How shall we hand over the atomic energy to the next generation? Publicity activities to the youth

It is important for Atomic Energy Society of Japan which covers the wide fields related to atomic energy to know exactly what the youths who bear the next generation learn about atomic energy and what feeling they have. However, the attitude or the attempt of meeting young generation from such viewpoint was not sufficient so far. In the phenomena of 'away from atomic energy' recently pointed out frequently, the root seems to have existed long ago. In this feature article, from such critical mind, the present status and the plan for hereafter of atomic energy publicity activities for young generation and those concerned to education are made clear. The publicity activities for school education and young generation, the publicity activities for those concerned to education, the questionnaire of the consciousness about energy and environment, the open school activity of Atomic Energy Society of Japan, the nuclear reactor experiment and study for middle and high school teachers, the assembling of simplified GM counters and the experiment of measuring radiation, the activities of Plasnet for young generation and the exercise and seminar on radiation for high school students are reported. Japanese social system is at the root of atomic energy problem, and the effort to improve it contributes to innovate the constitution of whole Japan. (K.I.)