NRU is a multipurpose research reactor that has brought a diverse range of benefits to Canada over its life. In countries with larger populations it is more common to construct single-purpose facilities that are used in one of the fields of science served by NRU. It was a typically Canadian solution to build a versatile reactor that was useful to several science and technology communities. It is a tribute to the scientists and engineers of that time that NRU remains world-class nearly 50 years later.
On the following pages you can find examples of great Canadian achievements in several areas of science and technology, that were made possible by the existence of the NRU reactor.
- Medical isotopes that are produced in NRU, are used in the treatment and diagnosis of over 20,000,000 people each year. Canada is the world's largest exporter of these important health products.
- Neutron scattering is a technique that enables scientists to probe materials of all kinds, from steel to biological tissue, from ceramics to superconductors affecting many areas of science and technology. NRU is a unique facility in Canada for the application of neutron scattering.
- NRU has testing facilities used in nuclear research and development, helping to build better electricity-producing reactors. Generating electricity using nuclear power is an important part of Canada's energy mix, and produces no greenhouse gases. Nuclear power generation is a high-tech industry that relies on knowledge. NRU is an exceptional facility for engineers and scientists to further develop Canadian expertise in this field.