Long Half-life: The Nuclear Industry in Australia

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Australia has been directly involved in the nuclear industry for more than a century, but our involvement has never been comprehensively documented. Long Half-life tells the social and political history of Australias role, from the first discovery of radioactive ores in 1906 to contemporary contentious questions. Should the next generation of submarines be nuclear powered Can nuclear energy help to slow global climate change Do we need nuclear weapons for defence Should we store radioactive waste from nuclear power stations in our region

Long Half-life is a timely and riveting account of the political, social and scientific complexities of the nuclear industry, revealing the power of vested interests, the subjectivities of scientists and the transformative force of community passion.

Reviews

This book is a clarion call for sanity at a time when we can finally get the nuclear monkey off our back highly recommended. -- Peter Garrett

Ian Lowe brings both scientific rigour and personal depth to an issue that has generated heartache and headlines for decades. This cautionary tale is timely and important.

Author Bio

Ian Lowe AOis uniquely qualified to tell this story, following a long career in universities, research councils and advisory groups. Lowe is the author of several books, includingLiving in the Hothouse(Scribe, 2005),A Big Fix(Black Inc., 2005),A Voice of Reason(UQP, 2010),Bigger or Better(UQP, 2102) andThe Lucky Country Reinventing Australia(UQP, 2016). He is also the author of a 2006Quarterly Essayon the prospects for nuclear power in Australia and a flip book with Professor Barry Brook, giving the two sides of the argument.