A group of classmates and myself took a trip to the MIT Nuclear reactor. On our way, we got a little lost but finally arrived after the use of cellphone GPS. Never having visited a nuclear plant  I did not know what was in store ahead. Many of us were not sure if this was the right place; we expected large signs pointing us in the right direction or even people walking in and out in hazmat suits. Instead, we found plain clothes employees with the only piece of uniform being a name tag and a dosimeter.

Our safety being of key importance, we went through the long procedure of siigning in by showing photo ID and being handed  a dosimeter with different readings.  The dosimeters measured our levels of radiation. After the readings were recorded,  walked along a hall so that we could measure the levels of radiation on our hands and feet on a Greiger device. After we were all cleared, we went into this chamber that sealed both doors completely and measured the radiation in the air for 10 seconds before allowing us to open the oter door. I must admit I became very claustrophobic at that point.

Our tour guide proceeded to explain to us what was inside the chamber. he told us that the reactor infact, was not a nuclear reactor like that of Fukushima; it did  not generate power. Instead, it was used for research purposes. A bit disappointed, we continued on with the tour. The terminology used was a bit difficult to remember especially since most of us are far from researchers on the material. The main part of this tour was listening because what we got to see was concrete walls and led domes that within them contained these highly dangerous chemicals.

On our way out, we got inline to get scanned for radiation again. There was a new machine made to measure this however, a student in the previous trip had broken the machine with her high heels. Therefore, we used the same Greiger machine as before and proceeded out.