Elfriede Derrer-Merk

Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for addressing complex, real-world challenges, particularly in high-stakes fields such as nuclear research. The UK’s Zero-Power Reactor Project exemplifies this approach, aiming to develop innovative reactor technology that supports the nation’s net-zero carbon objectives. The project brought together a culturally diverse, interdisciplinary team of researchers, whose collaboration was central to its progress. Reflecting on the team’s journey, we sought to understand the dynamics that shaped their experience. This led us to ask: What were the experiences of the Zero-Power team, and what factors enabled or hindered their collaboration? We employed a qualitative methodology combining constructivist grounded theory with collaborative autoethnography, enabling a deep exploration of the lived experiences of team members. Reflections were gathered at the project’s conclusion to examine how the team functioned, learned, and evolved. Through iterative cycles of inductive, deductive, and abductive reasoning as well as using constant comparative analysis, we identified key patterns in how individuals build trust, overcome disciplinary and cultural differences, and co-create a productive team environment. Three overarching themes emerged: psychological safety, including belonging and value, learning and self-reflection, team spirit and motivation, and Innovation and discovery. Additionally, strategies for team building and addressing challenges and uncertainty were discussed. This study contributes to empirical evidence of existing knowledge and suggests actionable insights for cultivating high-performing teams in complex scientific environments and real-world challenges by demonstrating a role model of ‘interscience’.

Long-term disposal and management of nuclear waste is one of the major hurdles for nuclear energy. Deep geological disposal, an idea originating in the 1970s, is currently the preferred path being followed in many countries. However, acceptance of this approach is hindered by societal concerns around the safety of the “one-million years” geological disposal and passing the waste burden to future generations. iMAGINE, an integrated nuclear system based on molten salt fast reactor technology with self-sustained iso-breeding, online clean-up and reverse reprocessing, has been proposed as an innovative way to eliminate the demand for a long-term high-level waste disposal. In this work, we investigate the use of iMAGINE as a technological approach for reimagining high-level nuclear waste management by overcoming the challenges of classical partitioning and transmutation (P&T). After discussing the current status and limitations of P&T along with an overview of the nuclear waste classification and management framework existing in major nuclear power producing countries, we demonstrate the potential impact of iMAGINE in simplifying the disposal of high-level waste. The results indicate that among the key long-lived radionuclides, many lie well below the criteria for requiring deep geological disposal. Besides Finland, India and Russia where most (or all) of the important long-lived fission products exceed current high-level waste thresholds, only two to three fission products (generally with half-lives from 30 to 100 years) exceed the national limits in Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea, while concrete conclusions can’t be drawn for the UK and US based on available information. The results presented here do not aim to make inflated claims but should be seen as the scientific basis for deeper discussions amongst all nuclear waste disposal stakeholders to explore a novel technological solution for rethinking high-level waste management and possibly eliminating the need for a “one-million years” geological disposal.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted the lives of older adults, yet their experiences have remained underexplored. This paper draws on empirical evidence from a two-wave (W1 April–July 2020, W2 January–April 2021) qualitative study in the UK (n = 62) and a companion study in Colombia (n = 32), focusing on participants aged 60 and above. Data was analysed using constructivist grounded theory principles, leading to the development of an ecological theory of older adults’ well-being within the context of a health crisis at three interconnected levels: individual, community, and societal. Individual resources, such as adaptability and support systems, contributed to enhancing and maintaining their well-being. Community support and a sense of belonging were essential to meet the needs of people in later life, whilst necessary social health protection measures during the pandemic restricted social activities, further impacting well-being, mostly perceived as challenging. Cultural differences and societal support systems shaped participants’ experiences. The study emphasises the interdependence of the different levels in impacting older adults’ well-being, offers strategies for policy and practice, and advocates and contributes for the development of gerontological theories in the context of health crises.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted the lives of older adults, yet their experiences have remained underexplored. This paper draws on empirical evidence from a two-wave (W1 April-July 2020, W2 January-April 2021) qualitative study in the UK (n=62) and a companion study in Colombia (n=32), focusing on participants aged 60 and above. Data was analysed using constructivist grounded theory principles, leading to the development of an ecological theory of older adults' well-being at three interconnected levels: individual, community, and societal. Individual resources, such as adaptability and support systems, contributed to enhancing and maintaining their well-being. Community support and a sense of belonging were essential to meet the needs of people in later life, whilst necessary social health protection measures during the pandemic restricted social activities, further impacting well-being, mostly perceived as challenging. Cultural differences and societal support systems shaped participants' experiences. The study emphasises the interdependence of the different levels in impacting older adults' well-being, offers strategies for policy and practice, and advocates and contributes for the development of gerontological theories in the context of health crises.

