Lauren Bailey and Sicilia Christadore served as student representatives for the University of Tennessee’s Department of Nuclear Engineering at the East Tennessee Economic Council’s Nuclear & Innovative Energy Day on the Hill held in Nashville on February 24th.
The 3rd annual event, hosted by the Tennessee Nuclear Network, brings together lawmakers and energy industry professionals to highlight the state’s contributions to nuclear energy and innovative technologies.
Bailey, a graduate student, and Christadore, a senior, set up a table for UT’s NE program in the Cordell Hull Building and interacted with numerous attendees while conveying the benefits of studying nuclear engineering at UT. They also did a social media takeover for the NE Department.
“Many people were interested in learning about our experience in the NE program and our career plans,” Bailey said. “With this, we were also able to talk to the other nuclear companies that were tabling and learn about everything else happening in East Tennessee and make great technical connections.”
Christadore, president of the UT’s Women in Nuclear chapter, was impressed by the diversity of attendees that engaged them in conversation.
“We talked to legislators, interns, individuals running for Congress, lobbyists, and many others, which allowed us to share the importance of nuclear to a wide and varied audience,” Christadore said. “I also really enjoyed how receptive and genuinely interested people were in learning about nuclear.”
Bailey, who was attending the event for the second straight year, is doing research at UT on nuclear digital twins and was able to socialize with representatives from academia and industry to discuss her work.
“I made some strong technical connections that will benefit my research and research group and lead to future collaborations,” Bailey said. “Additionally, the experience as a whole was enriching and offered a unique opportunity to see everything happening with nuclear in East Tennessee. Sharing that excitement with peers here at UT has been great.”
Christadore appreciated the chance to bring more attention to UT’s nuclear department and make professional connections while in Nashville. She was happy to share details of the department’s growth and the expansive opportunities available to students given the university’s proximity to East Tennessee’s nuclear hub.
“I was able connect with individuals from different institutions, industry partners, and even fellow Vols across the UT system who are outside of the nuclear engineering department,” she said. “Expanding my network gives me the opportunity to stay engaged with developments across the nuclear field and build relationships with industry leaders as I transition from college into my professional career.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (rpotkey@utk.edu)