At the end of last week I did a lightening tour to Lund in Sweden to visit The European Spallation Source ESS and to talk to University students about the challenges of modern diplomacy.

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ESS is a major European research project that will use cutting edge nuclear
physics to develop the new materials of tomorrow. The technology in laymans
terms is similar to that used by CERN near where we live in Geneva. A particle accelerator
bombards a metal source (actually molten metal) with a beam of electrons then
the beam is guided on to a material, which can be anything from a living tissue
to a new composite. Complicated maths and computer processing allow the
scientists to reconstruct a highly detailed "picture" of the
material. In terms of our ability to observe the very smallest level of matter
ESS when it is completed will be equivalent to the difference between taking a
photograph using a candle to light a room and using a flashgun to do so.

Not only is it always inspiring to talk to scientists, but as we tackle the
challenges of non-proliferation we need to understand their perspectives and
how the peaceful use of nuclear physics is likely to develop. I should stress
that accelerator technology has as far as we can judge no risk at all of
proliferation; indeed as I have discussed in earlier blogs the use of this
technology in what are known as “energy amplifiers” might in the long term lead
to “Proliferation proof” civil nuclear power.

In
the evening I gave a talk to students at Lund University about modern diplomacy
and how the 21st Century’s increasingly interdependent and
interconnected world is impacting upon those who attempt to play traditional
power politics. I will try to put this presentation out on the net within the
next week or so. As always the students were full of awkward and left-field
questions, but that’s mainly why I enjoy doing such events and the hope that
some will carry that passion to change the world into future diplomatic
careers.



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