The ongoing nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi facility in Japan will be the topic of a discussion with Frank L. Parker, professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering at Vanderbilt University, at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, at the Adventure Science Center in Nashville.
Parker, a nuclear remediation veteran, spent 11 years with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as the head of the radioactive waste disposal section, served with the International Atomic Energy Agency and was a consultant on the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents.
He was one of the first American soldiers to enter Nagasaki after the end of World War II. He was a frequent visitor at the Chernobyl nuclear station after its accident and knew some of the early responders who removed their dosimeters before entering the reactor building so that they could continue to fight to bring the reactor under control. He also chaired an inquiry into the Three Mile Island accident for the National Council on Radiation Protection.
Science Café, sponsored by the Adventure Science Center, is a series of informal discussions on current issues in science. The April event will be held at the Center, 800 Fort Negley Blvd.
Dr. Brian Hart, astrophysicist, will serve as moderator of the Q&A segment. The event is free and open to the public. However, sign up is requested here.