Nuclear technology and human and social issues

Nuclear energy is not only a technical issue but also a political and a social issue in which considerations concerning ethics, legal aspects, economic development or geo-politics should be taken into account. The lack of dialogue between technology and human and social sciences, fuels nuclear controversy. The original sin of nuclear energy is the atomic bomb but today's duality of nuclear energy for instance good radiation used in medicine and bad radiation that kills, technological innovations versus technological excess, blur the public image of nuclear energy. A dialogue with human and social sciences may help to define choices that go beyond technology for instance the regional management of nuclear activities, the economical models (a big power plant or several smaller plants), or the management of technological innovations that could benefit other industry sectors. This dialogue could bring a broader and deeper acceptance of nuclear energy. (A.C.)