From Classroom to the Real World: Physics Students Explore Nuclear Energy at Daya Bay

From Classroom to the Real World: Physics Students Explore Nuclear Energy at Daya Bay

On 1 June 2026, the Physics Department organised a site visit to the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, which is one of the regular field trips offered to students in both the BSc (Hons) in Green Energy and Smart Technology (GEST) and the MSc in Green Technology (Energy) (GTE) programmes. The visit aimed to provide students with valuable practical exposure to nuclear energy development and to help them understand the importance of nuclear energy in supporting Hong Kong’s transition to a zero-carbon future. The visit was led by Dr. Choi, a lecturer and Associate Programme Director of GTE programme from the Department, and 24 students participated in the tour hosted by the the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (“CLP”).

The visit started with an introductory session led by an on-site CLP engineer, who shared the development history of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station and gave students a basic overview and key insights into nuclear power. Through the session and subsequent discussion, students learned about essential topics such as site selection, plant design, operational safety, and environmental monitoring, as well as how these elements contribute to safe and responsible power generation. Students also had opportunities to engage in questions and discussions with the engineer, allowing them to better understand how the plant operates and to gain further insights into the role of nuclear power in daily energy use and its contribution to long-term decarbonisation.

After the discussion session, the students were toured to the Daya Bay Museum, where they explored display models of the reactor, fuel assemblies, and key features of the Daya Bay site. A memorable highlight of the visit was the interactive session, where students had the opportunity to virtually try on the professional work uniforms of Daya Bay and simulate control room operations. These immersive activities allowed students to gain a more intuitive understanding of the real working environment. Before concluding the visit, the students also went to Daya Bay Port to gain deeper insights into the logistics and transportation operations of the nuclear power station.

This one-day educational visit enabled students to gain firsthand experience at a functioning nuclear power station, further enhancing their understanding of the crucial role nuclear energy plays in building a sustainable energy future.