Abstract

Radioactive isotopes are an essential part of everyday life and an expanding area of research in the fields of medicine, catalysis, and energy. Here, we describe an educational activity that introduces the concept of radioactive decay and the corresponding benefits, risks, and safe handling strategies. Specifically, we have developed an interactive card game, Radioactivity and 235U, as an activity which can be implemented in a fully remote setting without the need for a trained instructor or specific, previously acquired expertise. The card game consists of 72 playing cards and 50 tokens and contains links to two remotely accessible introductory videos on (1) fundamental concepts of radioactive decay and (2) instructions on gameplay. The goal of this activity is to familiarize students with the concepts of radioactive decay, shielding, and applications of radioactive isotopes. Gameplay incentivizes students to prevent, reduce, or limit exposure to a radioactive dose by collecting and using shielding cards, while also learning facts about radioactive isotopes and their stable congeners. The game was tested with undergraduate college students. Pre- and postactivity questionnaires measured the students’ familiarity and opinion on the use and harm of radioactivity. The results indicate that the activity is suitable to introduce basic concepts surrounding radionuclides, radioactive decay, and shielding. We additionally observed a shift in students’ opinions of nuclear chemistry and its role in the world from neutral to slightly positive after the workshop.