Public Forum
Date: Monday 27th June 2016
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Adelaide Convention Centre, Hall L
Dress: Smart Casual
Cost: Included in all full registration prices.
Non-delegates can purchase tickets or delegates can purchase additional tickets:
Single Ticket $15
Family Ticket (2A +3C) $25
Submit your question: AESC Public Forum Question Form
This forum is open to all members of the public, not just those registered for the AESC. We encourage you to pre-purchase your ticket by clicking on the link below. Limited tickets will be available on the door and seating is un-allocated.
click here Please note this link is for members of the public only who are not registering for the AESC.
If you have registered or plan to register for the AESC, your ticket is included as part of your registration. Please indicate your intention to attend the forum when registering.
Nuclear Energy has gained increasing public interest in recent years as part of the debate on future global energy sources. Additionally, the continued use of energy from fossil fuels has contributed to concerns about climate change and ignited a conversation about the needs of the modern world for energy and the effects on the environment. The call for non-carbon energy sources is becoming more prevalent. Thus, nuclear energy is increasingly being considered, and has generated enough political interest for the instigation of a Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission in South Australia, which will deliver a final report on 6th May 2016.
The key objectives of this public forum are to address and discuss, in the context of Australia, the exploration and extraction of material for production of nuclear energy (i.e. uranium), the manufacture and delivery of nuclear energy, and the management, disposal and storage of nuclear waste. What does the nuclear fuel cycle involve, and what does it mean for Australia? Does Australia need to consider nuclear energy as part of its future energy mix? What could be the environmental impacts of such an endeavour? Are there alternatives that could be safer and that could see us move to sustainable low-carbon energy production, or should we continue down the road with current energy sources?
The format of the Nuclear Energy Public Forum will be similar to the popular ABC TV Programme, Q&A, whereby a moderator will be present to facilitate a discussion on the chosen topic. The Public Forum will be open to all members of the public, not just those registered for the AESC.
Forum members
Chair: Michelle Cooper (Geological Society of Australia Governing Council and Executive Committee)
www.gsa.org.au
Moderator: Dr Paul Willis (Director, RiAus)
http://riaus.org.au/people/paul-willis-director/
Panellists
Dr Vanessa Guthrie (MD/CEO Toro Energy & Chair, Minerals Council of Australia): Expertise in undertaking and for policy development in exploration and mining of uranium, experience in international negotiations for the investment and sale of uranium to the nuclear power sector.
http://www.toroenergy.com.au/corporate/directors-management/
Dr Tony Irwin (Technical Director, SMR Nuclear Technology): Chartered engineer with extensive experience of commissioning and operation of nuclear power reactors, former OPAL Reactor Manager, Chairman of the Engineers Australia Nuclear Engineering Panel and principal lecturer for the ANU Master of Nuclear Science course. (http://www.smrnuclear.com.au/index.php/man/14-tony-irwin-technical-director.html)
Professor Ian Lowe (Griffith University): Researcher in the use of energy, an advocate for renewable energy and considers that nuclear energy is not a wise response to our energy needs, former President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, is part of the Expert Advisory Committee for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission in South Australia.
https://www.griffith.edu.au/environment-planning-architecture/centre-environment-population-health/staff/ian-lowe
Professor Barry Brook (University of Tasmania): Researcher into climate change and how we can develop as a modern world whilst minimising the impact on the environment, including using solutions such as nuclear power.
https://secure.utas.edu.au/profiles/staff/plant-science/barry-brook
Greg Ward (Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission): Chief of Staff of the NFCRC; experienced project and operations manager in military, public and private sector roles. Responsible for coordinating research and production of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission Report.
http://nuclearrc.sa.gov.au/about-the-commission/disclosure-of-potentially-relevant-roles-interests-key-commission-staff/
Dr Mark Diesendorf (University of NSW): Associate Professor in Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, has previously held positions as a Principal Research Scientist in CSIRO, Founding Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at University of Technology Sydney, and Director of Sustainability Centre Pty Ltd. Currently his principal research is on the rapid mitigation of global climate change, on energy policy and on integrating renewable energy on a large scale into electricity supply-demand systems. His most recent books are "Sustainable Energy Solutions for Climate Change" (Routledge-Earthscan, 2014) and "Climate Action: A campaign manual for greenhouse solutions" (UNSW Press, 2009). (http://www.ies.unsw.edu.au/our-people/associate-professor-mark-diesendorf)
Cancellations:must be notified in writing to the Secretariat, any cancellations received after 16th June will not receive a refund.
