Who knew? That the Australian National University is doing research on Nuclear Energy? I didn't.
Especially given that Australia, bizarrely and scandalously enough, does not allow any nuclear energy in the country, BY LAW!
There's an outfit called Nuclear for Australia, which I've mentioned before, and which is lobbying for Australia to get real, to get with the rest of the developed world and to put nuclear energy on the agenda. It's run by a young livewire called Will Shackel and the Patron is an Australian of the Year, Dick Smith.
I mean: isn't it major hypocrisy of us to sell our uranium -- a product that we say is unsafe for us to use ourselves -- to others in the region, as the second largest exporter of uranium on the planet.
Meantime I've been approached by my alma mater, the ANU, to support their work on nuclear energy.
Their proposal is here.
It's not for me, as I want to focus more on pushing the political and public opinion side. Some may be interested, however.
Part of my response:
Thank you for sharing the proposal on supporting Australia’s nuclear capabilities at ANU.
I believe Australia’s approach to climate challenges, renewables, and net-zero goals should include nuclear fission energy. While fusion always seems to be "thirty years off”, fission is proven globally over 80 years of theoretical research and practical implementation.
Current politics — anti-nuke Labor, greying Greenies, and testy Teals—block any progress. They stress safety, cost, and timeline concerns; none of which true.Our real challenge, it seems me, is the rather Sisyphean task of shifting a stubborn boulder of public and political perception. If ANU’s nuclear scientists were to engage directly in the political fray with evidence-based advocacy, that would be compelling. The proposal highlights ANU’s strong research expertise and the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility. What I’m looking for is a strategy to counter the anti-nuclear narrative and to influence policy.
That’s why I said in my WhatsApp yesterday that I'll direct my meagre efforts more to the political side, to shift that boulder of misperception, via lobby groups like Nuclear for Australia.
Others, however, may be interested in supporting the nuclear research activities laid out in the paper — grateful if you could let me know if it would be ok for me to pass it on.
Thank you again for the information and best wishes sourcing funding for the exciting nuclear research that's being done.
