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Action Centers
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General Needs The development of nuclear science and technology, by any historical standard, has been immensely successful. The nuclear enterprise in the US today is large, complex, well developed, highly differentiated, and broadly distributed. Nevertheless, these characteristics of its success are also its weaknesses: its size and complexity makes it feared and opposed; its ubiquity leads to underestimation of its value; its dispersed nature makes its individual parts vulnerable to focused opposition. Most importantly, the nuclear enterprise in the US is highly dependent upon an infrastructure of policy and regulation that is centrally controlled and politically directed. In these respects, it is an extreme example of a situation that is generally characteristic of modern technology in the US today.
In order for a democratic society to effectively develop and assimilate technology, its individual citizens must understand technology and how it is created, utilized, and maintained. To cultivate such educated citizens, teachers today need improved skills in mathematics and science and a basic understanding of the key technologies that underpin modern society.
Applying
this to nuclear matters, schools (K-12) need competent, unbiased
curricula that include nuclear science and technology. This requires improved
learning materials continuing education for teachers. More significantly,
scientists and engineers must assume a far more active role in education and
information. Whether this occurs through direct involvement in the education
process, working with the communications media, participating in community
activities, or simply speaking with friends, it is an aspect of the profession
every bit as important as the work itself. Specific Actions Impact · Learn about all aspects of nuclear technology and their tremendous impact in the US. · Appreciate the roles that nuclear professional play in making modern society possible. · Embrace and communicate the attainable vision of a healthy, resource-sufficient world.
Education · Encourage local schools to include accurate material on nuclear technology in their curricula. · Volunteer to participate in classroom activities, science fairs, career fairs, discussion groups.
Information · Communicate with the news media to assist them in providing balanced and accurate reporting. · Demand that special interest groups be held accountable for truth and accuracy.
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gjduarte@eaglealliance.org with
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