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TECHNICAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

ASM TRUSTEE NIGHT/AWARDS NIGHT

THURSDAY, May 15, 2008

TOPIC: The role of Nuclear Power in Our Energy Future

Upon the introduction of commercial nuclear reactors in the 1950s, the power produced was billed as “being too cheap to meter” (Straus, ). Indeed, that promise was not made in jest, as the cost of uranium was low, the risks were not fully appreciated, nuclear proliferation was considered to be an academic interest, and the irrational objection to nuclear power had not yet developed. Over the past sixty years, the cost of uranium has risen dramatically, the risks have been illustrated by Chernobyl and to a lesser extent by Three Mile Island, the nuclear weapons club has increased dramatically with even small, impoverished nations joining the ranks, and the anti-nuclear lobby has not waned in its objections. Notwithstanding these factors, nuclear power has demonstrated itself to be a technical marvel; a system that is capable of producing more fuel than it consumes, rendering the fuel resources to be almost limitless, and which is accessible by rich and poor nations alike. With the eventual introduction of fusion power, many, but not all of the objections to nuclear power are likely to disappear, but the best estimates put the large scale use of fusion reactors many decades away.

In this presentation, Dr. Macdonald will review the various types of fission and fusion reactors that exist, the technologies upon which they are based, and the prospects for their use in the future energy economy. In particular, he will identify and review the technical challenges that exist in the department of safe, economic fission and fusion reactors that will make their proper contributions to the World’s energy supply.

SPEAKER: Prof. Digby Macdonald, ASM Trustee (2007-2010)

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Prof. Macdonald is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, a Fellow of NACE International, The Electrochemical Society, ASM International, the International Society of Electrochemistry, the Corrosion Institute (UK), and the World Innovation Foundation. He has won numerous awards for his research. He has published over 700 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Over the past 25 years, he has advised more than 120 MS and Ph.D. students and mentored about 100 Post Doctoral Scholars and Research Associates. Previous positions were at The Ohio State University and Stanford University.

DINNER LOCATION: Café Taste, 384 East Main Street, Ansonia, CT

COCKTAILS………………………………………...…………………………5:00-6:30 PM

DINNER…………………………………………………………………………….. 7:00 PM

Beef, Chicken or Fish……………………………………………………………..........$25.00

Retirees………………….…….$20.00; Full-time Students……………………….. ...$10.00

Speaker……………………………………….……………………………………….7:30PM

FIRM RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE TUESDAY, May 13, 2008. Members unable to attend the dinner are cordially invited to attend the presentation at 7:30 pm.

Telephone reservations with meal choice to James Steele at 860-747-6333x3294; email: jsteele@mottcorp.com.