ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The idea for this book arose from the college class on radiation biology that I taught for many years, though I was always too busy teaching and mentoring graduate students to write it. When I retired I finally had the time to do it. I want to first acknowledge my students over the years who have been at the core of my scientific life. They have inspired me and challenged me. Working with them has been the greatest pleasure of my career and has made my life fulfilling. Without them, this book would never have been written.

Scientific colleagues in my department at Colorado State University have read chapters or the entire book and made invaluable comments. Ward Whicker, an internationally renowned radioecologist, colleague, and friend, read every chap­ter as it was written and made sure my scientific facts were accurate. His positive comments strongly encouraged me to keep writing until it was done. Joel Bedford, an internationally renowned radiation biologist, colleague, and friend, was my postdoctoral advisor and has always been a scientific mentor. He taught me how to grow mammalian cells and do radiation biology experiments. He read parts of the book, particularly the chapter on radiation biology, and made sure it accu­rately portrayed the scientific understanding of how radiation damages DNA and cells. Of course, any errors I have made are my own, not theirs. John Pinder gave lectures in my undergraduate class on radiation in the environment, particularly the radioisotopes released after a nuclear accident. I learned much from him, as is reflected in the chapter on accidents. He also contributed a figure for the book. Tom Borak helped my understanding of radiation physics and also contributed a figure for the book.

Friends and family have made equally important contributions to the book. Hans West faithfully read the entire manuscript and made numerous and impor­tant comments from his diverse perspectives that have improved the book. Judy Mohler read every chapter and gave the perspective of a non-scientist who is deeply concerned about the environment. Her comments helped to ensure that the book would be accessible to a non-scientific audience. My thanks also go to Gary Fox, Steve Mohler, Terri Torres, Mitch Magdovitz, and Jennifer Magdovitz, who read and commented on one or more chapters.

I am indebted to various people who led me on tours through various nuclear installations and coal-fired power plants and/or provided technical information. These include Tom Moreau at the Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station, and Jon Little and Dave Ussery at the Rawhide Energy Station. Michael McMahon gave me a tour of AREVAs La Hague recycling plant in France. Joe Faldowski gave me a tour of AREVAs Melox plant, which uses the plutonium recycled at the La Hague plant to make MOX fuel. Both Michael and Joe read the chapter on nuclear waste and made numerous and excellent comments. Richard Clement of Powertech read the chapter on uranium and made sure my information about in situ uranium mining and the uranium market was accurate. Maxim Orel was my guide to see the Exclusion Zone around Chernobyl.

I am deeply indebted to Mary Ann, my wife of many years, who has always sup­ported me through the ups and downs of my career. She read many chapters of the book and alerted me when my writing was unclear or too technical. She also kept a flow of news items related to nuclear or renewable energy coming my way. More than that, she has been the guiding light of my life.

Finally, I thank my agent Stan Wakefield for finding a publisher for my book and my editor Jeremy Lewis for promoting my book at Oxford University Press.

Why We Need Nuclear Power