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From left to right: Frank Clement, Brian Meeley, Marjorie Rochon, Jackie Carpenter, Christina Walrond, Phoebe Nkaabu and Sarah Dirndorfer. Photo by Theresa Widger. |
PCG had the immense honor of hosting Phoebe Nkaabu, an IAEA
Fellow from Nairobi, Kenya, during her two week visit to the United States. Phoebe
works for the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board’s communications team and develops
messaging and outreach in preparation for Kenya’s new nuclear energy program,
anticipated to go online in 2022.
Phoebe and her team experience many of the same challenges
our clients face in teaching the public about the benefits and safety of
nuclear energy. We wanted to help Phoebe find some inspiration, so Vice
President Brian Meeley arranged a trip to the Energy & Environmental
Resource Center (EERC) in Salem, New Jersey.
EERC is an initiative of the Public Service Enterprise Group
(PSEG) to educate community members about energy. It sits about ten miles from the
Salem Nuclear Generating Station on the Delaware River and features
museum-worthy exhibits explaining energy generation, usage and safety.
Many of the exhibits were furnished by the Nuclear Energy
Institute and give children and adults hands-on experience with simulated
reactor cores, radioactive waste storage systems and utility distribution
controls.
PSEG uses the EERC to function as a deeply involved
community member. School children visit regularly, boy scouts frequently come
to earn their Nuclear Science merit badge, and PSEG even invites nearby
organizations to use the center’s large meeting space free of charge.
Our visitors’ center trip was just one part of the two weeks
we had with Phoebe to share experiences about effective communication. We are
thrilled to have learned more about the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board and
look forward to hearing about the country’s continued exploration of nuclear
energy options for their future.