New for 2017:
MODULES: With one to two day topical modules and professional participation, students will leave the 2017 Bootcamp with a more in depth understanding of specific nuclear innovation-relevant issues. The module topics for this summer are:
- Business Development and Customer Timelines – July 18 & 19
- Advanced Reactor Technology – July 20 & 21
- Licensing and Export Control – July 24
- Markets, Financing, and Long-lead Planning – July 25 & 26
- Government, Policy, and Communications – July 26 & 27
PROFESSIONAL INTEGRATION: For the 2017 Bootcamp, we’re excited to announce the inclusion of early-to-mid career professionals into our modules in addition to students at the graduate and undergraduate level. These professionals will be welcome to join for one or more modules for a fee; their participation will allow students access to additional experts in various subfields of nuclear, and give them the knowledge and tools to bring entrepreneurship and innovative thinking back to their companies.
MORE DESIGN PROJECT TIME: Last year, student design project groups created incredible ideas with very little scheduled design project time. This year’s modular schedule will provide more opportunities for students to work on their projects with professional participants, visiting speakers, and other program visitors; it will also provide them more time during the traditional work day to interface with their professional mentors.
INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATORS: We are excited to announce the inclusion of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Texas A&M University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison as collaborators for the 2017 Bootcamp curriculum and project design. They will be joining the University of California, Berkeley in identifying the modular topics of utmost importance this year and in recruiting students, professionals, speakers, mentors, and sponsors. If you are interested in getting involved as a speaker, mentor, or sponsor, please visit our “Get Involved” tab. For students and early-to-mid career professionals interested in applying, the application will be available on December 15, 2016 on the “Apply” tab.
Didn’t hear about us in 2016?
2016 PILOT PROGRAM: From August 1-12, 2016 UC Berkeley hosted a two week pilot program where 25 students were trained in a variety of skills essential to innovation in nuclear energy while executing team design projects. The program opened with presentations by a variety of nuclear energy companies about what they see as the future potential of innovation in the nuclear industry. This opening context informed and inspired the design projects participants completed during the program.
SESSIONS: Sessions were led by experts from within and outside the nuclear industry to give students an understanding of nonspecific entrepreneurship, lessons to be learned from other industries, and considerations specific to nuclear. Topics covered can be found here.
Approximately two thirds of time was spent on the course sessions; the remaining time was spent putting lessons to immediate use through team design projects.
DESIGN PROJECT: Students formed five groups that brainstormed and designed an innovative project to address a problem in the nuclear industry. Over the two weeks, students had access to mentors from all parts of the nuclear industry via email, phone, and Skype. They also had opportunities to ask questions of the professors and experts who come in to lead sessions. At the program’s conclusion, students pitched their design projects to a panel of judges and an audience (in person and online via live-stream) of company representatives, potential private investors, technical experts, relevant NGOs, and Department of Energy program managers.