Edinburgh University keen to join hands with CSIR-NCL

Scientist Jason Love while visiting CSIR-NCL, in Pune.

Chemistry scientists from University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry (UK), recently visited Pune based Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) and expressed interest in doing collaborative research projects, especially on using thorium for generation of nuclear power.

As part of a science road show organised by University of Edinburgh (UK) recently in Delhi, Chennai and in Pune at CSIR-NCL, three chemistry scientists Jason Love, Colin Pulham and Stephen Thomas were in India to discuss about sustainable ways to develop energy generation.

The scientists from Edinburgh had a meeting with CSIR-NCL researchers and representatives with special interest in India’s plans to develop a nuclear power industry based on thorium, a radioactive metal of which India has large reserves.

A reader in inorganic chemistry and with research interests in sustainable chemistry and energy, Jason Love, while talking to DNA, said, “Our idea is to explore collaborative research work in sustainable chemistry and looking for any degree of overlap in our areas of research work wherein we can compliment each other. This will help us to attack big problems in chemistry sciences.” He confirmed that their first meeting with CSIR-NCL researchers and representatives was positive.

Love informed that India has one of the largest reserves of thorium, along with US, Norway and Australia.

“There are various issues with using uranium as a source for nuclear energy because its reserves are estimated to last not more than 100 years. Thorium is much more abundant in nature than uranium, which can last for over 1,000 years. However, there are still scientific issues with using thorium for generating nuclear energy,” he said.

He added that India is carrying research for developing thorium-based reactors for generation of power and they are excited about the on going research work at CSIR-NCL. (DNA)