‘Oppenheimer’s’ Impact: Mercyhurst hosts ‘Unleashing the Atom’ panel in response to growing nuclear concerns

"For better or worse, we're all living in Robert Oppenheimer's world," said Cillian Murphy in his acceptance speech for “best actor” at Sunday’s Academy Awards. "I'd like to dedicate this to the peacemakers."

The “Oppenheimer” star’s timely remarks are reflective of an upcoming panel discussion at Mercyhurst University on “Unleashing the Atom.” Free and open to the public, the program starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, in the Waterford Room of Ryan Hall.

“The increased concerns about nuclear war and climate change have led to a lot of questions about nuclear technology, and this panel aims to give people the tools to navigate these questions and concerns,” said Dr. Verna Ehret, director of the sponsoring Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Ethics and Society at Mercyhurst.

Dr. Dyan Jones will open the discussion with the basics of nuclear science in both energy and weaponry. Dr. Brian Ripley will examine nuclear weapons, and Dr. Chris Dolanc will explore the challenges of using nuclear energy as a sustainable energy.

In noting the timely nature of the presentation, Ehret explained, “Only a week ago, Russian President Vladmir Putin gave a warning to Western countries that Russia had the capability to strike targets in the West with nuclear weapons if Western countries gave military aid to Ukraine. The United States has since reached out to other countries including India and China to put pressure on Russia not to carry out nuclear strikes. Moreover, the recent extreme weather globally has led to additional concerns about fossil fuels and raises the question of the viability of nuclear energy as an alternative energy source. Navigating all these issues requires opportunities for the public to be better educated on nuclear technology itself and its applications in both weapons and energy.”

For more information on the event, contact Ehret at vehret@mercyhurst.edu.