Medical Physics Seminar – Monday, October 23, 2023
Challenging Public Perceptions of Nuclear Science
Shelly R. Lesher, PhD
Professor & Chair of Physics, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Born in war, nuclear science was first revealed to the world in horror. The Cold War, power plant disasters, and current political tensions continue to play into people's fears of everything nuclear. Overcoming this perspective often feels like an almost insurmountable task. This presentation will focus on examining the impact of nuclear weapons, energy, and policy in society through the author's public scholarship endeavor. Topics could cover everything from the benefits of nuclear science in medicine and culture to the impact it has had on artists & musicians, human rights, and the economy.