Introduction to the Slovak Nuclear Society

In spring 2006, SNUS celebrated the 16th anniversary of its establishment. In accordance with the approved statutes, the main goals of SNUS activities are as follows:

• to coordinate and support creative activity, to satisfy the professional interests of its members and to provide them with the information they require ,

• to initiate and support a dialogue with the public aimed at addressing the ecological priorities of the development of nuclear energy as part of a set of sources of researched argumentation.

Membership:

SNUS had 30 collective and 602 individual members as of 1 January 2006. In addition to an extensive group of first-rate, enthusiastic seniors, SNUS also has a large number of young members (<35) – Young Generation in Nuclear.

Fig 1 shows the relevant information for January 1st. 2006.

Fig.1

Fig. 2 shows the gender structure of our membership. We are very appreciative of the activity and expertise of our female members in the WIN section (Women In Nuclear).

Fig.2

Educational structure:

SNUS members have a high average educational level (fig. 3) and its members include eminent experts in the fields of nuclear physics, nuclear technology, nuclear energy, nuclear chemistry, nuclear medicine and radio-environmental studies.

Fig.3

Many SNUS members undertake pedagogical activities and have been awarded academic titles, as Fig.4 illustrates.

Fig.4

In 2002, SNUS established its Academic Council, whose Chairman is Prof. Pisut.

The members of the SNUS Committee (from 17.5.2006):

• Chairman of the Committee: Vladimir Slugen,

• Committee Members: Jozef Valovic (Secretary General), Jozef Markus (Vice-Chairman), Helena Novakova (Vice Chairwoman), Karol Rovny, Jozef Tomek, Jan Nano, Miroslav Jakabovic

The sections are headed by:

• WIN: Mariana Mancikova; YGN: Milos Lascek; Radio-environmental Studies: Jan Chrapan, from October 2005 Jozef Puskajler; Radiation Chemistry: Lubomir Matel; Radiation Hygiene: Alžbeta Füriova; Communication: Dobroslav Dobak, from September 2005 Rastislav Petrech.

SNUS issues a Bulletin (4 times a year as a rule) which is available on www.snus.sk and mailed to those members without access to an internet.

SNUS annually organises the NUSIM conference (Nuclear Safety Information Meeting) together with the Czech and German nuclear societies (CNS and KTG). The NUSIM conference is held alternately by the organising countries. In 2006, it was held in Levice, Slovakia, from 27 - 28.4.2006.

SNUS has also organised regular half-day technical seminars for the public in the following areas (topics in 2005): Nuclear and sub-nuclear physics (Global climatic changes, On the origin of the world) Nuclear energy (Safety culture, The operation of NPPs under market conditions, Beyond design basis accidents, Completion of MochovceNPP 3, 4)

SNUS co-operates with the Information Centres at Bohunice and Mochovce NPPs and with schools in explaining nuclear energy to students. Also of significance is our co-operation with our strategic partners (ENEL SE, a.s., VUJE a.s.), particularly with regard to the creation of suitable conditions for the activities of their employees within SNUS. We also co-operate closely with the senior management of our other collective members.

SNUS publications

In 2005, SNUS prepared the publication The Development of Nuclear Energy and its Acceptance by the Public for the former Slovak Electric Co., which summarised the reasons why nuclear energy is an irreplaceable power source in Slovakia and globally and how to influence politicians, the media and the public to recognise the advantages of nuclear energy and support its development.

The book The Atoms in Slovakia is currently undergoing preparation for publication. It has an encyclopaedic character and charts the development of nuclear physics, technology and nuclear medicine in Slovakia. Extensive space is also given to the development of nuclear power.

SNUS events

In 2005, SNUS promoted nuclear energy at the following events:

• CONECO – Racioenergia conference held on 6.4.2005 in Bratislava

• the Role of Nuclear Energy in the Energy Policy of Slovakia and the EU conference held in Bratislava from 10.-12.10.2005.

• EXPO FUSION, from 7 - 19.11.2005, held in Bratislava – in the hall of the Law Faculty at the Commenius University

NucNet:

SNUS selects news from the international news agency NucNet and translates basic news and translates any article that it believes is of interest to its members and then distributes them to subscribers. Selected up-to-date news is published in its Bulletin.

SNUS has issued a position statement regarding the following issues:

• the shutdown of the V-1 NPP units, November 2004,

• the energy policy of the Slovakian Republic, February 2005,

• lifelong education in the field of the “nuclear disciplines,” June 2005.

SNUS is a member of the Association of Slovak Scientific and Technological Societies. It co-operates closely in all its activities with its affiliated organization – the Slovak Nuclear Forum. On an international level it collaborates closely with the European Nuclear Society (ENS), of which it is a collective member and also with the nuclear societies of neighbouring Central European countries (e.g. Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, the Ukraine and Poland). SNUS has very good relationships with the US and Canadian nuclear societies, which have been established on a contractual basis.

The Slovak Nuclear Society has been very active in promoting itself in the past and has given its views on pressing current questions with regard to the use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy. However, it is always possible to improve our activities, particularly with regard to an ever more extensive involvement of all our members in those activities. I should like to thank all our active members and their management - who allow them to carry out this far from easy work at their workplaces.

Prof. Vladimir Slugen, PhD.
SNUS chairman
June 2006

Contact Address:
Slovak Nuclear Society,
Okruzna 5, 918 64 Trnava, Slovakia,
Tel: +421 33 599 1375,
Fax: +421 33 599 1060,
info@snus.sk, http://www.snus.sk