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Two Public Events Dealing with Nuclear Power to be Held at W&L

Washington and Lee University will sponsor two public events in November dealing with nuclear power-a lecture on “How to Ensure Nuclear Energy Remains Peaceful” and a panel discussion on the future of nuclear power. They were organized by Dr. Frank Settle, visiting professor of chemistry at W&L and founder of ALSOS Digital Library for Nuclear Issues (alsos.wlu.edu).

Dr. Charles Ferguson, Fellow for Science and Technology at the Council on Foreign Relations and an adjunct assistant professor in the Security Studies Program at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, will speak on Monday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. in W&L’s Huntley Hall, room 327.

The panel discussion will be held on Monday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Huntley Hall, room 221. Panelists are Dr. Brice Smith, assistant professor of physics at SUNY Cortland and author of “Insurmountable Risks: the Dangers of Using Nuclear Power to Combat Global Climate Change;” Dr. Andrew Cook, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the AREVA North American Nuclear Power group; and Mr. Albert Carr, adjunct professor of law, Washington and Lee University School of Law.

Both the Nov. 5 talk and Nov. 12 panel are free and open to the public.

At the Council on Foreign Relations, Ferguson researches and writes on nuclear security and energy topics. In particular he authored the Council Special Report Balancing the Benefits and Risks of U.S. Nuclear Energy Policy. He is also currently an adjunct lecturer in the Homeland Security Certificate Program at the Johns Hopkins University.

Prior to his work at the Council, Ferguson was the Scientist-in-Residence in the Washington office of the Monterey Institute’s Center for Nonproliferation Studies where he co-directed a project that systematically assessed how to prevent and respond to nuclear and radiological terrorist. He is also the lead author of the award-winning report titled Commercial Radioactive Sources: Surveying the Security Risks, which assessed the threat of radiological dispersal devices such as “dirty bombs.”

Dr. Brice Smith, a member of the Nov. 12 panel discussion, was a senior scientist at the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in Takoma Park, Md. He has authored or co-authored works on nuclear weapons policy, nuclear waste management, uranium enrichment technologies and the economics of wind power in the western U.S.

Dr. Andrew Cook, experienced in the nuclear field, served as the advanced nuclear fuel and methods development manager for Westinghouse. He was also the total quality manager for the Westinghouse Nuclear fuel division. He served as the Westinghouse nuclear services project manager for the western half of the U.S. and the Nuclear Service Division Total quality manager for Westinghouse. He has debated many antinuclear speakers on television and radio.

Albert Carr is a graduate of VMI and W&L School of Law with a distinguished career in nuclear regulation. His early career was in government with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Regulatory Commission before joining Duke Power.

Dr. Settle will moderate the panel.