Nuclear Power: Cean Energy Awareness

In the humid afternoon of a small Filipino public school, we were confronted with a packed room full of children. Coming from a school in Henderson, Nevada, there were a lot of similarities: class sizes of 40, excited students, and it being very hot. Some sat on the same chair; the others wedged at the back. Many 10- to 12-year-old students were staring at me with curiosity. I was there to teach them about something that many had never learned about: nuclear power. I divided the workshop into five main components, which could be represented by the 3 main "Ws," including why, where, and when!

"Do you have any idea where electricity is made?" I asked. The majority of the class just stared in silence or looked above their head and looked curiously at the lamp. We explained that power can be made in lots of ways. This included coal, sun, wind, and nuclear. We also explained in simple terms and in our slideshow how nuclear power works without burning fossil fuels, so it doesn't emit smoke or add pollution to the air. One boy raised his hand. "Is it dangerous?" was a very common question. After all, the name "nuclear energy" does not sound very inviting. We explained yes and no. More specifically, we explained that "Depending on how it is applied. If applied cautiously, it can be very safe and avoid air pollution." The children nodded slowly. A few were still unsure, and some posed additional questions. We also discussed the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, a real but unused nuclear power plant located in the Philippines. We gave them a handout in English and Filipino, with basic facts and a drawing activity on clean energy, before we left. The importance of knowing how different energy is created is essential, especially as younger generations will grow up in the future. Though we left them with chocolate, we also left them with very valuable information!