Towards More Open-Minded Nuclear Engineering

Abstract

The implication of the PAGES project especially in Japan's post-Fukushima context is examined in this chapter, summing up the arguments of sister chapters in Part IV at the same time. Social scientific literacy is not just an "additional" component for nuclear engineers. Rather, it is one of the most "essential" parts of engineering competences and practices. This point has not been fully recognized, at least in the Japanese context so far. In this chapter, an epochmaking judgment by a Japanese court and the responses from nuclear engineers in Japan will be taken as a case to explore this issue. Japanese nuclear engineers misunderstood the judgment's argument and could not make appropriate counterarguments against the court. This kind of misunderstanding of voices from society can result both in loss of political legitimacy and stagnation in technical evolution. Looking at the original nature of engineering itself, the need for fundamental change to re-establish diversity and independence in nuclear engineering, and the significance of social-scientific literacy to realize it, will be discussed.

Engineers, Social Scientists, and Nuclear Power

“…Ultimately it was jarred from the outside. 8 Developing this point in both directions, see Juraku [26].…”

“…My own sense is that their success (or not) will be seen off in the future, as the conversations we have started will continue to play out. Reflections in the wake of the summer school by our students and their postdoctoral mentors give me hope [4,[26][27][28]]. …”