BIODATA

Dr Wong See Meng was born in Malaysia where he recieved his early education.  His tertiary educations were in the UK and the USA.  He is now a naturalized American citizen and currently working as US Federal appointee at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

INTERVIEW

BNM: Dr Wong, can you elaborate on your personal achievements which to a professional career as a nuclear scientist/engineer at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), USA, and your decision to become a naturalized American citizen?

After obtaining a B.Sc. Honor in Physics and Mathematics, University of London, U.K. as an external student, I arrived in the US in August 1978 for graduate school studies at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa under MACEE's Fulbright grantee program. I graduated from Iowa State University with M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering (1980) and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering (1984). I was quickly offered a staff position as Assistant Scientist in the Department of Nuclear Energy (now the Department of Advanced Technology) at BNL effective on April 1984. I have been a full-rank scientist (equivalent to a full Professor rank) at BNL since 1989.

Over the last 14 years in BNL I have become a recognized expert in Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) methodology and applications, and nuclear safety. As a result, I became a naturalized US citizen in 1996 because my professional work requires "Q" security clearance for access authorization to classified facilities. Additionally, I will be moving to a new career with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington D.C. in March 1998.

BNM: Malaysia has opted not to use nuclear power as a resource. In your opinion what are the pros and cons of nuclear power at present?

The generation of electrical power by the nuclear fission process provides a cleaner environment compared to the use of coal or oil-fired sources of generation. In addition, the state-of-the-art nuclear technology has numerous applications in the biosciences, space propulsion, materials science, and medical areas (e.g. treatment of rare forms of cancer). However the major issues concerning the viable use of nuclear power today appear to be public perception and safe disposal of nuclear waste (especially disposal of low level waste). Public perception of nuclear power is still rooted in fear and lack of understanding of the benefits and risks of the new technology. Although technological developments have resulted in safe methods for nuclear waste (both high-level and low-level waste) the resolution of this concern is impeded by political sensitivities to the issues.

BNM: On the basis of your expertise in nuclear risk assessment methods and application, can provide some insights on the use of PSA methodology in other technological areas?

Gladly. Probabilistic safety assessment methodology has played a significant role in enhancing the safety or nuclear power plants during the course of their design as well as the day-to-day operation and maintenance. The relative maturity of the PSA methodology and its applications in the commercial nuclear industry have resulted in the extension its use in the environmental and non-nuclear industrial applications. PSA techniques have been utilized aircraft design and aviation safety analyses, launch risk evaluations of space vehicles, transportation and infrastructure risk analyses, environmental risk assessment, and medical risk studies. In addition PSA' methods are being used to evaluate the reliability of computer software design and information technology.

BNM: As a natural-born Malaysian and embers of your immediate family are still in this country you have a sense of belonging to Malaysia. What is your advice to younger Malaysian scientists, or aspiring scientist, on the attributes needed to become a successful scientist?

Strive for high ideals, keep focused on one's own goals, and work diligently to accomplish those goals with patience. Do not let temporary setbacks become distressful, but learn from mistake and turn failures into greater successes. As far as possible, without surrender be on good terms with all person.

BNM: Finally, how is science managed in the United States, and what can Malaysian science managers learn from the American approach?

Generally, most of the national scientific research and development (R&D) programme is managed at the US Department of Energy National Laboratories (e.g. BNL, Los Alamos, Argonne, etc.) with funding provided by the U.S. Federal Government agencies. The USDOE national laboratories are institutions where scientists and their scientific works can be supported by research facilities which offer access to state-of-the-art equipment that exist nowhere else. These approach a somewhat collegial atmosphere for scientists to conduct scientific R&D work in an environment conducive to creativity and problem solving.

BNM: Thank you very much for your time.

You are welcome. I look forward to visiting Malaysia again, and I hope to play a significant role in fostering a scientific link Malaysian nuclear scientist and US national institutions.