Thurso and the wider Caithness region in the United Kingdom have undergone significant transitions over the past several decades. A major turning point was establishing a nuclear research and development centre at Dounreay in the 1950s. This project not only shaped technological advancements in nuclear energy but also profoundly impacted the social fabric of the local community. The construction and operation of the site brought economic prosperity, advanced job opportunities, very good education, and a sense of purpose to the region and beyond. However, the nowadays ongoing decommissioning process presents new challenges, raising concerns about economic stability, infrastructure, community cohesion, and future prospects.This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of individuals affected by the nuclear project at Dounreay. Understanding these experiences is essential in informing discussions regarding the potential location of nuclear waste storage facilities, particularly at existing nuclear sites. By capturing personal narratives, this research provides insight into how nuclear projects influence communities over time, from initial socio-economic booms to long-term socio-economic challenges.The study used an exploratory qualitative approach based on constructivist grounded theory for its systematic, inductive nature, enabling in-depth exploration of lived experiences. Given the under-researched impact of a nuclear site in Caithness, this methodology uncovered new insights. Data collection occurred from March to November 2023 via purposeful snowball sampling. Participants were recruited through gatekeepers, media, and social platforms. Nineteen individuals (10 women, 9 men, aged 36–71) participated in semi-structured interviews via phone or online.Participants recalled the thriving era when the Dounreay site was established and operated. The influx of varied skilled or unskilled workers led to a population boom, fostering a vibrant community with excellent education opportunities, well-paying jobs, and economic benefits beyond the nuclear industry. Many participants described a cosmopolitan atmosphere. However, as time passed and decommissioning progressed, the community is facing challenges. While some good job opportunities remain, participants highlighted issues such as deteriorating infrastructure, declining economic prospects, and a sense of being forgotten by policymakers.Despite these challenges, there was a strong consensus in favour of new nuclear projects, as history has demonstrated their capacity to bring social and economic thriving. Many participants emphasised the need to retain the expertise and prevent a knowledge drain. There was optimism that future nuclear initiatives could restore prosperity, address social issues such as drug problems, and secure benefits for future generations. The community’s historical relationship with the nuclear industry was often cited as a source of optimism and hope.The study identified two key themes: a positive nostalgic view of Dounreay’s past and rising challenges from decommissioning. These findings contribute to discussing nuclear energy’s role in regional development and its long-term impact on host communities.The results of this study indicate that they are transferable to support the site selection process and potential ways for improved public engagement procedures, which should be discussed following the given insights.

The way to a final disposal for highly-active waste and the disposal strategy has been laid down in the Standortauswahlgesetz (StandAG) and the Standortauswahlverfahren (StandAV). The core focus has been put on a deep geological disposal for the heat producing waste. However, the mandate from the StandAG is also to examine whether alternative disposal routes could make a positive contribution to the task. Previously, Germany invested heavily in deep geological disposal by concentrating research and development on what seemed to be the in-time choice. However, the decision to delay the site selection process must now be used prudently by examining alternative innovative technologies which could make a positive contribution to final disposal. The delay, coupled with the emergence of novel technologies like iMAGINE - which promise to completely avoid the need for the deep geological disposal for heat producing waste - opens a unique, unmissable opportunity. These new, advanced technologies have the potentially a much stronger influence on the process as well as the final outcome than what has been expected for advanced reactors.In the wider context, as a society, Germany needs to know how to best solve the waste handling/storage problem; to do this, we need to understand if the very promising, recently published scientific results can be demonstrated to deliver in the real-world.Due to significant investmentsof the past, modern simulation technologies in nuclear have a very high standard and level of quality assurance for conventional reactors. Even for unknown systems, IAEA gives a trusted standard of ± 10%. But we have to keep in mind, there is a difference between the real-world and the related computer model, which is an approximate abstract representation of the problem. Especially for highly innovative systems like Molten Salt Reactors, there are no specifically developed and validated codes yet. Thus, what we simulate can be a high-quality representation of a maybe incomplete system since we may not be aware of all the relevant phenomena.The conclusion of this can only be: we need to demonstrate promising new technologies and then evaluate them against the existing solution, deep geological disposal, to understand the potential opportunities.Only with this acquired understanding can we assure that the required future political decision on the handling of nuclear waste is fact-based, while without this, we can only decide on perception, identity, and/or ideology. Thus, as socially responsible scientists, our aim must be to create the facts on highly society-relevant problems and support political decision making based on scientific evidence-base. As highlighted by Krogsgaard-Larsen et al. in 2011, social responsibility is the "responsibility of scientists of all disciplines to direct their research activities in such a way that they can contribute to the well-being of society and to meeting the challenges of our time".To support the understanding and to facilitate a scientific discussion a short overview on the key opportunities and technical challenges, as well as a development plan for iMAGINE will be given.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, particularly for older adults. They were identified as a high-risk group. While research has primarily focused on health measures, less is known about their adaptation processes during this period in the UK and Colombia. This study explores “how older adults in the UK and Colombia adapted during the health crisis after one year”. We conducted interviews with 29 participants in the UK and 32 participants in Colombia, aged 63–95, about their experiences one year after the pandemic. We analysed their anonymised transcripts using constructivist grounded theory. The pandemic highlighted older adults’ ability to learn new skills in the face of adversities. Some found new goals; others found pleasure in optimising existing skills and tasks. Some compensated for the lack of social connectivity by intensifying hobbies. We identified three broad ways older adults adapted. Cognitive adaptation included acceptance, positive reframing, and religious trust. Emotional regulation was experienced not only through deep freeze, weather impact, social support, religion, pet companionship but also emotional struggles. Finally behavioural adaptation was enacted through routine modification, use of virtual technologies, intertwined cognitive–emotional–behavioural adaptation, and previous experiences. However, adaptation varied, with some individuals struggling to adapt, highlighting that while adaptation is possible for some, it is not universal among all older adults.

