Educational aspects of nuclear tourism: sites, objects and museums

Abstract

The paper discusses educational aspects of nuclear tourism and presents it as a new niche of educational tourism and science education. The research explores sites, objects and museums of the nuclear tourism around the world focusing on analysis of official websites and social media communication of 15 Nuclear tourism science, history and technology museums (such as Hiroshima Pease Memorial Museum; Museum “Chernobyl”; Chernobyl Disaster; Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and many other) and nuclear tourism sites (including Visitor’ centres of Nuclear Power Plants) to understand what and how educational aspects are presented in the virtual self-presentation. The interest in everything atomic has increased upon the opening of the nuclear age. The public now has a way to embrace the history of the atomic age—through nuclear tourism. Throughout the world, sites where governments built Nuclear Power Plants (NPP), tested atomic bombs and where scientists performed research on atomic energy are now becoming tourist destinations. It is concluded that the benefits and impacts of forms of nuclear tourism for local communities and the environment must be further researched. The paper discusses aims of the nuclear tourism and its relation to science education and broader educational aims, its forms, sites, objects and possible educational impact. [...]