Edwin S. Lyman | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | New York University,Cornell University |
| Awards | Leo Szilard Lectureship Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics, Nuclear power and safety issues |
| Institutions | Union of Concerned Scientists,Nuclear Control Institute,Princeton University |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 “Edwin Lyman”,Union of Concerned Scientists | |
| Debating nuclear risks with Ed Lyman, The Rational View, April 24, 2021 | |
| Edwin Lyman on Nuclear Power Safety, C-SPAN/Washington Journal, March 31, 2019 | |
| UCS Senior Scientist Edwin Lyman explains the nuclear crisis in Japan, Rachel Maddow show, March 11, 2011 -- Lyman starts around 6 minutes. |
Edwin S. Lyman is aphysicist and the Director of Nuclear Power Safety with theUnion of Concerned Scientists (UCS). He specializes innuclear proliferation,nuclear terrorism, andnuclear power safety.[1]
Lyman has published extensively in journals and magazines, testified before Congress and advised other government groups, and been cited in many news stories. He acted as an expert analyst for damage to theFukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami[2] and co-authoredFukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster (New Press, 2014).[3]
Lyman earned his A.B. in physics atNew York University in 1986. AtCornell University he received his M.Sc. in 1990 and his Ph.D. in physics in 1992.[3][4] He focused onstring theory andhigh energy physics, preferring research with few military applications.[2]
From 1992 to 1995, Lyman did postdoctoral research on science and security policy atPrinceton University in the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies (later the Science and Global Security Program). One of the questions he considered was how to deal with post-Cold Warplutonium. He and his colleagues sought ways to turn it into a stable waste form for disposal.[2][3]
From 1995 to 2003, Lyman worked for theNuclear Control Institute, where he promoted conversion of reactors from highly enriched to low-enriched uranium, which is not directly weapon-usable. He also advised on the protection of nuclear sites from terrorist attacks.He became president of the Institute in 2001.[2][3]
In 2003, Lyman joined theUnion of Concerned Scientists (UCS) as a senior scientist[3] later becoming the Director of Nuclear Power Safety.[1]
Lyman publishes extensively in journals and magazines, and has advised Congress and other government groups on a variety of topics relating to nuclear power, nuclear weapons and safety.[4]He has recommended that the U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) implement safety and security upgrades to prevent the possibility of terrorist attacks.[5][6] Given the events ofSeptember 11 he describes NRC delays in doing so an "ominous trend".[5]
Following the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami Lyman served as an expert analyst on damage to theFukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.[2] He is a co-author withDavid Lochbaum andSusan Q. Stranahan ofFukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster (New Press, 2014).[3][2]
Lyman is a member of theInstitute of Nuclear Materials Management and theAmerican Nuclear Society.[3]
In 2018, Lyman was awarded the 2018Leo Szilard Lectureship Award from theAmerican Physical Society "for using his technical expertise and tireless advocacy to maintain and strengthen U.S. policy on nuclear nonproliferation and reactor safety and security."[3][7]