Nuclear energy: modeling dimensions from an «adequacy for purpose» view

In emergencies, political decisions often require rapid scientific input, highlighting the critical role of expertise—especially in complex fields like nuclear energy, where safety, regulation, public trust, and political pressures intersect. This paper adopts the “adequacy-for-purpose” approach, which evaluates scientific models based on their fitness for specific goals, to assess modeling dimensions in nuclear modeling. We focus on four key areas: reactor design, environmental impact, economic sustainability, and risk mitigation. Through this lens, we examine how models can be developed, adapted, and evaluated to support decision-making. In particular, using adequacy-for-purpose as a guiding principle, we explore the intertwinement of the various modeling dimensions in the nuclear energy case. Our goal is to offer an adaptive modeling framework that bridges theoretical rigor with real-world applicability, providing policymakers with clear, evidence-based guidance.