Willow Paraskevas spent a large part of her summer two floors underground, separated from the cool blue core of McMaster’s nuclear reactor by only a concrete wall. Harnessing a neutron beam, she performed work on a neutron diffractometer, an instrument few Canadian nuclear facilities have access to.
What sounds like a surreal experience was just another day in the life for the Level III Engineering Physics co-op student, who chose McMaster because of its unique opportunities to work in nuclear.
“I am originally from Ottawa,” Paraskevas said. “I don’t think I would have come so far from home if it weren’t for the nuclear facilities at Mac, and the engineering physics program specifically offering nuclear content.”.
In high school, Paraskevas did a deep dive into McMaster’s nuclear work and research facilities after watching the Chernobyl TV series.
“It just snowballed from there,” she said, “Mac had a big part to play in my interest.”
Willow Paraskevas in her element: With the neutron diffractometer she used to perform her experiments this summer.
Now, she’s passionate about making nuclear science and engineering accessible. Paraskevas serves as Outreach Team Lead for NAYGN McMaster, creating educational social media content; is enrolled in the nuclear engineering minor; and works as a tour guide at the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR).
“There’s a lot of mystery surrounding nuclear,” Paraskevas said. “I really like sharing how it can be a good thing and how it touches our lives in more ways than people realize.”
For example, 55 per cent of Ontario’s energy comes from nuclear. “That’s the big one that everybody knows,” she said.
But there are a lot of lesser-known applications of nuclear, as well. Archaeological samples can be dated by how much carbon-14, a radioisotope present in living organisms, has decayed.
Similarly, nuclear wine-dating is used to spot fake vintages. Any variety bottled after 1945 will have detectable amounts of the isotope caesium-137.
The Rhisotope project out of South Africa involves injecting radioactive isotopes into the horns of endangered rhinoceros.It is harmless to the rhinos, but sets off security systems at border crossings, acting as a deterrent to poaching.
The McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR), in particular, has some jaw-dropping impacts. It produces medical isotopes used in treatments for over 70,000 cancer patients globally every year. The provincial government recently announced $18 million in funding to expand operations and increase production of these life-saving isotopes.
Neutrons from MNR are used to test turbine blades for jet engines. And as a global leader in nuclear research, McMaster’s reactor is also used for research into materials, new fuel types, and reactor safety.
Willow Paraskevas prepares to go into the McMaster Nuclear Reactor. (Photo by Georgia Kirkos)
Summer research
Reactor safety was the topic of Paraskevas’ summer project, as a Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) research assistant. She conducted neutron and X-ray diffraction studies on zirconium alloys.
“In the CANDU reactor, there are tons of components made with zirconium,” Paraskevas said. “It’s a great material for so many reasons. But its flaw is that while the reactor is operating, it will pick up hydrogen.”
Over time, this will make the zirconium brittle.The components can become prone to cracking.
Paraskevas’ research looked at identifying and characterizing hydrides in zirconium, using neutron beams. The long-term goal of that research was to determine when zirconium components might crack.
As a CNL research student, Paraskevas spent the first nine weeks of her summer conducting this research at McMaster, and then two weeks at CNL’s Chalk River Laboratories in the heart of the Ottawa Valley.
In Chalk River, she spent mornings working with a supervisor and mentor, talking about her project, and afternoons touring the labs and research facilities with the other 11 students from McMaster.
“We connected with professionals from every background and level of experience, from biology to materials science to technicians,” Paraskevas said. “It was really valuable to see a blend of research and industry… there was so much crammed into two weeks.”
At least one tour corresponded to each student’s project, and there were a lot of materials science tours, which she loved. But it was also nice to learn just how much more there was to learn.
“I thought I knew everything nuclear could do, then I went to CNL and learned a few more applications.”
A group of engineering students in Chalk River. Willow Paraskevas is in the centre.
The experience strengthened her interest in going into industry work, and in encouraging students to check out what the future of nuclear might hold for them.
Though she was initially drawn to nuclear research in part because of the mystery that surrounded it, Paraskevas now wants to help dispel that mystery.
“If I had gone for a nuclear reactor tour, before knowing anything about this, I probably would have jumped on so quickly,” she said.
“It means a lot to me to be able to share what I’m passionate about and serve a greater purpose of dispelling misinformation and making people more comfortable with something that’s ultimately good for us… and can do so much good in the future.”
Willow Paraskevas presenting her summer research project at the Faculty of Engineering’s annual Summer Research Showcase.
If you are a McMaster student with even a hint of interest in nuclear, book yourself a reactor tour, Paraskevas said.
“Who gets to say they’ve toured a nuclear reactor?” she added, suggesting students try taking a nuclear-themed class. McMaster students can also explore one of the three nuclear minor streams, which can be tailored to their degree, for any faculty.
McMaster is Canada’s Nuclear University, after all.
Whatever you’re interested in, Paraskevas said, “just dip your toe in it here.”