I was awarded an MBE for my services to public understanding of nuclear matters, and also chosen to be the next President of the UK’s Nuclear Institute... both of those give me the opportunity to help share my experience and insight to the next generation of nuclear professionals.

Alumnus Professor Adrian Bull

Adrian studied Engineering at Cambridge from 1980 to 1983 at Magdalene College. 

He has recently been appointed as President-Elect of the UK’s Nuclear Institute – the professional body for the nuclear sector. He will be President-Elect through 2025 and will take over for a 2-year term as President in January 2026.

Adrian tells us about his career:

What motivated you to study Engineering at Cambridge?

I’d always been interested in (and better at) science at school so it seemed a natural choice. But Engineering as such isn’t taught in schools, so I wasn’t really sure which branch of Engineering might be for me. I was therefore attracted by the chance to study a general Engineering course, before specialising in my final year.

What did you enjoy the most about your Cambridge experience? Any standout moments?

I was studying alongside – and taught by - some very clever people. A privilege which I think I only realised fully afterwards. Being supervised by Dr Roger Morris and then Dr Jeffrey Lewins was a life-affirming experience. Both men with extensive and impressive careers before coming to Cambridge.

What inspired you into your field?

My father was an engineer in the nuclear industry, but he had a stroke when I was 11 and didn’t work again. I didn’t consciously follow in his footsteps, but when I was looking at going to University one of his colleagues, who still kept in touch, pointed out to my mother that his employer, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL), sponsored students who were doing relevant subjects. I applied – and was sponsored through my time in Cambridge. That meant that in my third year, when others were taking time away to attend careers events and assessment interviews, I was given an early job interview – which I was lucky enough to pass.

I accepted the job with BNFL, so I could devote more time to studying for my finals, and I figured if it didn’t work out I could always leave after 6 months or so and go elsewhere. 40 years later, I’m still in nuclear!

How did your career develop?

I was in very technical roles to begin with (computer modelling of nuclear fuel and reactors). I enjoyed that work, but realised that if I didn’t move on before long that would end up being my entire career, and I felt I wanted a broader range of work. I ended up managing R&D projects for a while and that in turn led to me getting involved with external-facing work about the role of nuclear and the impact it has on our energy and climate goals.

Have you had a career-defining moment?

About half way through my career I needed to prioritise my personal life over work for a while. I’d got two young daughters, a newborn son with disabilities and my mother had just gone into a care home. I told my employer that I’d need to pause all the external engagement activity I’d taken on in the margins of my job, and focus on the “day job” for a few months. I realised that I no longer enjoyed going to work, it was the externally-facing work which was my real motivation – not the core of the day job. 

I had learned that my technical background made me a more effective advocate for nuclear than someone who was a “comms mouthpiece” without a detailed understanding of the science and engineering involved in nuclear. After that, I looked for ways to move into the policy and advocacy side and left R&D management behind.

What contribution to your field are you most proud of and why?

I was awarded an MBE for my services to public understanding of nuclear matters, and also chosen to be the next President of the UK’s Nuclear Institute – the professional body for the sector. Both of those give me the opportunity to help share my experience and insight to the next generation of nuclear professionals. I’m just sad that my parents didn’t live long enough to see me receive that recognition, as I know they would have been so proud.

What do you see as being the next big thing in your field?

Nuclear has historically been about massive, multi-billion pound reactors built near the sea for cooling water and taking decades to bring online. The world is moving now to smaller, modular designs which can be built in more places, more quickly and affordably. If we can show that we can get these operational on time and to budget, then it will open the door to a future where nuclear plants can be replicated easily and more flexibly - nearer to industrial users and energy-hungry communities.

What is the best career decision you’ve made?

I don’t count my entry to the nuclear sector as a proper decision – in many ways it was a series of steps that I allowed to happen around me. For me, the best decision was recognising that my engineering background and experience were still vital assets in roles which were not actually doing engineering per se. And then following my instinct to embark on a second career in communications, engagement and advocacy using the experience I’d gained to that point as the foundation stone.

What is your advice for someone considering a career in engineering?

Do it! There is such a wide range of roles in the whole STEM arena, and so many roles today that didn’t even exist when I was at University. Whatever the future holds – engineering will not just be a part of it, it’ll be one of the things which makes it happen!

And – of course – the nuclear industry is a great sector for engineers to look at too! We’ll be around for a very long time!