Page 27 - IB December 2022

Nuclear

Fukushima tanks

SCIENTISTS CHALLENGE JAPAN

Record ranking for AUT OCEAN DUMPING PLAN

new water during the process. This would
By Nic Maclellan
impact not only the interests and reputa-
In early 2023, Japan plans to begin dumping 1.3 million tion of the Japanese fishing community,
AUT has for the first time been ranked New Zealand’s this has been reflected in the latest international tonnes of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima among others, but also the people and
second placed university in the prestigious Times Higher rankings.” nuclear reactor into the Pacific Ocean. Fiercely opposed by countries of the entire Pacific region. This
Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023. According to the 2023 THE World University Rankings, local fishermen, seaweed farmers and residents near Fuku- needs to be considered as a transboundary
The result in the THE rankings also further cements AUT is ranked: shima, the nuclear dumping plan has also been challenged by and transgenerational issue.”
AUT’s place as one of the world’s highest ranked • 2nd overall in New Zealand the Pacific Islands Forum and neighbouring states like China The scientists argue there is insufficient
universities with it placed among the top 300 globally. • In the top 251-300 universities globally and South Korea. Dr Arjun Makhijani information to assess potential impacts on
AUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damon Salesa, says • Equal 1st in New Zealand and equal 24th in the Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority has given the initial environmental and human health and issu-
the rankings were underpinned by the university’s world for International Outlook go ahead for construction of pipelines to dump the waste. ing a permit at this time would be premature at best: “Having
strong performance in areas such as international • 1st in New Zealand and 53rd in the world for However a growing number of scientists are raising their voice studied the scientific and ecological aspects of the matter, we
outlook, research excellence and academic citations. Global Research Impact (Citations) about the long-term hazards of dumping more than a mil- have concluded that the decision to release the contaminated
lion tonnes of water containing radioactive isotopes into the
water should be indefinitely postponed and other options for
“To be officially recognised as New Zealand’s outright “While this success deserves to be celebrated, what Pacific. the tank water revisited until we have more complete data
second ranked university for the first time is a significant we are most proud of is that despite all the challenges In the face of repeated Japanese pledges that the dumping to evaluate the economic, environmental and human health
achievement for AUT as the country’s youngest of the past few years we have continued to deliver on of treated wastewater will be safe for health and environ- costs of ocean release.”
university,” Professor Salesa says. what matters most: providing an exceptional learning ment, island leaders have sought scientific support to boost At the 2022 Pacific Islands Forum summit in Fiji, leaders re-
“To again be ranked as New Zealand’s top placed environment for all our students and producing world- their efforts to halt the program. Earlier this year, Forum iterated “strong concerns for the significance of the potential
university for research impact and international outlook class research that is having an impact in New Zealand leaders announced the membership of an independent threat of nuclear contamination to the health and security of
reflects the huge amount of hard work put in by our staff and throughout the world,” Professor Salesa says. five-member scientific panel to interrogate Japanese safety the Blue Pacific, its people and prospects, and reaffirmed the
over the past few years, and is a big reason why students The Times Higher Education World University claims. importance of ensuring international consultation, interna-
from over 100 countries choose to study at AUT every Rankings was founded in 2004 and provides a definitive Submitting their findings to the Pacific Islands Forum last tional law, and independent and verifiable scientific assess-
year. list of the world’s best universities and uses performance August, the expert panel have outlined detailed concerns over ments.”
Last month, Forum Secretary General Henry Puna rein-
“Everything we do at AUT is driven by a commitment indicators on research, citations, industry incomes, the project, arguing the decision to proceed should be post- forced regional concern that there was still inadequate scien-
poned. In a memo to Forum member governments, the expert
to develop great graduates and build a better future for teaching, and international outlook. scientific panel concluded that “Japan’s proposals on ecologi- tific data to justify the start of ocean waste dumping.
Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond, and it is wonderful cal impact and bioconcentration are seriously deficient and do “Experts have advised a deferment to the impending
not provide a sound basis for estimating impact.” discharge into the Pacific Ocean by Japan is necessary,” Puna
Writing in the Japan Times, the five scientists noted that said. “Based on that advice, our members encourage consid-
For further information on AUT’s rankings, visit AUT’s World Rankings page: “the release of contaminated material from the Fukushima eration for options other than discharge, while the indepen-
https://www.aut.ac.nz/about/rankings-and-accreditation No. 1 nuclear power plant would take at least 40 years, and dent panel of experts continue to further assess of the safety
decades longer if you include the anticipated accumulation of of the discharge in light of the current data gaps.”

Islands Business, December 2022 27