Sunday 19th July
at 7.20pm for a 7.30pm start
A talk by Simon Johnson
In your own home courtesy of Zoom – see below.
The talk lasts 25 minutes and is aimed at a non-technical audience – there will be no equations! It will be followed by a Q&A. See below for Alton Energy’s response to the same talk.
Modern nuclear reactor designs can eat up existing nuclear waste, make huge amounts of electricity and be completely safe. The latest reactor designs are a complete revolution but most people are unaware of the huge changes that have been taking place in the industry. Nuclear accidents like those at Chernobyl and Fukushima simply aren’t possible with these new designs.
This talk by Simon Johnson, who once worked as a reactor physicist, has been prepared for showing to environmental campaigning groups. It explains for people without a background in nuclear power why there is a realistic possibility that this new technology could lead to a large reduction in global warming. One of the biggest hurdles being the public’s genuine concerns about old-fashioned nuclear power.
The talk focuses on the Stable Salt Reactor by Moltex Energy because this design has solved all of the traditional problems with nuclear power and is the most likely to actually make a difference to global warming but as he says, there are other new revolutionary designs with similar advantages.
Simon has no financial interest in nuclear power and is motivated solely with trying to help with the climate emergency.
Energy Alton’s response to the same talk given May 2020 https://energyalton.org.uk/ :
“Simon Johnson gave a fascinating talk for Energy Alton about the future of nuclear power… he explained for non-scientists why there is a realistic possibility that this new technology could lead to a large reduction in global warming. One of the biggest hurdles being the public’s genuine concerns about old-fashioned nuclear power…. [The] talk was very well received by an appreciative audience.”
************************************************************************
Do join us for the talk!! Everyone is welcome.
Please email our chair Alan Montgomery using chair@farnham.humanist.org.uk if you are interested in joining in and he will email back the Zoom link.
************************************************************************
See below for Instructions for Joining Zoom.
Access the Zoom link by emailing our chair Alan Montgomery using chair@farnham.humanist.org.uk
NB, there may be variations depending on whether you are using Windows PC, Apple, or an iPhone. But the general principles apply, and people find it easy unless they are running very old software. For Windows you need version 7 or above.
When you click the link, your PC or phone may have to download the Zoom App, just give it permission to do so when asked. Next start Zoom App if necessary, and click on Open Zoom Meetings. Click on Join with Computer Audio if you are confident that your microphone and camera work.
(If you are not confident then before joining click Test Speaker and Microphone – it’s underneath the Join with Computer Audio option. This test plays you a little tune, and asks you to confirm you heard it; and asks you to speak and in a few seconds repeats your voice. If that works fine, you are given the option to join with computer audio (now in smaller letters) If it doesn’t work you’ll have to figure out how to turn on your computer’s microphone and/or camera.)
You will see several little frames with our faces, and we will see yours – and all be able to hear each other. Whoever is speaking tends to be the larger frame.
You can toggle backwards and forwards between alternative views of the group on your screen (either many little frames, or the large frame plus several little frames) by clicking on the dots in the top right hand corner. Gallery means all attendees’ frames are featured, in no particular order, whereas choosing Speaker means that the current speaker is framed, plus several other little ones.
Once a formal meeting starts at 7:15 we would mute everyone except the chair and speaker, so you cannot be heard. When your turn comes to speak you’ll be unmuted.
A tray of controls comes up when you hover the cursor just above the bottom of the screen. You will see a box called Chat, with options to type questions, to everyone, or to named individuals.
Clicking on the Reactions button means you can signify applause or a ‘thumbs up’ indication for the presenters and other attendees.
You will also see an icon called Participants, and if you click on that and find your own name in Attendees you will see a symbol for Putting Up Your Hand. We can see that, and if we’re allowing questions, we can unmute you to speak and be heard.