CNSC Speaker Series 2017

Alys Gardner: A United Kingdom Nuclear Institute perspective on the UK’s nuclear industry landscape

Ms. Gardner provided a United Kingdom Nuclear Institute perspective on the UK’s nuclear industry landscape, including its history as well as its current and future shape.

Dr. Jay Liebowitz: Successes and Failures of Knowledge Management

Dr. Liebowitz’s presentation on the "Successes and Failures of Knowledge Management" highlighted how organizations can use knowledge management to increase innovation, improve organizational internal and external effectiveness, build institutional memory and enhance organizational agility. Knowledge management deals with how best to leverage knowledge internally and externally in organizations to improve decision making, as well as facilitating knowledge capture and sharing.

Dr. Mark Fleming: Regulator safety culture: What it is and why it is important

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) investigation into the Fukushima Daiichi accident identified the importance of nuclear regulators having a positive safety culture. Dr. Fleming’s presentation, titled "Regulator safety culture: What it is and why it is important", presented the results of an international study to describe the concept of regulator safety culture and its main dimensions. This information has been used by an IAEA working group to develop a safety culture framework and assessment methodology to develop and promote a positive culture within regulators.

Mr. Robert (Bob) Watts: Complicated, or Complex: Social Licence in Shifting Sands

The presentation explored themes such as social licence, Indigenous knowledge, well-being, partnership and Indigenous rights as they relate to siting a major project in the increasingly uncertain social landscape in Canada.

Mr. Bruce Campbell: Mr. Bruce Campbell: Have the Lessons of the Lac-Mégantic Rail Disaster Been Learned?

Mr. Campbell’s presentation, “Have the Lessons of the Lac-Mégantic Rail Disaster Been Learned?” focused on whether the Lac-Mégantic disaster led to fundamental improvements in the regulation of the transportation system. He also compared the Lac-Mégantic and Fukushima disasters and examined the Canadian justice system’s ability to deal with the consequences of major disasters. While some improvements have been made, Mr. Campbell argues that much remains to be done.

Dr. Alexander (Sandy) McEwan: Radioisotopes in Medical Practice: From There to Here

Dr. McEwan’s presentation titled "Medical Isotopes in Patient Care – Past, Present and Future", focused on the therapeutic application of medical isotopes. He gave an overview of the use of medical isotopes in the past and described how they have evolved to enhance patient diagnosis and care, as well as what can be expected in the future.