Behind closed doors: Students from the UWB spent two weeks at the Temelín Summer University

Trying out the work of a nuclear operator, entering the strictly guarded zone of a nuclear power plant, or shaking hands with its director—these were some of the rare opportunities experienced by ten students from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (UWB).

The 20th anniversary edition welcomed around 30 students from Czech technical universities. Among them were four students from UWB’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering—Bára Dubová, Vojtěch Taubr, David Kankrdlík, and Ondřej Dvořák—and six from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering: Vojtěch Vaněček, Dominik Trhlík, Aneta Zíková, Jakub Pittr, Filip Hubáček, and Matěj Soukup. Thanks to a packed schedule, they were able to thoroughly explore the Temelín nuclear power plant both inside and out, and most importantly, gain access to areas that are normally off-limits to the public.

From July 28 to August 8, the participants experienced technical excursions and simulator demonstrations, among other activities. "The biggest impression was the visit to the turbine hall and the controlled zone of the power plant, where regular visitors are not allowed," said Ondřej Dvořák. The students had to pass strict security checks and could only enter while wearing protective suits and helmets.

"I was fascinated by the opportunity to try working as an operator on the control room simulator. You really get a sense of how important concentration and following procedures are," said Bára Dubová, a bachelor’s student at UWB’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. She also shared a story from the leisure activities that are an integral part of the summer university program. "We came up with a dance symbolizing shift changes at the plant. While it was funny and everyone laughed, we also wanted to show how we imagine teamwork and coordination in operation."

The program also gave students the chance to meet with specialists, including Bohdan Zronek, Director of the Nuclear Energy Division at ČEZ. A highlight of the Temelín experience was the chance to shake hands with the plant director, Jan Kruml, a graduate of the former College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Plzeň—the predecessor of today’s UWB. The students also met with Temelín staff to discuss their roles and experience. These meetings can lead to future collaborations, such as final theses on topics related to nuclear energy.

The Summer University program also included bike trips to the substation and Hněvkovice pumping station, a visit to a local brewery, the revolving theater in Týn nad Vltavou, and climbing via ferrata routes. These activities helped bring together students from different universities, making for an unforgettable and unique summer experience. "It was a great opportunity to meet new people across different years and specializations," added Bára.