The nuclear alternative

The year 2006 is a historic one for the nuclear industry: it is 50 years since the opening of Calder Hall, the world's first commercial nuclear power station. The Queen opened the plant on 17 October 1956, amid hype about a supply of electricity "too cheap to meter". Perhaps less well known is that mere weeks beforehand, one of the world's first courses in nuclear technology began at Birmingham University – a course that is still running to this day.