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We are now facing to the gradual transition of modern
civilization based upon chemical reaction to that based upon
nuclear reaction.
Civilization requires to the science and technology 4 items.
They are energy, material, technology and information.
Science and technology has supplied these four items and
supported the civilization. The civilization based on the
chemical reaction played main role since the mankind began
to utilize fire, a chemical reaction, as the energy source
of heat and light. It has a long history and is tremendously
accelerated by using artificial mechanical energy as well as
electricity after the industrial revolution. Global warming
due to the mass consumption of fossil energy warns us to
find future energy source which satisfies resource demand
and environmental protection simultaneously.
The nuclear science and engineering as a hopeful candidate
to support the future civilization opened its microscopic
world at the last moment of 19th century when Roentgen
discovered X-ray and it has passed about 120years. The
transition of the civilization from chemical to nuclear,
however, needs more time like decade, century and millennium
depending on the sort of issues to be solved and/or
realized.
Nowadays there is worldwide trend to accept nuclear science
and engineering by the name of nuclear Renaissance
especially in the nuclear community. To my understanding
this trend is directly attributable to the success of
peaceful use of nuclear energy in the application of the
light water reactor with satisfactory safety records in the
later half of 20th century. United Nations Resolution on the
"sustainable development of mankind" tells us the importance
of ecological system. Is it possible to support the coming
nuclear civilization satisfying the requirements on energy
resource and environmental protection by nuclear science and
technology?
The development of nuclear energy system up to now seems to
show a steady effort aiming at this goal.
"SCNES" is proposed in 1992 as a scientific concept of
nuclear energy system where we treat the following issues
such as energy generation, fuel production, safety
assurance, treatment of radioactive materials and
non-proliferation issues simultaneously within the
restriction of the assets of nuclear fission.
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