Memorial plaque on Research Reactor 2, maker: unknown, ca. 1995, 139.0 × 139.0 × 3.0 cm, cast aluminum. Kerntechnische Entsorgung Karlsruhe. KIT North Campus, building 607.
The plaque on the reactor housing of research reactor FR 2 displays key operating data of the facility. The construction of the reactor shortly after the founding in 1956 of Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center was a milestone achievement. Operational until its shutdown in late 1981, FR 2 was utilized for research purposes and for the production of radionuclides for nuclear medicine, but it was never used to generate electricity. Following approval for controlled decommissioning in 1986, a significant step was achieved in 1996 with the encapsulation of the reactor core, in preparation for its dismantling. The reactor building is accessible today without any radiation monitoring needed, allowing visitors to approach and even touch the reactor block directly. Its full dismantling remains in the planning stages, with demolition work projected to begin in the 2030s. In the meantime, the reactor serves as a technical monument on KIT’s North Campus and remains open to visitors. In the mid-1990s the Center was in a period of transformation when the dedicated plaque was made. Initially founded as a center for nuclear research, the organization diversified its focus to include environmental science, fundamental physics, energy research, materials science, and medical technology. This shift from the institution’s identity-forming original mission of atomic research generated a desire to secure for posterity the achievements made in this area. kn