01 October 2009

Dear Editor
North Renfrew Times
Deep River, ON

Letter to Editor

Please find attached my article titled ” Chalk River National Laboratory – A New Concept   ” for your publication under your “Letter to Editor” section .

Many Thanks

Pravin Shah

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             01 October 2009
Chalk River National Laboratory – A New Concept
 

Recently we have seen an energetic grass root movement in our area for the development of a nuclear Research Reactor.  
First I would like to congratulate the CREATE group (Chalk River Employees Ad hoc TaskforcE for a national laboratory) for furthering the aim of a new Research Reactor at CRL site.  This movement is timely and courageous; specially when there is a possibility of major restructuring of AECL (by the Federal Government).
 
I recently attended a meeting organised by the CREATE group ( on Wednesday, 30 September, 2009 at the Lions Hall in Chalk River).
 
I am hundred percent in favour of a new nuclear Research Reactor in Canada – but particularly in the already established locale such as CRL, Chalk River (Deep River) -with its existing infrastructure and scientific community in place.
 
What puzzles though is – Why am I asked (along with others) by the  CREATE group at this late date to support the development of such  a nuclear Research Reactor? and why I am supporting such a development?  
Why anyone here in Deep River or Chalk River needs to be mobilised for a  support to such a nuclear Research Reactor. We are already sold on this idea as many of us know (either directly or by anecdotes) many benefits (to the public and the country) from the  multiple past research and development from Chalk River Laboratories – from medical to power to health sciences to monitoring of radio-active fields. We have also known about some other inventions such as seals for rockets & others.
 
I think that the basic question that needs to be answered is Do Canada wants to remain in the knowhow of the Nuclear Science? This question can only be answered by the powers-to-be.  
We, as citizens, have a say but ultimately the decision has to be made by the authorities. Already many countries have  more advanced research in this field – for all kinds of reasons and needs.
 
I think we in Canada have already lost momentum in nuclear research and somewhat resting on our earlier laurels in the nuclear field and if we are not careful and cognizant of the present situation – we will lag behind and  increasingly become dependent on foreign support.
 
I am not an expert on this subject but commonsense tells me that we are already behind. Further, development of a new Research Reactor will take anything up to 15 years (if we start now).   The gap between our nuclear science knowledge and others in the world would have grown many folds.   Why such a thing has come to pass?I think the CREATE committee needs to ask the Government pronto – what is stopping them for making a decision (right now) to maintain (and in fact enhance) our Canadian knowledge (and thus our scientific pool) in Nuclear Science.
A Research Reactor would come handy and useful – for  new isotopes to be discovered for medical needs, new fuel for nuclear power to be discovered (or developed) , new methodologies developed for use in case of nuclear disasters (both from civilian and non-civilian activities), new breeder technologies, space  voyages and settlement on the moon and other celestial   bodies needing nuclear batteries ;  etc etc.  We also need trained experts in this field for any untoward eventualities.
 
Will we be left to depend on others (foreign sources )? What about openings for such exciting and useful high-tech possibilities for our coming new generations?
 
Our powers-to-be need to put their hands on their chest (heart) and think hard for the good of the country.
 
I do believe they are doing that and the logical  answer (without hesitation), I believe, would be to re-energise our nuclear knowledge base and our Canadian scientific community.
 
I think we are already too late but a step in the right direction would ultimately bring us to catch up.  What is needed is not  a quiet support from the Government but a big ” encouraging push”  – so as to raise the morale (which has dwindled a lot over the years) of our  nuclear and non-nuclear scientific and engineering community many folds.
 
The current pursuit of a new nuclear Research Reactor for Canada is critical – whose time has come.
 
A marching order is necessary at this stage –   as  we  are already lagging behind – a lot.
 
Pravin Shah