ESR Special Interest Groups
The Auckland Branch has set up several ESR Special Interest Groups, each dealing with a topical concern. Members who have an interest or concern in any of these are invited to contact the respective convener.
A note about PDF files
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Nuclear Waste – Is it Still a Problem?
Nuclear Waste Disposal
With concern over global warming on the increase, Nuclear Power is again being promoted in some quarters as a low carbon emission alternative to the continuing use of fossil fuels. Here in New Zealand the promotion is given additional impetus by our urgent need to identify fresh sources for the generation of electrical energy. Indeed, in recent ESR panel discussions on the topic Future Power Supply – NZ at a Crossroad
one speaker suggested the choices as being Coal or Nuclear
.
In 2004 the Auckland Branch of ESR established a study group to review the nature and extent of the nuclear waste disposal problem. The group commissioned a discussion paper Nuclear Waste – Is it Still a Problem? authored by Prof Jack Woodward. In the paper a number of popular misconceptions on nuclear waste are exposed and commented on. Detailed comment is given on the radioactive processes and the physical problems involved.
If you have any comments on the paper, please send them to:
Jack Woodward
Phone: (09)373-5800
Post: ESR Auckland, P.O. Box 6208, Wellesley St, Auckland
Email: wdw…@ihug.co.nz
Unemployed Immigrant Engineers
Since 1999 when there were many immigrant engineers unable to find work, Engineers for Social Responsibility has been concerned for these members of our profession who have chosen New Zealand as a place to live. Unemployment among professional engineers is a huge waste of valuable skills. It is devastating for many immigrants who have been used to hard work and providing for their families to be dependent on state handouts.
Between 2000 and 2003 a series of training courses in association with IPENZ to assist immigrant engineers was organised. In August 2003, the IPENZ Special Interest Group for Immigrant Engineers (SIGIE) was formed with a committee comprising of mainly immigrant engineers. SIGIE has organised regular meetings where immigrant engineers can meet and hear from others who have been successful in finding employment but main function is to help advise immigrant engineers on C.V. preparation, the need for English skills and where to seek employment. Committee contact details can be obtained from the IPENZ website
National Waste Minimisation Strategy
In July 2000, a working group was established by the Ministry for the Environment and Local Government New Zealand to give advice on the establishment of a national waste minimisation strategy for New Zealand. The draft report of the working group titled Towards a National Waste Minimisation Strategy
was released for public comment on 7 December 2000, with submissions being due by March 1, 2001. As well as general comments on the draft Strategy, this report sought specific feedback on 11 issues and questions.
In response to the draft strategy and invitiation for comment, ESR prepared a submission that strongly supports the formulation of a national waste minimisation strategy for New Zealand. In our submission, general comments on the strategy and its visions/goals are made, followed by feedback on the specific issues and questions contained in the Strategy. Numerous examples are given to illustrate the various points raised in the ESR submission.
The ESR Submission to the Waste Minimisation and Management Working Group on Towards a National Waste Minimisation Strategy
is divided into two sections:
- summary of the key points developed in the submission.
- detailed submission.
If you have any comments on the ESR submission, please send them to:
Sean Finnigan
Phone: (09)263-9269
Post: ESR Auckland, P.O. Box 6208, Wellesley St, Auckland
Email: sean…@clear.net.nz
Further information about Waste Minimisation can be found at the Zero Waste New Zealand website: www.zerowaste.co.nz.
Transition Towns
Transitioning Oamaru
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Susan Krumdieck at Canterbury University, and a member of the Canterbury ESR Committee, has been doing some excellent work on the project of transition of communities so they can be prepared for the future when oil supplies are greatly limited and expensive. Environmentally sustainable transport networks, production capabilities, and markets will replace cheap fossil fuel systems and provide new opportunities for local enterprise. Susan ran an active research workshop in March 2008 called Transitioning Oamaru. Go to the website www.aemslab.org.nz to see the Transition Systems Engineering
project and the results of this workshop.