Discover the Science Behind Nuclear Energy

A MOOC devoted to nuclear energy is now available online, offering a new learning pathway that allows everyone to delve into the intricacies of this energy sector and gain a detailed understanding of all the associated scientific, technological and industrial issues. This initiative is led by Emmanuelle Galichet, a lecturer-researcher at CNAM and a specialist in nuclear science and technology. Her aim? To familiarise the economic and political world, as well as the general public, with this energy sector whose foundations are still too little known. « I find it regrettable that this sector, which has accompanied us since the beginning of the 20th century and has enabled immense progress in our daily lives and our economy, is so poorly known, » explains the scientist. « Today, when President Emmanuel Macron has decided to relaunch the nuclear power programme, I thought it was important to share this national heritage with the general public. »

A comprehensive course that starts with the scientific foundations

To make this sharing as complete as possible, Emmanuelle Galichet designed this MOOC to begin by inviting learners to explore the basics of radioactivity and fission and to understand how nuclear reactions produce energy. Once this groundwork has been laid, the lecturer takes her audience much further through a detailed description of the processes implemented in nuclear power plants and the way safety is ensured, and by explaining how the full fuel cycle is organised, from its fabrication to the responsible management of radioactive waste.
The aim of this MOOC is not to train nuclear specialists, but if participants come away with a good overview and a few key concepts, the goal will have been achieved. « There are many ideas I would like my learners to remember, » explains Emmanuelle Galichet. « But I especially hope they will retain that research in fundamental nuclear physics lies at the origin of the industrial sector and that our current research will very likely become the technologies of tomorrow. »

« I also hope they will clearly understand how a reactor works and how the danger of radioactivity is controlled, as well as the essential distinction between danger and risk, » continues the lecturer. « My aim is for them also to remember that without raw materials nothing is possible, that they must be conserved, and that radioactive waste, although managed responsibly and carefully, is unavoidable. Despite this, in France, thanks to recycling, their volume and their radiotoxicity are reduced. Nevertheless, tomorrow, with fast neutron reactors, it will be possible to improve the entire fuel cycle by saving material extracted from the mine and further reducing the volume of waste. Finally, I hope they will understand that the nuclear power sector does not emit greenhouse gases. »

An accessible, interactive… and complementary format

The MOOC “Énergie nucléaire, de la science à l’industrie” also makes curiosity a driver for learning and discussion, a space where collective understanding is built and renewed, with the guiding idea that nuclear sciences advance as much through questions as through answers. Thus, while it covers concepts that are extensively developed on the website laradioactivite.com, particularly in the sections devoted to waste, reactors and the phenomenon of radioactivity, the MOOC, with its structure based on videos, quizzes, documents, discussion forums, live web conferences and exchanges with instructors, brings a richness that is both complementary and valuable. A richness from which not only the MOOC’s students benefit, since this regular exchange between participants and speakers is also a source of discoveries for Emmanuelle Galichet: « There is always someone who will ask a question I had not thought of. As a result, each time is different and it leads me to go back over certain questions and to challenge my own understanding of the phenomena. Ultimately, through contact with the general public, I remain an eternal student, » the lecturer smiles.

A new session expected in 2026

Clearly, this MOOC is destined to be enriched and to evolve with each new experience. Let us hope that its first edition, which ends in early January 2026, will be followed by many others and that this format will establish itself over the long term in the landscape of knowledge sharing alongside laradioactivite.com. If you are tempted by the adventure, keep a close eye on the “ Fun ” page — the 2026 edition is already on the horizon.

To find out more:

Nuclear energy: from science to industry