gjphw@ihuxm.UUCP (10/03/83)
If I might wade in on two topics near to my heart: 1. This first is in support of an item from M. Majka (ubc-visi!majka). Among other interesting topics, Francis Bacon wrote an essay discussing the way science is done by people. The ideal method would be to make preliminary observations, formulate a hypothesis, conduct controlled experiments in an effort to find contradictory evidence, and publish your results. Behold the traditional scientific method! Unfortunately, he decided that what usually happens is that an individual forms a theory based upon his/her prejudices, conducts experiments to support the theory, then claims to have found truth. Personal values are a significant factor in science, and the best way to handle this is to become aware of the unconscious processes that are involved. 2. The second item is in criticism of a comment made by D. Anthony (unc-c!dya) concerning the development of nuclear technology from value-free scientific judgments. For a few years, I was associated with Brookhaven National Lab on Long Island (in a non-technical capacity, though I was a graduate student in physics at the time). BNL has operated nuclear research reactors for several decades for neutron physics studies. The opinion among the few neutron scientists that I had the opportunity to encounter was that nuclear power was a good idea until it was taken over by industry. In the beginning, nuclear scientists and engineers were in the process of trying to discover optimum techniques for generating electrical energy from nuclear fission and gave some thought to the waste problem. When it became almost practical, business picked up the further development of nuclear power plants. Since it is the primary goal of business to offer a product at the lowest cost, the rather high-priced development of reactors was cut in favor of lower cost designs. The "lowest bid" philosophy of some large companies brought out nuclear power generation before its time. Since then, the production of power by nuclear reactors has been very political and value- laden. Live long and prosper! -- Patrick Wyant AT&T Bell Laboratories (Naperville, IL) *!ihuxm!gjphw
stekas@houxy.UUCP (10/03/83)
Pat Wyant really comes to the heart of the matter when he brings up industry. The real question is not whether nuclear waste can be disposed of safely, but whether our nuclear industry can be entrusted to dispose of it safely. Taking our chances with nuclear wastes seems advisible to spewing carcinogenes from our fossil plants for the next 50 years, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking it's safe. Let's start planning what we are going to do when XYZ Inc. disposes of a ton of nuclear waste in the same manner as PCB's - in a vacant lot just off the N.J. Turnpike. Jim Stekas BTL Holmdel,N.J.
Shinbrot.WBST@PARC-MAXC.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP (10/05/83)
Jim, Let's be controversial here. President Reagan decreed a few months ago that defunct nuclear submarines should be disposed of at sea WITH REACTOR'S INTACT. Industry is indeed lax with wastes, but look at the example being set by government! - Troy