He discusses that, while questions are still being asked about the long term impacts of radiation contamination for local communities and the wider environment, many scientists, environmentalists and governments have concluded that increasing the proportion of nuclear power in the energy mix is essential.  Professor Grimes has been outspoken on nuclear energy in the context of climate change.

In his presentation, Professor Grimes covers the future of nuclear energy, public perception, technological innovation and nuclear energy in the context of climate change.  He also discusses the lessons from Fukushima and the future of nuclear energy worldwide.  He reviews the balance of hazards and risks, the public perception of risk, the issue of waste disposal, technological innovations and his views on East Asia’s relationship to nuclear energy.

Professor Robin Grimes is the United Kingdom’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Chief Scientific Advisor, responsible for providing advice to the Secretary of State, Ministers and officials on science, technology and innovation.  Professor Grimes is also Professor of Materials Physics at Imperial College, London, where he has been Director of Imperial College’s nuclear engineering centre since 2008.  Prior to this, he was at the Faraday Research Laboratory at the Royal Institution and the US Los Alamos National Laboratory.  He is also Principal Investigator of the UK Research Council’s Nuclear Fission Champion consortium project.  Professor Grimes advised the British parliament’s inquiry into nuclear research requirements and was part of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, which provided official advice on the 2011 Fukushima disaster.  Professor Grimes has nearly 250 published papers, including in Nature and Science, has advised governments worldwide and lectures extensively.        

    Members of the RGS and others are most welcome to attend this event, which is HK$150 for Members and HK$200 for guests and others.