From cancer treatments that save lives to energy solutions dividing the nation, Nuclear Matters explores Australia's nuclear past, present, and future with the help of experts actively working on these issues.
Nuclear Matters is a production of the Australian National University (ANU) College of Systems and Society. Its creator, host and lead producer is Liz Williams, Nuclear Systems Discipline Lead for the ANU School of Engineering.
Social license and nuclear technologies, with Dr Cathy Moloney
A/Prof Elizabeth Williams interviews Dr Cathy Moloney, exploring the meaning and utility of "social license" for nuclear technologies.
1 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Nuclear submarine supply chains and workforce readiness, with Mark Schneider
Host Liz Williams interviews UBH Group Chief Nuclear Officer Mark Schneider about nuclear submarine supply chains and workforce readiness, exploring the ISO 19443 standard's role in Australia's AUKUS contribution.
28 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
Turning nuclear science into gold, with Dr James Tickner
A/Prof Elizabeth Williams interviews Dr. James Tickner, Chief Scientist and Co-founder of Chrysos Corporation, about revolutionizing gold mining measurement with nuclear science.
1 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
How seismology helps the world detect nuclear weapons tests (amongst other things), with Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić
Host A/Prof Elizabeth Williams interviews Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić about how seismology detects nuclear tests and explores Earth's interior.
27 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
Nuclear Testing in a No-Test World: Verification, Politics, and Risk – with Prof Trevor Findlay
A/Prof Liz Williams interviews nuclear governance expert Professor Trevor Findlay about the history and implications of nuclear testing verification in a world where testing may resume.
29 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
What are theranostics, and how are they used to treat cancer? With Dr Ashleigh Hull and Dr Stephen Tronchin
Host Elizabeth Williams interviews Dr. Ashleigh Hull and Dr. Stephen Tronchin about theranostics, exploring its cancer treatment applications and supply chain challenges.
7 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
New season of Nuclear Matters begins end of April
We thought we'd share a sneak peek of the new season of Nuclear Matters. The first full episode is coming at the end of April. If you haven't already subscribed to the feed, what are you waiting for? The Apple Podcasts link is here (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/nuclear-matters/id1807002281) if that's where you prefer to find us (and while you're at it, please leave us a review or some feedback - it helps us keep this going!).
While you wait, you can keep up with Australian National University's work on all things nuclear by following the ANU Nuclear Stewardship Network on LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/company/anu-nuclear-stewardship).
Thanks to Martin Franklin from East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au) for the audio production of this teaser.
As always, the views shared on this podcast are for your education and enjoyment only, and are the speakers' own. They should not be taken as representative of the views of the Australian National University or any of its business units.
25 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Citizen science and nuclear technologies, with Michiel Van Oudheusden
Associate Professor Michiel Van Oudheusden discusses citizen science's role in governing nuclear technologies, drawing from initiatives in Japan and the EU, in an interview with Liz Williams.
29 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Exploring nuclear safeguards cultures, with Prof Trevor Findlay
Professor Trevor Findlay examines the cultural assumptions and institutional norms that shape nuclear inspector operations and influence the effectiveness of global non-proliferation efforts in an interview with Liz Williams.
30 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT
S01E06: How does plutonium behave in marine environments? - with Madison Williams-Hoffman
Madison Williams-Hoffman, a postdoctoral fellow, discusses her research on how plutonium from nuclear weapons tests moves through the marine environment of Montebello Island in an interview with Liz Williams.
26 Aug 2025
S01E05: Trust, technology, and radioactive waste, with Nate Smith
Host Elizabeth Williams interviews Tellus CEO and Managing Director Nate Smith about establishing radioactive waste facilities, consent-based siting, and building trust in Australia.
29 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Supporting nuclear education, with Dr AJ Mitchell
Dr. AJ Mitchell discusses how nuclear science education fosters international collaboration, specifically highlighting experiences in Myanmar and Cambodia, in an interview with Liz Williams.
