Paul Howarth is the CEO of UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory and our guest in this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast. He talks about the challenges of getting politicians to engage in long-term thinking about the UK’s nuclear-energy policies and explains why small modular reactors offer a practical way for the country to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Howarth talks about what inspired him to follow a career path in nuclear science and technology – and he explains how the National Nuclear Laboratory underpins the safe operation of nuclear facilities in the UK.