OSPE - The Voice - Winter 2019 - 37

STUDENTS

In Frankovich's essay Fast Nuclear Reactors and Recycling
Nuclear Fuel to Mitigate Climate Change, he argues that using
nuclear fuel to produce energy avoids traditional methods such
as coal and natural gas that produce greenhouse gases (GHG)
and contribute to climate change. His piece outlines the use of
the fast-neutron reactor (FNR) as the most viable and effective
solution to the waste problem in Canada. His research shows
that FNRs can produce $74 trillion worth of electricity, and
prevent the release of 340 billion tons of GHG emissions.
In the future, Thomas would like to pursue post secondary
education in chemistry, chemical physics, or chemical
engineering. He would like to potentially focus on research and
development that could help alleviate the current and future
environmental issues we face in Canada and around the world.
Edward Wang was the second essay contest winner. His
essay was titled The Electrifying Potential of Pyroprocessing: The
Future of Sustainable Nuclear Energy. Wang attends A.Y. Jackson
Secondary School in Toronto.
In his essay Wang argues that Canada has not been able to
take advantage of its recycling of used nuclear fuel for unused
materials that could be reused for existing and future nuclear
plants.
Edward has always had a deep fascination with chemistry and
its deep influences on society. He wanted to use the Laureate
competition to "learn more about the tremendous influence
chemistry has on our ever-changing society, and possibly meet
some of the most current research taken by several prominent
chemists in the field."
Edward mentioned that "as the leading source of efficient
and clean energy, nuclear power is at the forefronts of electrical
production." He has always been amazed by the stored potential
within atomic nuclei, and the methods scientists have used to
utilize this energy. Unfortunately, nuclear power plants still
produce waste in the form of radioactive nuclear rods. A major
problem regarding nuclear power, the processing and disposal
of nuclear waste has always been an interesting topic for him.
He was deeply interested in learning about up-to-date research
on more efficient and environmentally sustainable disposal of
nuclear wastes, leading to his discovery of fast neutron reactors
and their use of electrolytic reduction during pyroprocessing
to increase efficiency as well as pose a means of recycling used
fuel rods for energy.
Edward is planning to apply for health sciences and
engineering undergraduate programs this fall.

Edward Wang, A.Y. Jackson Secondary School student

EDWARD HAS ALWAYS HAD A DEEP FASCINATION
WITH CHEMISTRY AND ITS DEEP INFLUENCES ON
SOCIETY. HE WANTED TO USE THE LAUREATE
COMPETITION TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS
INFLUENCE CHEMISTRY HAS ON OUR EVERCHANGING SOCIETY, AND POSSIBLY MEET SOME OF
THE MOST CURRENT RESEARCH TAKEN BY SEVERAL
PROMINENT CHEMISTS IN THE FIELD.
- Edward Wang

➝ OSPE would like to congratulate both Thomas Frankovich and Edward Wang on their essays, as well as
everyone else who participated in this contest.

Winter 2020

THE VOICE

OSPE - The Voice - Winter 2019

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