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MV Ramana

Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia

M. V. Ramana (Ph.D. Boston University; M.Sc Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur) is the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the Liu Institute for Global Issues, UBC. His research interests are in the broad areas of international security and energy supply, with a particular focus on topics related to nuclear energy and fissile materials that can be used to make nuclear weapons. He combines technical skills and interdisciplinary methods to address policy relevant questions related to security and energy issues. Ramana is the author of The Power of Promise: Examining Nuclear Energy in India, Penguin Books, New Delhi (2012).

His recent work has involved studying the multiple risks associated with the acquisition and expansion of nuclear power around the world, including the linkage with nuclear weapons, the financial risks stemming from the high capital costs of reactors, the environmental risks associated with spent fuel and long-lived radioactive waste, and safety risks as a result of the potential for severe accidents like the ones at Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011. He has also carried out critical assessments of new reactor technologies. Earlier work has included studying the effects of nuclear explosions, accidents involving nuclear weapons, and the detection of ballistic missiles.

His work has been recognized through honors such as a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2003 and the Leo Szilard Award from the American Physical Society in 2014. He is a member of the International Panel on Fissile Materials and on the editorial board of Energy Research & Social Science.

Why Ontario must rethink its nuclear refurbishment plans

Jan 07, 2020 15:45 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Ontario is working to refurbish 10 nuclear reactors at the Darlington and Bruce power plants at estimated costs of $12.8 billion and $13 billion respectively. In the months ahead, Ontario Power Generation expects to start...

Ontario can phase out nuclear and avoid increased carbon emissions

Jan 06, 2020 16:48 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

As wind and solar energy have become cheaper, theyve become a more prominent and important way to generate clean electricity in most parts of the world. The Ontario government, on the other hand, is cancelling renewable...

Canada could slow the accelerating nuclear arms race

Sep 02, 2019 23:19 pm UTC| Insights & Views

The Aug. 8 explosion at a remote missile test site in Nyonoksa in Northern Russia has been covered widely in the media. The test involved something powered by radioactive isotopes (possibly a nuclear power generator of...

The argument from cyberspace for eliminating nuclear weapons

Nov 08, 2018 16:41 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology

At the height of the Cold War in 1982, American psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton argued that the central existential fact of the nuclear age is vulnerability. That warning predated the proliferation of computers into almost...

Small nuclear power reactors: Future or folly?

Jul 25, 2017 14:46 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Nuclear energy companies are proposing small nuclear reactors as a safer and cheaper source of electricity. In June, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories put out a call for a discussion around Small Modular Reactor (SMRs) in...

Economy

Impact of Iran-Israel conflict on Stocks, Gold and Bitcoin

Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. The information provided is for general purposes only. No information, materials, services and other content provided on this page constitute a solicitation, recommendation,...

Japan Posts 7.7% Growth in Machinery Orders

In a striking development that looks set to invigorate Japans economic prospects, a key gauge of capital spending in the country has seen its most significant jump in over a year. According to Cabinet Office data released...

How cuts to marginal income tax could boost the UK’s stagnant economic growth

The British prime minister recently claimed the UK economy has turned a corner. Rishi Sunak said inflation figures were encouraging, and proclaimed that 2024 would be the year Britain bounces back. According to his...

A sustainable future begins at ground level

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a call to action in global partnership. By 2023 it appears that our progress has been far from satisfactory in achieving these...

Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what’s in it and what’s still missing

In February 2024, African heads of states adopted a draft protocol to regulate digital trade within the continent. This significant yet challenging course for Africas digital economy fits into the broader trade agreement,...

Politics

Nvidia RTX 4090D Embroiled in US-China Tech Rivalry; South Korea Navigates Chip Export Dilemma

The U.S. government has tightened export restrictions on high-performance semiconductor chips to China, including the Nvidia RTX 4090D, and is urging South Korea to enforce similar curbs, marking a significant escalation...

Canada needs a national strategy for homeless refugee claimants

One year after the federal government closed Roxham Road, refugee claims in Canada continue to increase: there were 143,785 in 2023 compared to 91,730 in 2022. The surprise announcement in March 2023 to modify Canadas...

Who will Trump pick as his running mate?

Being second in line for leadership of the most powerful country in the world is not an easy job. But for Mike Pence, vice president under Donald Trump, things were even harder than usual. As insurrectionists descended...

US and Japan Boost AI, Semiconductor Alliance; EU Eyes Reduction in China Dependence

Japan and the United States are poised to deepen ties in the high-tech sector, signaling a strategic move to enhance their global partnership with a focus on artificial intelligence and semiconductor...

US Finalizes Ban List for Chinese Chipmakers; Boosts Mexico Semiconductor Ties

The United States is finalizing a list of Chinese chip factories banned from receiving vital technology, aiming to curb Beijings tech advancements amid national security concerns. Concurrently, a US-Mexico semiconductor...

Science

If life exists on Jupiter’s moon Europa, scientists might soon be able to detect it

Europa is one of the largest of more than 90 moons in orbit around the planet Jupiter. It is also one of the best places to look for alien life. Often termed an ocean world by scientists, observations to date strongly...

Exploding stars are rare but emit torrents of radiation − if one happened close enough to Earth, it could threaten life on the planet

Stars like the Sun are remarkably constant. They vary in brightness by only 0.1% over years and decades, thanks to the fusion of hydrogen into helium that powers them. This process will keep the Sun shining steadily for...

An eclipse for everyone – how visually impaired students can ‘get a feel for’ eclipses

Many people in the U.S. will have an opportunity to witness nearly four minutes of a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, as it moves from southern Texas to Maine. But in the U.S., over 7 million people are blind...

How do airplanes fly? An aerospace engineer explains the physics of flight

Airplane flight is one of the most significant technological achievements of the 20th century. The invention of the airplane allows people to travel from one side of the planet to the other in less than a day, compared...

The mystery of consciousness shows there may be a limit to what science alone can achieve

The progress of science in the last 400 years is mind-blowing. Who would have thought wed be able to trace the history of our universe to its origins 14 billion years ago? Science has increased the length and the quality...

Technology

Geopolitical Tensions Trigger Crypto Market Crash; Bitcoin, Ether Prices Tumble

Following reports of Israeli missile strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory drone attacks by Iran on Israel, major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ether, have seen sharp declines. Bitcoin dropped 2.64% to...

Apple Pulls WhatsApp, Threads from China Store; US Moves to Force TikTok Sale

Apple has removed WhatsApp and Threads from its China App Store following government orders, amid escalating tensions over app security. Concurrently, US Congress advances legislation requiring TikToks Chinese owner,...

Bitcoin Holders Transfer $1.7 Billion to Accumulation Wallets Amid Price Drop

In a bold display of confidence, Bitcoin investors moved a record $1.7 billion into accumulation wallets as the cryptocurrencys price dipped below $63,000 on April 16, highlighting a surge in buying during the market...

TSMC to Hike Prices for Chips Made Outside Taiwan, Impacting Global Device Costs

TSMC, the worlds leading chipmaker, announced that chips manufactured outside of Taiwan, such as those from its new Arizona plant, will cost more. This move could lead to higher prices for consumer electronics...

Canada Set to Enforce OECD Crypto Tax Standards by 2026

Canada has announced plans to adopt the OECDs Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) by 2026, aligning with global efforts to standardize cryptocurrency taxation. The move aims to enhance transparency and regulatory...