"We are attempting something unprecedented. The individual who eventually interprets this information might not even be human, but potentially an advanced artificial intelligence or another form of intelligence," explains postdoctoral fellow Thomas Keating, who co-led the research initiative alongside Professor Anna Storm at LiU's Tema T - Technology and Social Change department.
At the core of their proposal is a 42-page document titled the Key Information File (KIF). Designed with a distinct yellow cover, it aims to provide future readers with critical data regarding the final repository planned near the Forsmark nuclear power plant in Sweden. Structured into three key sections-a summary, critical information, and future directives-the document ensures essential knowledge remains accessible.
Commissioned by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB), the document's purpose is to preserve memory of the repository. Although the facility is intended to be permanently sealed, the risk of accidental or deliberate intrusion, technological failures, or profound societal changes necessitates sustained awareness of its existence.
To encourage engagement, the document was crafted to be visually compelling and intellectually stimulating. Professional illustrators contributed to its design, making it aesthetically appealing, while enigmatic symbols on the cover introduce an element of intrigue, challenging readers to decipher their meaning. The researchers believe that fostering curiosity through playful elements will enhance the likelihood of knowledge transmission.
However, given that language and symbolic interpretation evolve over time, the document also prompts future generations to update its contents and migrate information to new storage formats when necessary. It suggests incorporating repository awareness into school curricula and embedding it within cultural narratives to reinforce long-term remembrance.
This approach, named SHIRE (SHare, Imagine, REnew), invites successive generations to share the document's content and actively engage in finding ways to ensure its continuity.
The Key Information File represents three years of meticulous research, having undergone scrutiny through academic seminars and workshops involving industry experts, stakeholders, and the public. Countries such as France and Switzerland are developing similar documentation for their own nuclear waste repositories.
The researchers propose revising the document every decade, yet it remains uncertain which entity in Sweden will oversee this responsibility. While SKB funded the project, it has expressed unwillingness to assume long-term custodianship, citing its limited operational timeline beyond the repository's completion. Keating notes that within the nuclear industry, few individuals focus on long-term memory preservation, leading to lapses when key personnel retire or pass away.
"Perhaps a new academic discipline dedicated to the study of nuclear memory preservation is needed. This could be an area for universities to explore in the future," suggests Keating.
Currently, plans are in place to store the document at The Swedish National Archives. Additionally, it has been selected for inclusion in the Memory of Mankind project-a global archival initiative founded in Austria in 2012, aimed at safeguarding human knowledge on durable materials for millennia.
"The document will be inscribed onto ceramic tablets and deposited in an ancient salt mine within an Austrian mountain," Keating explains.
Research Report:Key Information File: Essential Information on the Spent Nuclear Fuel Repository in Forsmark, Sweden
Related Links
Linkoping University
Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
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