SNRSI Lectures
SNRSI Lectures
SNRSI organises public lectures for audiences interested in topics related to nuclear science and technology. These talks are open to anyone who is interested, including students.
Upcoming Lectures
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute, National University of Singapore (16 Prince George's Park, Singapore 118415)
Abstract of the talk
Almost 15 years have passed since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Extensive studies have demonstrated that radiation exposure levels among residents were generally low, with no epidemiological evidence of increased cancer incidence or hereditary effects attributable to radiation.
However, the accident revealed a different and equally important dimension of health risk: the indirect consequences of evacuation, prolonged displacement, and disruption of healthcare and social systems — particularly among elderly and medically vulnerable populations.
Emergency evacuations of hospitals and long-term care facilities exposed systemic vulnerabilities, including physiological stress during transport, insufficient medical coordination, and limited preparedness planning. These experiences underscored a critical lesson for radiation protection policy: protective actions must be evaluated not only in terms of dose reduction, but also in terms of total health risk.
In response, Japan revised its nuclear emergency preparedness framework, positioning shelter-in-place (SIP) as a primary protective action. While this reflects lessons learned from Fukushima, significant operational challenges remain. Many municipalities and institutions still face difficulties in implementing effective SIP measures, including ventilation control, shielding strategies, continuity of care, and decision-making criteria for transition to evacuation.
Drawing on field experience in Fukushima and subsequent policy involvement in national nuclear emergency preparedness discussions, this lecture will examine the practical limitations of current protective action strategies and propose a broader, integrated approach to health protection. Radiation protection must evolve from a narrow focus on dose metrics toward comprehensive risk management that integrates medical, social, and institutional resilience — particularly for vulnerable populations.
Registration is required: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/7VEH84NrKW
SNRSI Lecture Mailing List
Information about upcoming SNRSI Lectures are also sent to a mailing list. If you are interested to be part of the mailing list, please email snrsi_outreach@nus.edu.sg