When making high-powered science and technology decisions, it is necessary to involve science and technology professionals. It really is. It is necessary to listen to the opinions of science and technology professionals. It really is. Do readers detect a note of sarcasm?

These days, there are more and more non- technical people posturing as experts in technology. I am so sick of every guy and his dog having an opinion on what should be done about electricity generation or about water provision.

Every so often, a technology expert calls from the sidelines, only to be drowned out by a barrage of minor politicians. Unfortunately, much of the media are complicit in this. They feature opinion articles on technology subjects voiced by people who have no qualifications in the subject whatsoever. Often, the journalist then says that the press code of conduct says that “both sides have an equal right to an opinion”.

Okay – so, if you want to know how to care for a child who has a hole in the heart, by that logic, you could ask a heart surgeon and a florist. Then, to be fair, give both equal time. I was once in a TV debate on nuclear power. I am a nuclear scientist; my opponent’s professional speciality was finger painting on pottery. He worked in an art school. There was a studio audience and the chairperson ruled that there would be equal time . . . to be fair to the subject in hand.

The media are forever publishing articles on nuclear power, global warning, climate change and genetically modified food, all written by the baker and the candlestick maker. When do we get a brain surgery article written by the doggie grooming parlour guy? In the nuclear power debate, we need rational and professional discussion.

We will be holding our annual nuclear power conference from March 18 to 20 – it is Nuclear Africa 2015. We have teamed up with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) in the production of the conference, and the conference will be held at Necsa.

A fortunate coincidence is that the fiftieth anniversary of the Safari 1 nuclear reactor is on March 18. So, the fiftieth anniversary celebrations will be integrated into the conference. Necsa will be inviting a special additional VIP delegation for this. At this stage, President Jacob Zuma’s name leads the list and so expectation is high that he will attend. In face-to-face discussions with him, he reacted positively about the invitation.

We need nuclear power. We need much more of it and we need it urgently. Please do not believe media stories of the solar panels “that will power 20 000 more houses”. Note how they always tell you how many houses. They do not tell you that what it means is that each house can have three light bulbs and either the kettle or the fridge on, but not the kettle and the fridge on at the same time. Further, the newspapers do not tell you that, with the solar- powered houses, you can only switch the lights on during daytime, but not at night, because the sun does not shine at night.

You would be amazed at how many people think that solar power works at night, but the newspapers steadfastly refuse to inform their readers of the truth about that gem of misinformation.

Nuclear Africa 2014 was the largest nuclear power conference last year and, no doubt, Nuclear Africa 2015 will be the same. There will be the whole spectrum of people attending – from across the whole nuclear power spectrum. These range from the folks who make concrete foundations and those who construct the buildings and install the steam pipes and the electrical systems, all the way to the people who actually deal with the nuclear parts in and near the reactor itself.

Meanwhile, all sorts of minor conference players have jumped on the bandwagon, many from other countries and posturing as local nuclear experts, hoping to make a fast buck out of the local nuclear industry. No doubt, we will get a lot more of these as the nuclear project progresses.