December 1, 2006 - Thirty-six teachers from the Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation (OSSTF), District 14, took a "PD day" (professional development day) on Friday, December 1 and came to learn more about the science of uranium and what Cameco does at its Port Hope conversion facility. The majority of teachers were in the sciences but several were teachers in other subject areas - all were very interested in uranium and the processing of uranium for nuclear energy. "It was an excellent day," said Doug Latham from Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School , "the best PD day I've attended in a long time."
The all day workshop was entitled, Uranium, A Resource for the Generation of Clean Electricity . "It was about the nuclear industry and uranium," said Bob Steane, vice president, fuel services division, "not just about Cameco. We always want to provide the context in which we produce uranium." Steane welcomed the teachers and gave an overview of the nuclear fuel cycle from underground mining at McArthur River through milling, refining at Blind River and conversion in Port Hope. Steane said, "The richest body of uranium ore in the world is located at McArthur River and the conversion facility in Port Hope is one of only four in the western world."
The teachers were able to see, first hand, the conversion of uranium from uranium trioxide (UO3) to uranium dioxide (UO2) and uranium hexafluoride (UF6). Tours, lead by Cameco engineers, scientists and other personnel, went through the UF6 and UO2 plants and the research and development laboratories. There was keen interest in the technology and instrumentation in the R&D labs. Scientists and technologists in the lab put on a demonstration of a test for flammability. Mike Murchie, manager, Cameco technology development group, said, "This test was specifically designed to answer the question of flammability and explosiveness of UO2. We have a special apparatus, for the determination of 'explositivity,' and it demonstrated that the ceramic UO2 used by Cameco and Zircatec does not burn or explode."
John Hargraft from Clarington Secondary School said, "I have a much deeper understanding of the chemical processes and reactions and the limited risk of radiation hazards in Port Hope." The teachers were very interested in both the process and the chemistry involved and at lunchtime Cameco's Port Hope conversion facility management team, scientists, engineers and technical staff gathered to participate in a wide-ranging question and answer period.
"I now feel much more informed and secure about what happens at Cameco," said Shane Urbach from Port Hope High School . Mike Murchie said "At the end of the day, we felt we had achieved our objective to continue to broaden the base of understanding of uranium in the education system." He added, "And what better way than to raise the interest and answer the questions of our teachers."
The seminar held on December 1 was the third time in four years that Cameco has hosted teachers from the OSSTF, District 14.
