The University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute is the umbrella organisation for nuclear activity at Manchester. The Institute brings together and coordinates the most advanced nuclear research capability in UK academia, which collectively – and uniquely – covers the whole fission fuel cycle (from mining and enrichment, fuel manufacture and reactor operations through to waste management and decommissioning), as well as fusion, health and social research.
Bringing this community together, the Dalton Nuclear Institute acts as an authoritative, trusted source of information engaging actively with the public, media, stakeholders, and government, and contributing to important national and international conversations around nuclear energy.
Feeding the nuclear skills pipeline, while simultaneously supporting an inclusive nuclear sector that attracts and retains the best talent, is a key focus for the Institute, which became the first Academic Partner of Inclusion and Diversity in Nuclear last year.
Industry collaboration also plays an important role in helping the University train and prepare the next generation of nuclear subject matter experts. The Manchester-led nuclear Centres for Doctoral Training benefit from teaching by subject experts from industry, from impact-led research with enhanced industry engagement, as well as from industry secondments and networking.
The Institute’s Dalton Nuclear Policy Group offers a sustained line of impartial guidance to Government and industry on nuclear policy issues through position papers, consultation responses and Select Committee hearings as well as directly to parliamentarians.
We create mutually beneficial collaborations that provide access to research facilities and expertise for industry together with opportunities for researchers to work on real-world challenges.
We work to strengthen and grow our partnerships across the sector, collaborating strategically with Sellafield Ltd., Jacobs, the National Nuclear Laboratory and the UK Atomic Energy Authority, among others. We are represented on the board of the Northern Nuclear Alliance, we’re a founding partner of the North West Nuclear Arc and we host the Nuclear Waste Services Research Support Office. Manchester is the lead organisation for both the Robotics and AI for Nuclear (RAIN) Hub and the Henry Royce Institute for advanced materials.
