2009 Report to Government on National Research and

strategic challenge on Environment, Energy and Resilience, one of only seven.
CoRWM asked RCEP representatives, specifically, whether or not ESRC was
funding work in<strong>to</strong> the public understanding of the scientific, social and ethical
issues surrounding long-term radioactive waste management and, in particular,
issues relating <strong>to</strong> management in the face of considerable scientific uncertainty
and issues of intergenerational equity. In addition, since public and stakeholder
engagement (PSE) is regarded as a given in many radioactive waste
programmes <strong>to</strong>day, CoRWM asked ESRC whether or not it was funding research
in<strong>to</strong> the impact of PSE on the decision-making process and/or on the most
appropriate ways <strong>to</strong> undertake PSE in this area. In its response, made prior <strong>to</strong>
the revision of its strategic plan, ESRC noted (CoRWM doc. 2524) that “current
investment in this area is limited, but there may be greater opportunities <strong>to</strong>
explore new agenda in the near future”.
3.67 STFC was formed in 2007 by merging the Particle Physics & Astronomy
Research Council and the Council for the Central Labora<strong>to</strong>ry of the Research
Councils. With an annual budget of around £500M, STFC funds research in
astronomy and nuclear and particle physics. It also provides the research
community with access <strong>to</strong> large facilities at two principal UK sites, the Daresbury
and Harwell Science and Innovation Campuses, as well as at the Institute Laue
Langevin (ILL) and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in
Grenoble. Harwell is home <strong>to</strong> ISIS, the world's most powerful pulsed neutron and
muon source, which is used <strong>to</strong> study the a<strong>to</strong>mic structure of materials; Vulcan,
the world's highest intensity focused laser; and the Diamond synchrotron, in
which STFC has an 86% share. The Cockcroft Institute at Daresbury focuses on
designing the next generation of particle accelera<strong>to</strong>rs.
3.68 There is a long his<strong>to</strong>ry of experiments using small quantities of transuranic
materials at ISIS and ILL. ISIS is currently working with EPSRC grant holders <strong>to</strong>
support their experimental programme in radioactive waste management.
Diamond currently permits experimental work with samples with low levels of
radioactivity. It is reviewing what needs <strong>to</strong> be done <strong>to</strong> respond <strong>to</strong> future demands
of the scientific community, whether this be with transuranic materials or higher
activity levels (Section 5).
EU Research Funding
3.69 All aspects of nuclear fission R&D, including work on wasteforms and geological
disposal, have been supported over many years at the European Union (EU)
level. There have been eight European A<strong>to</strong>mic Energy Community programmes
since 1975, and since 1984 these have been integrated in<strong>to</strong> the broader EU
Framework Programmes (FPs), of which there have been seven. His<strong>to</strong>rically, the
UK was an active participant in EU programmes, particularly through BGS and
the United Kingdom A<strong>to</strong>mic Energy Authority (UKAEA). Following the shift in UK
focus <strong>to</strong> ILW, including the formation of Nirex, and organisational changes in
UKAEA in the 1980s, then the hiatus in UK work on disposal of higher activity
wastes after 1997, UK involvement in FPs declined significantly. <strong>Report</strong>s from the
FPs, especially FP4 <strong>to</strong> FP6, contain research results and overviews that could
now be useful <strong>to</strong> the UK.
CoRWM Document 2543, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber <strong>2009</strong> Page 42 of 151