Ramana is a professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where he researches and lectures on disarmament, global security, and nuclear physics. He is a member of the International Panel on Fissile Materials and the Canadian Pugwash Group, sits on the International Nuclear Risk Assessment Group, and plays a central role in the annual World Nuclear Industry Status Report. He has received numerous international awards and has published several books, most notably Nuclear is not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change . In March 2026, together with Susan O'Donnell, he published the report "Eight years on the roadmap: Assessing small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Canada." A good example of Ramana's talks is the podcast Pronuclear propaganda and our future .
In 2018, Canada published a roadmap for developing small modular reactors (SMRs) across the country, to have the first demonstration reactor in operation by 2026 (CEDAR PROJECT). However, significant private financing has failed to materialize for most of the ten SMR designs, and only one design — the BWRX-300 in Darlington, Ontario — is under active development.
This event is a unique opportunity to clarify questions related to the Nuclear Power Committee's recommendation, which is currently before the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) and has a public consultation deadline in early October. Following Ramana's lecture, there will be a panel discussion moderated by Ada Amilia Skjensvold, deputy leader of Nature and Youth (Natur og Ungdom), with panelists including Ole Reistad from Det Norske Veritas and the University of Oslo, and Ingeborg Mork-Knutsen from the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. The event will close with a Q&A from the audience.
Program at Litteraturhuset
- Welcome/introduction
- Ramana's lecture (in English) (45 min)
- Short break
- Panel discussion
- Q&A from the audience
- Closing
Panel participants
Ole Reistad is a Senior Principal Scientist at DNV (Det Norske Veritas) and an Adjunct Professor (Professor II) affiliated with the NNRC (Norwegian Nuclear Research Centre) at the University of Oslo, where he serves as the principal researcher for Research Theme 3 (nuclear simulations). He has previously served as a section head at the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), Head of Safety at IFE (Institute for Energy Technology) for the research reactors at Kjeller and Halden, and Reactor Manager at Kjeller until its closure in 2018.
Ingeborg Mork-Knutsen is a Department Director at the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), responsible for key technical and regulatory areas within radiation protection and nuclear safety, including nuclear power. Ingeborg has extensive experience in public administration and international environmental cooperation.
Terje Kollbotn is a Member of Parliament and a member of the Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment representing the Red Party (Rødt)—serving as a substitute for Sofie Marhaug, who is on maternity leave. Based in Odda, he is a trade union leader and a former county council representative for the Red Party, having served multiple terms in Hordaland and subsequently in Vestland County Council.
Moderator Ada Amilia Skjensvold is the Deputy Leader of Nature and Youth/Young Friends of the Earth (Natur og Ungdom).
