National Academies Forum
Understanding the Formation of Attitudes to Nuclear Power in Australia
This study seeks to understand the development of Australian attitudes towards the use of nuclear energy for the large-scale generation of electricity.
The topic has become more relevant as Australians are now well aware of the risks attributed to a continued dependence on fossil fuels for the nation’s energy demands. Recently there has been a growth in public investment in the new technologies associated with low-emission generation and in developing public education strategies for more efficient use of existing energy supplies. An investment in new technologies means that public acceptance of such technologies will be at the forefront of their development and long term utilisation.
The report highlights the crucial importance of a rigorously established base of community attitudes for any future policy and program development
Launch of Understanding the Formation of the Attitudes to Nuclear Power in Australia report
The project report Understanding the Formation of the Attitudes to Nuclear Power in Australia, was launched at a CEDA function in Perth on 19 April 2010.
Expert Reference Group
The National Academies Forum wishes to express its thanks to those Fellows from all Academies and other experts who contributed to this project. An Expert Reference Group comprising Fellows was established to provide oversight of the project. The Expert Reference Group consisted of the follow members:
| Australian Academy of the Humanities | |
| Dr John Byron Executive Director, AAH |
Professor Sue Dodds FAHA University of Wollongong |
| Professor Terry Flew FAHA QUT |
Dr Ann Moyal AM FAHA |
| Emeritus Professor Roy MacLeod FSA, FAHA, FASSA, FRHistS | |
| Australian Academy of Science | |
| Professor Kurt Lambeck AO FAA ANU, President AAS |
Professor John White FAA ANU |
| Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia | |
| Professor Max Coltheart AM FASSA Macquarie University |
Professor Penelope Sanderson FASSA University of Queensland |
| Professor Peter Spearritt FASSA University of Queensland |
Professor Robyn Eckersley FASSA University of Melbourne |
| Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering | |
| Professor Helen Garnett PSM FTSE | Mr Peter Laver AM FTSE Vice President, ATSE |
| Dr John Zillman AO FAA FTSE |
Author
| Professor Daniela Stehlik |
Project Funding and Support
This project was funded by the Australian Research Council.
The project was managed on behalf of the National Academies Forum by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), with Dr Vaughan Beck, ATSE Executive Director – Technical, as Project Manager. ATSE, on behalf of the National Academies Forum, engaged Professor Daniela Stehlik, from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, as the Project Director.
The National Academies Forum takes this opportunity to thank all those who contributed to the study as participants in interviews, as respondents to the e-survey and as contributors of articles, comments and advice to the project team.
The production of this publication was overseen by Mr Bill Mackey, ATSE Executive Director – Communication.
The National Academies Forum gratefully acknowledges the funding provided by the Australian Research Council (ARC) under the Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects program to support the conduct of this project.
