A nuclear reactor you can control
By Adhitya Sivaraman
Recently, nuclear power has been getting much attention, both worldwide and in Singapore. With that attention comes plenty of material on nuclear power, safety, and deployment. As such, people interested in learning more about nuclear power may feel overwhelmed with the information available online.
But what if you could learn about nuclear not by just reading about it, but by controlling it yourself?
Earlier this month, SNRSI held an event at NUS to share the work they do in the field of reactor safety analysis, but what stood out was an in-house-built simulator of a nuclear reactor.
This simulator, made by Theodore Ong, a researcher at SNRSI, models a nuclear power plant and lets users control parts of the reactor to watch how the plant responds in real time.
This can teach users how a reactor generates power, from the heat produced by fission to the turbine's electrical output. Furthermore, the sliders also let users see how a reactor would respond to operator input.
The Open-source Unified TRAnsient Multi-Physics Advanced Reactor simulation Kit, more commonly referred to as OUTRAM PARK
But, you may ask: How does this simulator help in Singapore’s effort to go net-zero?
About 40% of Singapore’s carbon emissions come from power generation, and nuclear power can help cut emissions significantly (EMA,2023). However, a major challenge to nuclear power adoption is the social stigma that comes with it (NASEM,2023).
Here is where the simulator comes in.
When someone sees for themselves how a nuclear reactor works, it makes the understanding of it feel personal. That personal understanding doesn’t just demystify nuclear; it can help portray the technology in a better light. More than that, it allows people to make more informed decisions on the subject(Idlana,2025).
This simulator is still a long way away from shaping public perception of nuclear power, but we can do much to change that.
To promote usage, the simulator could become more of a game. A simple win-or-lose condition or an objective for the user to work towards can suffice. For example, instead of the simulator crashing, it could show a “You lose” screen to prompt users to try again. That “prompt” can motivate users to stay on the simulator and learn more about the reactor (Fradera, 2015).
The current error message when you overheat the reactor.
To promote further education, the simulator can be expanded to support control of other components like pumps and valves. More sliders, or variables, gives players more of a challenge adding to the “game” effect. This can also allow users to learn about how past nuclear disasters like Fukushima and Cherynoble were caused, and how modern reactor safety systems prevent them from happening again.
Finally, there is the element of outreach and convenience. A strong marketing campaign, perhaps starting within NUS, would be a great start to outreach. For convenience, the simulator can be turned into an installer package that can be downloaded with just a few clicks, as opposed to the lengthy, complicated effort of installing it through GitHub.
Nuclear power can define the next chapter of Singapore’s future. While we cannot say now whether we will adopt nuclear power, we can take steps to prepare for it. And to this end, a simple yet educational game made by Singaporeans to teach Singaporeans about nuclear would go along way in building the trust and confidence nuclear deserves.
References:
1) EMA,2023. CONSULTATION PAPER ON EMISSION STANDARDS FOR POWER GENERATION UNITS.
2) National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2023. Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/26630/chapter/10
3) Idlana, R. Q. E. I. (2025). Efficacy of Game-Based Versus Traditional Teaching Approaches on Literacy and Numeracy Outcomes. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 50(7), 900–914. https://doi.org/10.70838/pemj.500709
4) Fradera, A. (2015, August 19). The powerful motivating effect of a near win. BPS; The British Psychological Society. https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/powerful-motivating-effect-near-win
Comments