Safe
Disposal of Canada's High Level Nuclear Wastes
David Shoesmith, Department of Chemistry, University of Western
Ontario
Due to the need for emission-free energy generation methods,
nuclear energy is again at centre-stage from a scientific
and policy standpoint. Before a new generation of nuclear
reactors can be built in Canada, Canadians will want reasonable
assurances that nuclear wastes can be safely disposed of and
stored.
Research into this major environmental challenge has been
underway internationally since the late 1970s. The Canadian
concept involves deep geologic disposal of the wastes in a
stable granite formation, coupled with a system of multiple
barriers to prevent the release of radioactive chemicals.
Dr. Shoesmith’s research concerns the manufactured form
into which the waste fuel is incorporated, the chemical changes
that will occur within it over time, as well as the corrosion
performance of the metallic container – all critical
components of a safe storage system.
Dr. Shoesmith has been involved in research on nuclear waste
disposal for 30 years and is presently the NSERC/Ontario Power
Generation Industrial Research Chair in nuclear fuel disposal
chemistry, at the University of Western Ontario. He also works
under contract to, and as a consultant for, nuclear waste
organizations in the United States of America, Sweden and
Japan. He has received awards from The Electrochemical Society
Inc., and The Metallurgical Society of the Canadian Institute
of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum for his contributions
to electrochemistry and corrosion science.
Organized by: The Partnership Group for Science and Engineering
(PAGSE)
Sponsored by:
--the Speaker of the Senate, the Hon. Daniel Hays
--the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Hon. Peter Milliken
--Science and Engineering Research Canada (NSERC)
DATE: Thursday November 24, 2005 from 7:30 am - 9:00 am
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