Background: Thurso/Caithness in the United Kingdom has gone through a lot of changes and transitions in the last decades. The decision to build a nuclear reactor test facility in the 1950’s in Dounreay/Caithness UK, as well as the current phase of decommissioning impacted not only the technology development but also the social fabric of the community and individuals within it. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of people impacted by the nuclear project at Dounreay. The results will form the basis for the discussion about locating future experimental or development facilities, possibly at historic sites. This study employed an exploratory qualitative research approach based on the constructivist grounded theory methodology. Constructivist grounded theory applies a systematic, inductive, iterative, and comparative approach to investigate the meanings behind people’s experiences. It was chosen as the method to explore an under-researched area: the host community for nuclear research in Thurso/Caithness. Purposeful snowball sampling from March 2023 till November 2023 through gatekeepers, media and social media was used. 19 participants including 10 women and 9 men in the age range 36–71 took part. The semi-structured interviews were conducted via phone or online platforms. Participants fondly recalled the hey-day when the Dounreay site was built and the population increased rapidly. They shared memories of how the town of Thurso/Caithness was thriving then which had a huge impact on individuals’ opportunities to receive a very good education, earn a good salary, indirect benefits beyond the nuclear project, and a cosmopolitan sense of community. However, the changes over time and the process of decommissioning had more complex implications for individuals as well as for the community. The work opportunities are still favourable. However, this study also highlights new challenges such as decaying infrastructure, a lack of hope of prosperity, and a feeling of being forgotten. This unique study highlights how a politically driven project impacts a community fundamentally. We identified two themes: mostly positive nostalgic views and Changes and Challenges for the community.

Thurso/Caithness in the United Kingdom has gone through a lot of changes and transitions in the last decades. The decision to build a nuclear reactor test facility in the 1950’s in Dounreay/Caithness UK, as well as the current phase of decommissioning impacted not only the technology development but also the social fabric of the community and individuals within it. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of people impacted by the nuclear project at Dounreay. The results will form the basis for the discussion about locating of future experimental or development facilities, possibly at historic sites. A qualitative approach using constructivist grounded theory has been employed in this study. Purposeful snowball sampling from March 2023 till November 2023 through gatekeepers, media and social media was used. 19 participants including 10 women and 9 men in the age range 36-71 took part. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysis was undertaken using iterative, inductive, and constant comparison methods. Participants fondly recalled the hey-day when the Dounreay site was built and the population increased rapidly. They shared memories of how the town of Thurso/Caithness was thriving then which had a huge impact on individuals' opportunities to receive a very good education, earn a good salary, indirect benefits beyond the nuclear project, and a cosmopolitan sense of community. However, the changes over time and the process of decommissioning had more complex implications on individuals as well as for the community. The work opportunities are still favourable. However, this study also highlights new challenges such as decaying infrastructure, a lack of hope of prosperity, and a feeling of being forgotten. This unique study highlights how a politically driven project impacts a community fundamentally. We identified two themes: mostly positive nostalgic view and Changes and Challenges for the community.

Objectives: Relatively little is known about the lived experiences of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically review the international literature to understand the lived experiences of older adult’s experiences during the pandemic. Design and methodology: This study uses a meta-ethnographical approach to investigate the included studies. The analyses were undertaken with constructivist grounded theory. Results: Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria and only five papers were of low quality. Most, but not all studies, were from the global north. We identified three themes: desired and challenged wellbeing; coping and adaptation; and discrimination and intersectionality. Overall, the studies’ findings were varied and reflected different times during the pandemic. Studies reported the impact of mass media messaging and its mostly negative impact on older adults. Many studies highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants' social connectivity and well-being including missing the proximity of loved ones and in consequence experienced an increase in anxiety, feeling of depression, or loneliness. However, many studies reported how participants adapted to the change of lifestyle including new ways of communication, and social distancing. Some studies focused on discrimination and the experiences of sexual and gender minority and ethnic minority participants. Studies found that the pandemic impacted the participants’ well-being including suicidal risk behaviour, friendship loss, and increased mental health issues. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted and impacted older adults’ well-being worldwide. Despite the cultural and socio-economic differences many commonalities were found. Studies described the impact of mass media reporting, social connectivity, impact of confinement on well-being, coping, and on discrimination. The authors suggest that these findings need to be acknowledged for future pandemic strategies. Additionally, policy-making processes need to include older adults to address their needs. PROSPERO record [CRD42022331714], (Derrer-Merk et al., Older adults’ lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review, 2022).