Critical Changes

Nuclear Sitdown

How can design open up complex conversations?

The designers of this project were curious to investigate perceptions of the nuclear industry. Their bold plan to create an object out of the controversial and negatively perceived material of nuclear waste immediately connected them to the Dutch radioactive waste management facility COVRA. In this installation, they play with the aesthetics of nuclear waste, creating an artifact to highlight our personal connection to waste. Their use of actual radioactive waste is meant to trigger a discussion about radioactivity in society. In the context of our evolving energy crisis, it is essential to take some nuanced looks into our perceptions of nuclear technologies, including aspects which may be highly emotional.