ICE Association Française weekend at Aix-en-Provence
The 2012 ICE regional weekend in Aix-en-Provence promised to be a very interesting event and certainly lived up to the varied and diverse nature of its subject.
The main technical interest of the weekend started on Friday 28th September on the CEA site at Cadarache in the South of France. A series of fascinating technical presentations was held about the construction and operation of ITER, an experimental nuclear fusion reactor designed to explore and demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a working nuclear fusion reactor for future electricity generation.
The talks covered subjects such as the basic operation of the fusion reactor, the organisation and management of the project teams charged with its construction, and the detailed civil and structural engineering design of the containment and ancillary buildings. One could certainly appreciate the scale of the technical complexity that this project proposes, as well as the drive and determination of those involved with its delivery to get the reactor built on-time and within budget. There really was a sense that despite the monumental undertaking of ITER, the end product will merit the time, money, and effort invested by the numerous parties involved with its realisation.
On the Friday evening a cordial and culinary gala dinner was held at the Beaumanoir hotel in Aix-en-Provence. The ICE president, Richard Coackley gave a very apt and thought-provoking address about the role of civil engineers in wider society, and the need for engineers to become involved in all aspects of societal and political life.
Saturday morning saw three illuminating presentations given by the graduate members of the ICE France region, with Martin Dixon’s presentation titled “Climate Change, Politics, and the Civil Engineering Profession” taking first prize over two very interesting presentations from Roberto Pinto-Ward and Graham Hobbins about EDF’s EPR reactor currently under construction at Flamanville, and the decommissioning of France’s first-generation nuclear reactors. All three presentations displayed an acute awareness of the importance of civil engineering in the nuclear industry and in the wider world, and gave a good indication of what civil engineers will help to achieve for society in the energy industry.
A pleasant Saturday afternoon strolling around the Bibemus Quarry and on Coyne et Bellier’s Bimont dam was followed by a visit to the new cellars and architecturally interesting new buildings of Chateau La Coste, with a tasting of course! A superb Sunday morning in the historical centre of Aix-en-Provence provided a fitting end to a fulfilling weekend extremely well organised by William Powles. As the French say, “à refaire!”.
The event was also featured on ITER's own website.
Derek Gear CEng, ICE French Local Association Secretary and ICE Member in France, and Lucy Rew CEng, ICE France Chairman and ICE Member