President's Message

In the 7th Strategic Energy Plan decided by the Cabinet, the policy of the nuclear energy of Japan is described, sustainable use of the required capacity under the conditions of public trust and safety. Development and installation of next generation reactors are engaged as well as the maximum use of the existing reactors. It is necessary to construct new reactors for the sustainable use of the nuclear energy. Safety should be further improved in the next generation reactors involving the lessons learned from the 1F Accident. In addition, we need to pursue safety management system and culture for proactive and continuous safety improvement. The Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ) investigated the 1F Accident by using the maximum efforts and extracted the lessons containing its own failure. Reflection of the lessons has been checked afterwards. Investigation of various problems related to the 1F decommission and the reconstruction of Fukushima are tackled with great effort now. AESJ must carry out its responsibility toward the sustainable use of the nuclear energy from the academic and technological aspects based on the lessons learned from the 1F Accident.

  In these circumstances, I would like to make AESJ more active together with the members. Three keywords "to communicate", "to connect" and "to nurture" are maintained from the last year.

  The first "to communicate" is to send information. To the society, AESJ will publish statements, press releases, press conferences and position statements as a specialist group of nuclear and radiation. Information via Youtube and X is provided as well. Latest news and topics in the periodic magazines, advanced papers archived in the academic journals, and publication from the expert committees are primary and important mission as the academic society. Furthermore, technical standards which have been discussed and published from the Standard Committee are valuable information.

  The second "to connect" is to promote cooperation inside and outside of AESJ. To proceed the activities of the 1F decommissioning and the reconstruction of Fukushima, we need to keep cooperation inside and outside of AESJ. Annual and Fall Meetings, and Branch/Subcommittee/Network/Expert Committee activities are to promote the connection among the specialists in the society and indispensable to activate the research and development. National Symposium on Atomic Energy held at the Science Council of Japan is to connect with outside of AESJ. Hosting international conferences is important for international collaboration. We aim to spread the connection more widely to the associate members, receiving information of the society for free, as preparation for the regular membership.

  The third "to nurture" is human resource development. In the Education Committee, visit to the nuclear plant site by the higher education section, investigation of text books by the elementary and secondary education section, and CPD and professional engineer's training courses by the professional engineer section are carried out. The following events have been held: open schools by the Branches, conversation with students by the Senior Network, study groups by the Young Generation Network, and poster sessions in the Annual and Fall Meetings by the Student Network. Awarding contains a substantial element of human resource development. We operate education membership for primary school and junior/senior high school teachers. Human resource development is the basis of sustainable use of the nuclear energy. The role of AESJ is significant. Particularly, incorporation of the lessons learned from the 1F Accident into the human resource development is the issue.

  Activities of AESJ are the summation of those of the members. Thus, opinions of the members should be considered for the management of the society. Cooperation with the staff in the AESJ office is necessary because effective management is not possible without the enthusiastic support of them. Stable financial condition is a requirement. I would like to ask your kind cooperation for this year.