of operation of the Belarusian nuclear power station and the design of the nuclear power station’s safeguards. Models of the industrial site of the power station and its reactor are available for examination. The information centre has a multimedia movie theatre that combines panoramic 3D projection, computer graphics and animation, stereo sound, interactive consoles and personal monitors for optimum information delivery.


Visitors will be able to use the multimedia programmes, including a 45 minute long multimedia virtual performance The World of Nuclear Energy, as well as several interactive quizzes. Thanks to this technology visitors will be able to dive into virtual reality. The programme is universal and targets schoolchildren of eight years old and above, as well as adults. Apart from the main programme, visitors will be able to enjoy items on astronomy and natural sciences, alongside country studies in Russian and English.

The main purpose of the centre is to raise the awareness of Belarusians about radiation safety and nuclear power engineering, to popularise atomic science and technology among students whilst offering career guidance assistance and promoting nuclear technology and education in the nuclear energy industry. Visitors will be able to learn about the history and development of nuclear energy, the use of innovative physics research and the social and economic development of the country in view of the construction of nuclear energy enterprises and their relevant infrastructure.

Nuclear energy awareness-raising centres are created in the regions where Rosatom’s nuclear enterprises are present. The first centre of the kind was opened in the Russian city of Tomsk in November 2008. Since then, 17 such centres have been opened in Russia, namely in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Smolensk and other cities. In 2012, Rosatom opened information centres abroad, including in Hanoi, Mersin, Buyukeceli (Turkey) and, in 2013, in Dhaka (Bangladesh).