2012 AAAS Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award goes to Fukushima investigator

[dixiegrrrrl]

2012 AAAS Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award goes to Fukushima nuclear catastrophe investigator Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa.

Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa, M.D., Chairman of the Health and Global Policy Institute, Academic Fellow of Graduate Research Institute of Policy Studies, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, and former President of the Science Council of Japan, has been named to receive the 2012 Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Dr. Kurokawa was honored by AAAS "for his contribution to society by his remarkable stewardship of an independent investigation into the causes of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe" and "for his courage in challenging some of the most ingrained conventions of Japanese governance and society."

His award-winning service followed the 11 March 2011 earthquake that triggered a devastating tsunami. The ensuing crisis included the full meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant as well as several hydrogen-air chemical explosions and releases of radioactive materials into the atmosphere, AAAS noted. As public fears and confusion escalated, the Japanese Parliament appointed an independent commission, directed by Dr. Kurokawa, to investigate the causes of the accident. During 900 hours of hearings, the Commission conducted 1,167 interviews with sources, including Japan's then-Prime Minister. The hearings were streamed live over the Internet, and presentations were archived online in Japanese and English. Dr. Kurokawa also used town hall meetings and social media to engage the public, generating more than 1700 online comments.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/aaft-2as120312.php

[truedelphi]

1. I missed seeing this the other day. Didn't know anything about the award to this man.

Thank you for keeping us in the loop.

[Bigmack]

2. Thanks for this post....

And thanks to the AAAS for recognizing this VERY impressive scientist. Ms Bigmack.