British Nuclear Energy Society

The Organization

The British Nuclear Energy Society (BNES) calls itself the "leading learned body for all persons interested in nuclear energy". In reality it is a Westminster-based lobby group set up to promote nuclear power. The organization has close links to nuclear companies including BNFL and British Energy and Supporters of Nuclear Energy gives its contact details C/O its address. [1]

On December 5, 2004, The Independent on Sunday reports:

The Energy minister, Mike O'Brien, says the Government is not partisan about nuclear energy. After the Nuclear Industry Association/British Nuclear Energy Society annual conference on Thursday, he said the market, not the Government, must decide whether we need more generation capacity, and what kind.[2]

The Young Generation Network (YGN)

BNES is part of the YGN - an international network of young engineers and scientists established by the European Nuclear Society.

The current chair is Becky Ferris UKAEA; Neil Crewdson British Nuclear Group, (Sellafield) is Co-Chair along with Miranda Kirschel from the Nuclear Industry Association.

The Trustees

• Dr Sue Ion - President & Chairman

• M.Allen - Institution of Electrical Engineers

• T. Aves - Ex-officio, Chairman Western Branch

• P. Beeley - Institution of Nuclear Engineers

• C.M.Collings - Elected & past-Chairman of YGN

• V.S. Crocker - Institute of Physics

• Ian Currie - Elected, works for AMEC-NNC

• P. Dolan - Ex-officio, Editor Nuclear Energy

• J.Earp - Vice-President

• A.J.Fawkes - Institution of Mechanical Engineers

• M.J. Grave - Ex-officio, Chairman SIG

• T. Grimshaw - Institution of Incorporated Engineers

• J.E. Harris - Institute of Materials

• C. Hodge - Institute of Marine Engineers

• G.E.C.Jenkins - Ex-officio, Immediate Past President

• J Jones - Chairman of the Events Committee

• W.S. Jones - Institution of Electrical Engineers

• T.B. Kelly - Institution of Chemical Engineers

• E.A. Little - Institute of Materials

• M.G. Lyons - Elected

• E Morgan-Warren - Institution of Nuclear Engineers

• Keith Parker - Nuclear Industry Association

• M Pick - Royal Society of Chemistry

• J. Riding - Institution of Civil Engineers

• A.E. Sheil - Ex-officio, Chairman North West Branch

• P Spare - Institute of Energy

• P.J. Thomas - Institute of Measurement & Control

• P.C. Upson - Institution of Chemical Engineers

• C. Waker - Institution of Mechanical Engineers

• C. Walker -Institution of Incorporated Engineers

• D.R.Weaver -Elected

• J Williams - Chairman Central England Branch

• A Worrell - Elected

• N.G. Worley -Institute of Energy

• I.M. Andrews -Secretary

Spinning Pro-Nuke Universities

In July 2005, BNES was given £10,000 by BNFL towards its newly established "Education and Training Fund". The Society was seeking money for this "important subject particularly with what I am sure will be the renaissance of new build", acccording to Ian Andrews, the Secretary of BNES. [I. Andrews (2005) Letter to Pauline Deans, 12 July]

The money came with slight strings attached from BNFL. According to Pauline Deans, Community Affairs from BNFL, "due to our significant presence in the North West and Cumbria in particular, we would wish to see a fair proportion of the beneficiaries from these areas."

Because of BNFL's "most generous" donation, the money "will enable the Society to pursue one of its important aims, namely education and training. We are hoping to establish prizes at those Universities which offer a nuclear sicence course, and this coming summer the Society is sponsoring two graduates to attend the World Nuclear University's Summer School at Idaho Falls". [Secretary (2005), Letter to Rob Jarvis, 7 June]

Spinning Pro-Nuclear Schools

BNES and the Institute of Nuclear Engineers offer a school sponsorship scheme. In 2005 the schools selected to take part in the project where they receive £500 were:

• Bury Grammer School (girls);

• Carr Hill High School, Kirkham;

• Culcheth High School;

• Great Sankey High School, Warrington;

• Knutsford High School;

• Rivington and Blacrod High School, Horwich;

• St. John Almond Catholic High School, Liverpool

Contact information

1 Great George Street,
London, SW1P 3AA.
Tel: 020 7665 2241
Fax: 020 7799 1325
Web: http://www.bnes.com/

Related Articles

• Robert Blackhurst, Your Planet: Clouding the atmosphere, The Independent, 19 September, 2005
• Tim Webb, Reborn: nuclear energy prepares for a second chance, Independent on Sunday, 5 December, 2004

P. Deans, Letter to Ian Andrews, BNES (pdf), 11 July, 2005.