Scientists told to allay fears over nuclear energy

Nellore: Vice-Chancellor of Vikrama Simhapuri University Prof. V. Veeraiah said the time has come to allay fears among the masses about nuclear energy. He called upon the scientists to drive away such fears and tap the potential of one of the most stupendous energy sources to benefit mankind. He was addressing a national workshop on Radiochemistry and Applications of Radioisotopes, held at the university seminar hall here on Friday.

The workshop was organised in association with Indian Association of Nuclear Chemistry and Allied Scientists (Chennai) and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Chennai. The Vice-Chancellor recalled the timeless efforts of Henry Beckerel and Madam Curie who pioneered nuclear research leading to the most cherished field of nuclear chemistry. He recalled the efforts of Jnanananda Swamy of Andhra University who started the nuclear physics department and led to several path-breaking research output in the gone by years.

Prof. P.R. Sivasankar, while congratulating the department for organising the event on the important issue and underlined the need to enlighten masses on the multidimensional use of the nuclear energy. He said that the serious accidents at Chernobyl in erstwhile Soviet Russia and Fukishima in Japan occurred only because of man made errors. He asserted that nuclear energy is the only renewable energy source to save the mankind from the scaling demands of future energy requirements.

Dr A.V. Ramana Reddy, senior scientist, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) (Retd.) briefed on the activities undertaken by both Indian Association of Nuclear Chemistry and Allied Scientists (Chennai), and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Chennai. There have been several open invitations to the intelligentsia and the masses by these associations for an open debate to enlighten on the safe and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, he said.

Dr Subramani, president, IANCAS, explained the multi-fold uses and the discovery of several nuclear materials in the recent past. He dealt with the applications of nuclear matter like Bismuth, and Cobalt. He said that the radio pharmaceutical field is emerging which is to be tapped for solid solutions to the most dreaded diseases of this age. Prof. Venkata Rao, Principal, University College, said that the students should learn the spirit of enquiry. This will lead to critical thinking and finally to evolve assumptions which will enhance the power to think and to have logical deductions at the end. Earlier, the convener of the workshop, Dr, Y. Vijaya, incharge-head of the department, welcomed the guests on the dais and prescribed the objectives of the two-day event. Dr P. Triveni, Dr Veera Reddy, Research Scholars, faculty members of the university were present on the occasion.