Nuclear Safety & Security: Why a Critical Issue?

2011-2012 Critical Issues Forum

Nuclear Safety and Security Student Benchmarks

Introduction

The issues concerning nuclear safety and nuclear security are not new.

Opinion polls, backed by concerns about global warming and energy security, had been showing increased support for nuclear energy. Support remained even after 9/11 raised concerns about terrorists acquiring nuclear materials. While public trust in nuclear power was growing, there were still memories of Three-Mile Island and Chernobyl. Then, in 2011, there was the Fukushima incident in Japan. After Fukushima public trust in nuclear power dropped, in Japan and around the world. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the accident a wake-up call for the world to enhance nuclear safety and security.

After Fukushima, some countries started reviewing the safety of their nuclear power plants. For example, Germany and Switzerland decided to phase out nuclear power.  Most countries, including Japan, have become more cautious about the rapid growth of nuclear energy. However, neither Fukushima nor concerns about nuclear security will put an end to nuclear power. The IAEA shows that use of nuclear power will continue to grow, but slower than in previous projections. The long-term impact of the Fukushima accident remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. It is necessary to address the serious issues of nuclear power safety and security.

Some countries are interested in constructing new nuclear plants along with existing plants, so nuclear safety and security are important issues. There are also countries starting nuclear power programs for the first time. For example, countries in Asia and the Middle East are planning to begin nuclear power programs. Both nuclear safety and nuclear security have one goal—the protection of people, society and the environment. Although they are different in some respects, they do complement each other. Improvement in one area can also benefit the other area.

Progress on nuclear safety and security is needed if nuclear energy is to have a role in the future. If a “Nuclear Renaissance” is to happen, leaders will have to control technologies that can provide nuclear material for power plants but also for weapons. Leaders in the United States and other nuclear-weapons states will also have to figure out appropriate rules for these technologies.

The Critical Issues Forum topic for 2011-2012 is “Nuclear Safety and Security.” Students will investigate the current status of, challenges to, and future prospects of nuclear safety and security. They will research and respond to two Benchmark Activities on these issues.

In their research about nuclear power in the world today, students will learn basic facts about forms of radiation, the nuclear fuel cycle, construction of various nuclear facilities, and both military and civilian uses of nuclear facilities and materials.

Using this basic knowledge, students will be able to understand the definitions of nuclear safety and nuclear security, as well as the importance of these issues. They will be able to understand the difference between safety and security, and the connection between the two.

During their research, students will see how the four CIF content domains – scientific/environmental, political/geopolitical, economic, and social/cultural – have an impact on all of these issues.