By Leong Wai Kit
Well, Singapore currently has no plans to use nuclear energy, but it does want to build its expertise in nuclear technology and nuclear safety, so it has come up with a 10-year plan starting with $63 million set aside for the first five years.
There are now only a handful of nuclear experts in Singapore, so the plan is to develop some 100 nuclear scientists and engineers in 10 years. And, by about 2024, its hoped these scientists will be experts in three areas: radiochemistry, radiobiology and risk assessment.
These plans were announced today by the National Research Foundation, or NRF. Its rolling out the program as part of plans for Singapore to keep 1)abreast of nuclear technology developments in the region.
Prof. Low Teck Seng (Nanyang Technological University): Many of our neighbours are also looking[at] nuclear technology, and it is important for us to be aware, to be knowledgeable, and as such, be able to assess the technology and its impact on Singapore, be it in terms of the potential that it has for us, in terms of the risk that we face, as well as the ability to 2)harness its potential in every aspects[sic].
新加坡目前還沒有使用核能的規(guī)劃,不過該國確有打算加強其在核技術(shù)與核安全方面的專業(yè)技能,并為此提出了一個十年計劃,撥出6300萬新加坡元作為頭五年的資金。
新加坡目前只有為數(shù)不多的核技術(shù)專家,因而計劃在十年內(nèi)培養(yǎng)出上百名核科學(xué)家及核工程師。到2024年前后,該國希望這些科學(xué)家能夠成為放射化學(xué)、放射生物學(xué)以及核風(fēng)險評估等三個領(lǐng)域的專家。
新加坡國立研究基金會(NRF)在今天(4月23日)公布了上述計劃。新加坡為跟上所在地區(qū)核技術(shù)的發(fā)展制訂了一系列規(guī)劃,該基金會所開展的項目正是其中一部分。
劉德成教授(南洋理工大學(xué)):我們的不少鄰國也在謀求核技術(shù)的發(fā)展。重要的是我們要意識到這一點,掌握核技術(shù),并且不管是涉及核技術(shù)為我們所用的可能、我們會面臨的風(fēng)險,還是在各個方面應(yīng)用核技術(shù)的可能性,我們都要有能力對核技術(shù)及其對新加坡的影響作出評估。
The nuclear safety research and education program is made up of two components: one, the Singapore nuclear research and safety initiative, and, two, the nuclear education and training fund.
For a start, the National University of Singapore will roll out a new undergraduate minor in medical physics next January. For this minor, physics and engineering students can 3)opt for nuclear physics subjects that can be applied in medicine, such as imaging techniques like magnetic 4)resonance imaging, or MRI, or CT scans. Therell also be post-graduate scholarships for students to pursue nuclear technology studies overseas. And NRF is also looking into public education to strengthen awareness of the benefits and safety aspects of nuclear technology.
這個核安全研究及教育項目由兩部分構(gòu)成:一是新加坡核能研究及核安全倡議;二是核能教育培訓(xùn)基金。
作為第一步,新加坡國立大學(xué)將于明年一月在醫(yī)學(xué)物理學(xué)科推出新的本科副修課程。選修這門課的物理系、工程系學(xué)生能夠選讀適用于醫(yī)學(xué)領(lǐng)域的核物理學(xué)課程,比如磁共振成像(MRI)或者CT掃描這類成像技術(shù)。該計劃還會發(fā)放研究生獎學(xué)金,鼓勵學(xué)生出國進(jìn)行核技術(shù)方面的深造。與此同時,新加坡國立研究基金會正著眼于開展公眾教育,務(wù)求在核技術(shù)的好處及核安全方面提高民眾的認(rèn)識。