British Nuclear Energy Society
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This article is part of the Center for Media & Democracy's focus on the fallout of nuclear "spin." |
According to its corporate plan, the British Nuclear Energy Society aims "to be the leading 'Learned Society' for Nuclear Energy, in its totality, and to lead and facilitate a clearer understanding of the subject" [1].
It advocates starting to construct new nuclear power stations in the UK. They argue that they "cannot see a future that is acceptable to this country's energy needs, that does not include an immediate and ongoing commitment from current and future governments, to a continuing nuclear generating capability." [2].
The BNES wants the government to "influence and inform the public so that there is a clear understanding of the benefits of nuclear energy as a safe, sustainable, economic, reliable and environmentally acceptable contributor to the needs of this country, for the centuries ahead." [ibid].
Contents
The Organization
The British Nuclear Energy Society (BNES) calls itself the "leading learned body for all persons interested in nuclear energy". In reality it is a Westminster-based lobby group set up to promote nuclear power. The organization has close links to nuclear companies including BNFL and British Energy and Supporters of Nuclear Energy gives its contact details C/O its address. [3]
On December 5, 2004, The Independent on Sunday reports:
- The Energy minister, Mike O'Brien, says the Government is not partisan about nuclear energy. After the Nuclear Industry Association/British Nuclear Energy Society annual conference on Thursday, he said the market, not the Government, must decide whether we need more generation capacity, and what kind.[4]
The Young Generation Network (YGN)
BNES is part of the YGN - an international network of young engineers and scientists established by the European Nuclear Society.
The current chair is Becky Ferris UKAEA; Neil Crewdson British Nuclear Group, (Sellafield) is Co-Chair along with Miranda Kirschel from the Nuclear Industry Association.
The Trustees
- Mr J Earp - President & Chairman
- Mr. T. Aves - Ex-officio, Chairman Western Branch
- Professor P. Beeley - Institution of Nuclear Engineers
- Mrs C.M.Collings - Elected & past-Chairman of YGN
- Dr. V.S. Crocker - Institute of Physics
- Mr I Currie - Elected
- Dr A.J.Fawkes - Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- Mr. M.J. Grave - Vice-President
- Mr. T. Grimshaw - Institution of Incorporated Engineers
- Professor J.E. Harris - Institute of Materials
- Mr. C. Hodge - Institute of Marine Engineers
- Dr Sue Ion - Ex-officio, Immediate Past President
- Mr G.E.C.Jenkins - Elected
- Mr J Jones - Chairman of the Events Committee
- Dr. W.S. Jones - Institution of Electrical Engineers
- Mr. T.B. Kelly - Institution of Chemical Engineers
- Dr. E.A. Little - Institute of Materials
- Mr. M.G. Lyons - Elected
- Dr Roy Manning - Chairman Central England Branch
- Mr K Meyer - Chairman of Cumbria Branch
- Dr E Morgan-Warren - Institution of Nuclear Engineers
- Dr. M Pick - Royal Society of Chemistry
- Mr. J. Riding - Institution of Civil Engineers
- Mr. A.E. Sheil - Ex-officio, Chairman North West Branch
- Mr P Spare - Institute of Energy
- Professor P.J. Thomas - Institute of Measurement & Control
- Dr. P.C. Upson - Institution of Chemical Engineers
- Mr. C. Waker - Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- Mr. C. Walker - Institution of Incorporated Engineers
- Dr D.R.Weaver - Elected
- Mr A Worrell - Elected
- Mr. N.G. Worley - Institute of Energy
- Mr. M Askew - Secretary
- V.S. Crocker - Institute of Physics
- Ian Currie - Elected, works for AMEC-NNC
- P. Dolan - Ex-officio, Editor Nuclear Energy
- J.Earp - Vice-President
- A.J.Fawkes - Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- M.J. Grave - Ex-officio, Chairman SIG
- T. Grimshaw - Institution of Incorporated Engineers
- J.E. Harris - Institute of Materials
- C. Hodge - Institute of Marine Engineers
- G.E.C.Jenkins - Ex-officio, Immediate Past President
- J Jones - Chairman of the Events Committee
- W.S. Jones - Institution of Electrical Engineers
- T.B. Kelly - Institution of Chemical Engineers
- E.A. Little - Institute of Materials
- M.G. Lyons - Elected
- E Morgan-Warren - Institution of Nuclear Engineers
- M Pick - Royal Society of Chemistry
- J. Riding - Institution of Civil Engineers
- A.E. Sheil - Ex-officio, Chairman North West Branch
- P Spare - Institute of Energy
- P.J. Thomas - Institute of Measurement & Control
- P.C. Upson - Institution of Chemical Engineers
- C. Waker - Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- C. Walker -Institution of Incorporated Engineers
- D.R.Weaver -Elected
- J Williams - Chairman Central England Branch
- A Worrell - Elected
- N.G. Worley -Institute of Energy
- I.M. Andrews -Secretary
Spinning Pro-Nuke Universities
In July 2005, BNES was given £10,000 by BNFL towards its newly established "Education and Training Fund". The Society was seeking money for this "important subject particularly with what I am sure will be the renaissance of new build", acccording to Ian Andrews, the Secretary of BNES. [I. Andrews (2005) Letter to Pauline Deans, 12 July]
The money came with slight strings attached from BNFL. According to Pauline Deans, Community Affairs from BNFL, "due to our significant presence in the North West and Cumbria in particular, we would wish to see a fair proportion of the beneficiaries from these areas." [5]
Because of BNFL's "most generous" donation, the money "will enable the Society to pursue one of its important aims, namely education and training. We are hoping to establish prizes at those Universities which offer a nuclear sicence course, and this coming summer the Society is sponsoring two graduates to attend the World Nuclear University's Summer School at Idaho Falls". [Secretary (2005), Letter to Rob Jarvis, 7 June]
Spinning Pro-Nuclear Schools
BNES and the Institute of Nuclear Engineers offer a school sponsorship scheme. In 2005 the schools selected to take part in the project where they receive £500 were:
- Bury Grammer School (girls);
- Carr Hill High School, Kirkham;
- Culcheth High School;
- Great Sankey High School, Warrington;
- Knutsford High School;
- Rivington and Blacrod High School, Horwich;
- St. John Almond Catholic High School, Liverpool
Contact information
1 Great George Street,
London, SW1P 3AA.
Tel: 020 7665 2241
Fax: 020 7799 1325
Web: http://www.bnes.com/
External links
British Nuclear Energy Society website
Documents
- ^ P. Deans Letter to Ian Andrews, BNES (pdf), 11 July 2005
Related Articles
- Robert Blackhurst, Your Planet: Clouding the atmosphere, The Independent, September 19, 2005
- Tim Webb, Reborn: nuclear energy prepares for a second chance, Independent on Sunday, December 5, 2004
