As Energy Minister, Doris Leuthard played a key role in the nuclear phase-out.
Switzerland is planning a deep geological repository to safely dispose of the nation's high-level radioactive waste. Nagra is proposing Stadel, located in the north of Canton Zürich, as the repository site – but around 100 years will pass before it can go into operation. This is a huge project with scientific, social, political and cultural dimensions. The questions that arise within the context of this project of the century are correspondingly diverse. "500m+", Nagra's Podcast of the Century, explores these questions and has invited politicians, scientists and cultural experts to its studio in Stadel. In interviews with Hannes Hug, they explain their own personal and professional perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of the deep geological repository.
As CEO of Nagra, Matthias Braun leads the deep repository project in Stadel.
The future is what we make of it, believes Jeannie Schneider.
How do you manage a deep repository project? Thomas Meyer relies on creativity.
As Energy Minister, Doris Leuthard played a key role in the nuclear phase-out.
Waste is a central theme for Roman Köster, author of "Trash. A Dirty History of Humanity."
Anna Deplazes advises the Federal Council on disposal and site selection.
Edgar Hagen questions the safety of Earth's deep places and seeks new solutions.
Dominic Roser thinks in millennia. He shows how small changes shape the future.
What will happen to the deep repository site? Andrea Schär turns to cultural symbols.
Rony Emmenegger connects geology and society, fostering discussions.
As CEO of Nagra, Matthias Braun is the senior executive responsible for the deep geological repository in Stadel. How do you approach a major project such as this? How do you get as many stakeholders as possible on board? Braun relies on well-established facts, transparency and dialogue. And, of course, geology – which
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The future is what we make of it, says Jeannie Schneider with conviction. As a partner of the Think & Do Tank Dezentrum, she researches the interface between technology, politics and society. But how to design processes in such a way that people are not only allowed to voice their opinion, but can also actively influence the outcome?
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How do you accompany a project like the deep geological repository in an artistic function? Author Thomas Meyer, the first cultural guest of the Nördlich Lägern regional conference, approached the task assigned to him in his own unique way: with humour, cartoon characters and an open ear for supporters, opponents and the undecided.
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As Switzerland’s Energy Minister, Doris Leuthard played a key role in the decision to phase out nuclear power in 2011, and Stage 1 of the Sectoral Plan for Deep Geological Repositories also coincided with her term of office. In this interview, she talks about how she experienced the time after Fukushima and how the Federal Council made rational decisions despite facing considerable pressure.
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For Roman Köster, historian and author of “Rubbish. A Dirty History of Humanity” (original title: “Müll. Eine schmutzige Geschichte der Menschheit”), waste provides the best testimony about earlier epochs. These insights should also be taken into account for the deep geological repository, because technological optimism alone will not be enough.
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The Nuclear Waste Management Advisory Board, of which Anna Deplazes has been a member since 2016, advises the Federal Council on the site selection process for the repository. As an ethicist, she is responsible for ensuring a fair process – but that does not change the fact that Stadel will bear the main burden. Money alone is not the solution: Deplazes would like to see more recognition for the region’s residents.
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For his documentary film “Die Reise zum sichersten Ort der Erde” (Journey to the Safest Place on Earth), Edgar Hagen travelled around the world to discover a safe solution for the disposal of radioactive waste – but he came back emptyhanded. More than ten years later, the filmmaker remains sceptical: Not one project in the world fulfils the high expectations regarding this issue.
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As an advocate of long-termism, Dominic Roser is concerned with the question of what the world might look like 10,000 or a million years from now. Roser does not have a crystal ball, but the economist and philosopher can clearly foresee: every improvement, however small, will have a huge impact given the sheer dimension of the future.
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How can we ensure that humans will never go near the repository? By creating a place that exudes something cultish or religious, says archaeologist and heritage manager Andrea Schaer. Just as was achieved in past eras with pyramids and stone circles.
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Rony Emmenegger leads a project of the Swiss National Science Foundation that links the geological aspects of a repository with societal questions. With his research, the political geographer seeks to provide a basis for discussion. This is all the more necessary because long-term geological stability is not conclusively guaranteed.
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A project of the century needs a magazine of the century:
Nagra launched “500m+” to accompany the public debate surrounding the deep geological repository over the next 100 years. It plans to publish one issue per year.
As CEO of Nagra, Matthias Braun is the senior executive responsible for the deep geological repository in Stadel. How do you approach a major project such as this? How do you get as many stakeholders as possible on board? Braun relies on well-established facts, transparency and dialogue. And, of course, geology – which can be predicted more reliably than human behaviour.
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century:
How can we ensure that humans will never go near the repository? By creating a place that exudes something cultish or religious, says archaeologist and heritage manager Andrea Schaer. Just as was achieved in past eras with pyramids and stone circles.
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century:
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century:
As Switzerland’s Energy Minister, Doris Leuthard played a key role in the decision to phase out nuclear power in 2011, and Stage 1 of the Sectoral Plan for Deep Geological Repositories also coincided with her term of office. In this interview, she talks about how she experienced the time after Fukushima and how the Federal Council made rational decisions despite facing considerable pressure.
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century:
For Roman Köster, historian and author of “Rubbish. A Dirty History of Humanity” (original title: “Müll. Eine schmutzige Geschichte der Menschheit”), waste provides the best testimony about earlier epochs. These insights should also be taken into account for the deep geological repository, because technological optimism alone will not be enough.
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century:
The Nuclear Waste Management Advisory Board, of which Anna Deplazes has been a member since 2016, advises the Federal Council on the site selection process for the repository. As an ethicist, she is responsible for ensuring a fair process – but that does not change the fact that Stadel will bear the main burden. Money alone is not the solution: Deplazes would like to see more recognition for the region’s residents.
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century:
For his documentary film “Die Reise zum sichersten Ort der Erde” (Journey to the Safest Place on Earth), Edgar Hagen travelled around the world to discover a safe solution for the disposal of radioactive waste – but he came back emptyhanded. More than ten years later, the filmmaker remains sceptical: Not one project in the world fulfils the high expectations regarding this issue.
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century:
As an advocate of long-termism, Dominic Roser is concerned with the question of what the world might look like 10,000 or a million years from now. Roser does not have a crystal ball, but the economist and philosopher can clearly foresee: every improvement, however small, will have a huge impact given the sheer dimension of the future.
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century:
How can we ensure that humans will never go near the repository? By creating a place that exudes something cultish or religious, says archaeologist and heritage manager Andrea Schaer. Just as was achieved in past eras with pyramids and stone circles.
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century:
Rony Emmenegger leads a project of the Swiss National Science Foundation that links the geological aspects of a repository with societal questions. With his research, the political geographer seeks to provide a basis for discussion. This is all the more necessary because long-term geological stability is not conclusively guaranteed.
Subscribe to the Podcast of the Century: