Physics (Internal)

Nuclear Energy: Three Stories and a Puzzle

This event is part of the Physics Department Colloquia Series.

Nuclear energy is a controversial, possibly the most controversial, electricity generation technology and views on the technology are diverse and contested. This talk will describe three distinct story lines that are or can be used to portray the role of nuclear energy around the world, and the implications of these story lines for energy policy. It will then describe how governments and utilities around the world have responded to the accidents involving the nuclear power plants at Fukushima Daiichi in 2011. The talk will then point out why these responses constitute a puzzle when viewed in light of the trends in nuclear energy, and offer some possible explanations