Going Fission

Australia's Uranium Opportunities - Formalities and Chapter 1

This is not, strictly speaking, an episode of Going Fission.  There is no interviewee.

This is a reading of Australia’s Uranium Opportunities, the memoir of the Late Keith Alder, who we will get to know in due course.

I originally found his book in the UNSW library in 2016.  It felt like I’d found a lost piece of Australian History, and in a way I have.  It was privately published by Keith’s Wife, Pauline, I don’t know how many were printed, but it is a difficult book to source.

It tells the story of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission, and it’s contribution to Australia’s history in nuclear science, through the experience of the Author.  It is not a story that culminates in a great victory, and many listeners will likely recognise much of the resistance that still exists today.

I must offer thanks to several people for their assistance in getting me to this point.  John Harries was my first point of contact, and was able to put me in touch with Brian Hickman, both of whom knew Keith.  Brian was able to get me in touch with the Alder family and has loaned me his personal copy of the book for this project. Thank you.

Thanks must also be extended to Andrew, Robert and Graeme, Keith and Pauline’s sons.  It is by their enthusiastic permission that this project can be undertaken. Thank you and I hope this endeavour finds your fathers work a new audience.

A final thank you to Maurer family funerals and those of you on the twittersphere who also assisted in the search.

My plan at this point is to release Chapters of this audiobook on weeks alternating between regular Going Fission interviews.  Upon completion, I plan on making the whole recording available online, free of charge.

I hope you enjoy.

Timestamp

0:00 - Readers Introduction

1:54 - Book Blurb

4:19 - Author's Comment

5:12 - Dedication

5:46 - Acknowlegments

6:31 - Forward by Sir John Proud Kt.

9:24 - About the Author

10:54  - Chapter 1) Introduction, Why Is This Book Necessary?

Episode 2 - Robert Parker

Episode 2 of Going Fission is an interview with Robert Parker.  Robert Parker is the current Vice President of the Australian Nuclear Association.  He has extensive project management experience around the world on large infrastructure projects, particularly on dams.  In this interview, we discuss his introduction to nuclear technology, how Australia can benefit from nuclear power and who could assist us in such an endeavour.

Roberts website can be found at www.nuclearforclimate.com.au, The Australian Nuclear Association can be found at www.nuclearaustralia.org.au.  The KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School is at www.kings.ac.kr and the Electricity map is at www.electricitymap.org.

The unedited video of the interview will be made available shortly on YouTube.

Going Fission's Twitter handle is @fissiongoing.

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro Theme.

1:01 - Introduction.

1:39 - Roberts Career History.

3:05 - Roller Compcated Concrete Dams.

4:54 - Three Gorges Dam and dam technology around the world.

6:49 - Dams and methane emmissions.

8:19 - The Nuclear Rabbit Hole.

13:03 - The Australian Nuclear Association (ANA).

14:47 - South Korea's nuclear fleet...

17:41 - ...and where the build them.

17:41 - Pressure vessels, passive reactor cooling and defence in depth.

27:03 - Streamlining the AP1000 design, intentions and results.

32:00 - Doosan Industries...

35:20 - ...and Forge Presses!

37:47 - is there a place in Australia for this technology?

41:57 - The French reactor fleet.:

46:12 - 100 years of power and the implications for industry.

48:12 - Prime Minister Robert Parker and his energy policy.

52:47 - Younger listeners and the nuclear imperative.

55:15 - Plug for the ANA and SfNE at UNSW.

57:35 - Farewell.

57:58 - Website links.

58:38 - Outro Theme.

 

 

 

 

Episode 1 - Dr. Ben Heard

Going Fission is proud to present it's pilot episode.  An interview with Dr. Ben Heard.  Ben is the founder of the Bright New World, an Environmental NGO advocating for the use of nuclear power in Australia.  In this interview, we discuss his career, how his stance on nuclear power changed, his involvment with the South Australian Royal Commission into the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, what Nuclear power can do for Australia and what barriers exist to such technology.

Ben's blog can be found at www.decarbonisesa.com, and Bright New World can be found at www.brightnewworld.org.

The full, unedited version can be found on the Going Fission Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8Fo796h1zA&t=4923s

Going Fission's Twitter handle is @fissiongoing.

Timestamps

0:00 - Theme.

1:00 - Introduction.

1:34 - Ben's start in the science of climate change.

4:06 - Path to becoming being pro-nuclear.

7:09 - Lightbulb moments.

11:11 - Starting ThinkClimate.

14:25 - What can Nuclear do for Australia?

20:35 - DecarboniseSA and it's transition to Bright New World.

28:47 - The goals of Bright New World.

34:15 - What is 140A?

38:35 - Australia and the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission (SANFCRC).

43:38 - Is Australia heading for an Energy Crisis?

53:34 - A message for younger listeners.

56:28 - Official plug for Bright New World (and others).

59:10 - Guest recommendations.

1:00:49 - Farewell

1:00:58 - Conclusion, YouTube Plug, and additional reading.

1:01:51 - Outro Theme

 

 

 

Episode 0 - Introduction to Going Fission

This is a short introductory episode to the Going Fission podcast.

Going Fission's Twitter handle is @fissiongoing.