In the first of three special podcasts covering the Birmingham Policy Commissions, Lucy chats with Professor Martin Freer, Head of the Nuclear Physics Group at the University of Birmingham and Director of the Birmingham Centre for Nuclear Education and Research, about the future of nuclear power. Does the future lie with building more of the same kinds of nuclear power station? Or do we need to invest in new technology entirely? With the country facing an unprecedented energy crisis – which Martin feels the public is yet to truly grasp – he discusses the various options for taking nuclear power forward in Britain. Martin will be playing a key role at a Birmingham Policy Commissions event called ‘Nuclear Power: what is the future?’, which will be held at the Liberal Democrats autumn conference on Tuesday September 20th (6.15pm to 7.30pm, Hall7b, The ICC). The event is being chaired by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, Professor David Eastwood, and the panel will include the chair of the commission Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Lib Dem MP John Hemming, and Director of Greenwatt Technology, Dr Susan Juned. Download a transcript of this podcast here: http://bit.ly/1lBS9m0