Belen Juste

Final Degree Projects (FDPs, Undergraduate Theses) and Final Master's Projects (FMPs, Master's Theses) constitute key educational experiences within competency-based engineering education, providing opportunities for students to integrate technical knowledge with transferable skills and sustainability-related competences. This study evaluates the contribution of FDPs and FMPs in Nuclear Engineering to the development of Transversal Skills (TS) and awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study combines a review of course guides to characterize the educational framework and a student self-assessment questionnaire to evaluate perceptions regarding the development of Sustainable Development Goals and Transversal Skills during FDP and FMP activities The systematic review of project guides was developed over a two-year period. The analysis focused on students' perceptions of competence development and sustainability awareness associated with their project experience. Results indicate notable improvements in innovation, creativity, social commitment, and decision-making skills. In contrast, communication skills showed more moderate progress, suggesting opportunities for further educational enhancement. Students also demonstrated increased awareness of the SDGs and a greater ability to connect technical nuclear engineering work with broader sustainability challenges. The findings suggest that FDPs and FMPs constitute valuable project-oriented learning environments for fostering both transferable skills and sustainability awareness. Beyond supporting the acquisition of technical expertise, these projects contribute to preparing future nuclear engineers to address complex professional and societal challenges in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Este proyecto tiene como objetivo diseñar un sistema de seguimiento y evaluación de las competencias generales, específicas y transversales que el estudiantado desarrolla durante la realización de los Trabajos de Fin de Grado (TFG) y Fin de Máster (TFM) en el área de Ingeniería Nuclear de la Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). Evaluar estas competencias permite valorar el progreso del estudiantado en conocimientos teóricos y habilidades prácticas en física médica, protección radiológica y seguridad nuclear, así como su capacidad de aplicación en contextos reales de investigación, industria o práctica clínica. El entorno del área de ingeniería nuclear ofrece al estudiantado una excelente oportunidad para integrar y aplicar los conocimientos adquiridos a lo largo de su formación en entornos profesionales. Además, conforme al Real Decreto 822/2021, que promueve la incorporación de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) y los valores democráticos en el currículo, este proyecto docente busca también orientar y actualizar los contenidos de los trabajos finales. De esta forma, se pretende contextualizar los TFG/TFM en el marco social, económico y ambiental actual, alineándolos con los ODS. En particular, esta iniciativa se centra en los ODS 7 (energía asequible y no contaminante) y 3 (salud y bienestar).

This work presents an experimental study aimed at verifying the performance of passive solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSTDN) in a radon-controlled atmosphere chamber. Three distinct tests were carried out. The first two focused on analyzing the behavior and accuracy of the SSTDN detectors in comparison with two reference systems: the continuous AlphaGUARD monitor (calibrated and traceable to the BfS) and the passive E-PERM system (accredited by ENAC, Spanish National Accreditation Body). The first test involved controlled radon accumulation, while the second incorporated an accumulation profile followed by natural decay. In both cases, the measurements obtained with the SSTDN detectors showed good agreement with the reference values, although with a slight systematic underestimation. The third test, using 61 detectors spatially distributed inside the chamber, was designed to calculate a correction factor to adjust the SSTDN response. A correction factor of 1.06 was determined, and its application enabled the SSTDN measurements to align with the reference values within the AlphaGUARD’s uncertainty range. These results confirm the validity of SSTDN detectors as a passive measurement system, provided that a previously determined correction factor under controlled conditions is applied.

Phosphogypsum (PG), a by-product of phosphoric acid production, is recognized as a Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) due to its enrichment in uranium-series radionuclides. In Spain, particularly in Huelva and Cartagena, large PG stacks raise growing environmental concerns related to soil and groundwater contamination. This study presents a mineralogical and preliminary environmental assessment of PG samples from these regions using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). Gypsum (CaSO4 · 2 H2O) was identified as the dominant crystalline phase in all samples. Variations in peak intensity and preferred orientation suggest mineralogical heterogeneity linked to source rock properties and processing conditions. Subtle peak shifts and broadening indicate co-hydration with H2O and D2O, consistent with isotopic fractionation during crystallization. EDXRF analysis also revealed the presence of heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), as well as trace elements like strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba), which may influence environmental risk. No discrete phases of uranium, thorium, or radium were detected by XRD, supporting their probable incorporation at trace levels through substitution or adsorption, a finding confirmed by EDXRF elemental analysis. This mineralogical and chemical data forms the baseline from which a further comprehensive material characterization will be drawn, integrating gamma spectrometry, ICP-MS and SEM to evaluate the chemical speciation and environmental risk of PG. Based on Web of Science data, over 300 peer-reviewed articles on PG were published globally between 2020 and 2025, with China, Morocco, and Brazil leading in scientific output. The growing research interest underscores the strategic relevance of detailed PG characterization for informing safe reuse, regulatory decisions, and circular economy applications.