24 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT
S01E03: Securing nuclear technologies, with Jaz Diab
Jasmin Diab, Managing Director, discusses securing nuclear technologies and how experts navigate changes in technology and geopolitics in an interview with Liz Williams.
27 May 2025TRANSCRIPT
Treating cancer with nuclear technologies, with Professor Eva Bezak
Professor Eva Bezak discusses nuclear technologies' vital role in cancer treatments, including radiation therapy, charged particle beams, and accelerator-based treatments, in an interview with Liz Williams.
28 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT
S01E01: Australia's nuclear history, with Dr Jessica Urwin
Join us as we dive deep into Australia's complex nuclear history with Dr. Jessica Urwin from the University of Tasmania. In this episode, we explore what "responsible use" of nuclear technologies truly means for a nation whose nuclear footprint began long before the Nuclear Age began.
Dr Urwin's work focuses on how the nation's contributions to global nuclear activities have impacted Aboriginal communities in South Australia - and how these communities' experiences continue to shape discussions about Australia's relationship with nuclear technologies today.
Guest bio:
Dr Jessica Urwin (https://discover.utas.edu.au/Jessica.Urwin) is a Lecturer in Environmental History in the University of Tasmania's School of Humanities. She recently finished her PhD in History at the Australian National University, and is releasing her first book - Contaminated Country: Nuclear Colonialism and Aboriginal Resistance in Australia (https://uwapress.uw.edu/book/9780295753782/contaminated-country/) - with Washington University Press.
Credits:
Guest: Dr Jessica Urwin (University of Tasmania)
Host: A/Prof Liz Williams (ANU)
Audio producer: Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au))
Acknowledgements:
The production of this podcast is supported by the Australian National University College of Systems and Society.
Feedback: We love feedback. Feel free to share your thoughts about this episode on Apple Podcasts, or contact us directly via email (mailto:nuclearmatterspodcast@anu.edu.au).
Notes on content, use and contact details:
This episode is marked as containing explicit content because it discusses nuclear weapons testing and their impacts on Aboriginal communities in Australia. This content may not be appropriate for young listeners.
We have created this podcast for our educational programs, and are keen to make sure everyone interested in learning more about this topic has access to this information and can share it with others. You are free to use this podcast for non-commercial uses, provided that you attribute this podcast as the original source and do not modify the content.
Please contact us via email (link above) for permission if you wish to use this podcast in any other way.
Disclaimer:
This podcast is intended for information and education only. The views and opinions expressed in each episode are those of the individual speakers and do not represent the official policy or position of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society or the University as a whole.
6 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT
Nuclear Matters - a new podcast from the Australian National University
What roles should nuclear technologies play in our world? If and when we choose to use them – how do we do so safely, securely, and responsibly?
Nuclear Matters is a new podcast from the Australian National University College of Systems and Society, hosted by Liz Williams (Nuclear Systems Discipline Lead, ANU School of Engineering). Listen in for a sneak peak about the season of episodes to come.
Want to get in touch? Email us at nuclearmatterspodcast@anu.edu.au (mailto:nuclearmatterspodcast@anu.edu.au).
Credits
Host and producer: Liz Williams (ANU (https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/elizabeth-williams-2))
Audio producer: Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au/))
Inside a recent episode
Social license and nuclear technologies, with Dr Cathy Moloney
Published 14 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And that unfamiliarity has really generated a lot of caution amongst people. And it's not irrational. It goes back to me sort of going, I rationally know and have been told by very, very experienced people and people that I trust. But I still have that kind of gut feeling because it's a cultural thing, it's historical and it's emotional. And so for many Australians, that sort of nuclear space carries that emotional baggage that we have to be really careful of. And we have to have industry understand, particularly those coming into Australia. So when I was talking about, to this group of really amazing people who are, you know, titans of their industry and, and, and senior officers in, you know, U S Australian and British, um, defense forces. […]
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