University, Industry, and Goverment Relations Committee Report

The committee met on Sunday, June 26, at the Weston Diplomat Hotel in Room 212 from 9:30-10:30 am. We had 12 attendees representing all three entities: universities, industry, and the federal government. We received reports on future funding to universities from both the NRC and DOE. We also discussed the Annual ANS Student Design Contest, which is in its 35th year. The committee chair, Lee Dodds, suggested that the ETWD division start thinking about succession planning for the new chair of the committee. Lee has been the committee chair for over 15 years and plans to retire from the University of Tennessee by Jan. 1, 2012, so the committee will need a new chair. Lee requested that the new committee chair have a “genuine passion” for promoting university participation the Student Design Contest, which is the main function of the committee and provides an opportunity for students to have probably their first professional publication as well as their first experience at giving an oral presentation at a national ANS meeting. In short, the annual contest provides significant benefits to students and to the universities that they represent. Submitted by, Lee Dodds Committee...

A Message from the Chair

The Role of Nuclear Professionals as Public Educators The history of the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy is accentuated by a number of significant emotional events.  Some have been distinctly positive; the first man-made self-sustaining fission reaction, the first electricity generated by atomic energy, feats accomplished by the first nuclear powered naval vessels, the invention of life-saving nuclear medicine techniques, etc.  During and following each of these milestones our collective understanding of the technology has continued to evolve and mature with increased knowledge and experience. Other periods are defined by negative significant emotional events; reactor accidents at SL-1, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and now Fukushima Daiichi.  Following each of these accidents the worldwide nuclear community has reacted by systematically dissecting the mechanical, natural, and human responses to the accident, then squeezing every drop of information and every lesson learned from the experience.  Inevitably oversight is enhanced, nuclear regulations evolve, reactor and power plant designs are updated, worker training adjusts, and operating practices improve.  Together these responses result in a prompt jump in our collective knowledge and understanding, and increases in safety margins. While the nuclear community’s knowledge and understanding has continued to grow, we’ve been less successful in helping our ultimate stakeholders, the public, understand our technology.  Lack of information and knowledge can lead to mistrust and fear, and in this era of instant communications, social media, and streaming video in every pocket this shortcoming can be disastrous.  For example, in Germany opponents of nuclear energy have convinced the public that nuclear plants pose an unacceptable level of risk.  This despite the fact that shutting down their...