Physics of Societal Issues

This book provides the reader with essential tools needed to analyze complex societal issues and demonstrates the transition from physics to modern-day laws and treaties. This second edition features new equation-oriented material and extensive data sets drawing upon current information from experts in their fields. Problems to challenge the reader and extend discussion are presented on three timely issues:

•        National Security: Weapons, Offense, Defense, Verification, Nuclear Proliferation, Terrorism

•        Environment: Air/Water, Nuclear, Climate Change, EM Fields/Epidemiology

•        Energy: Current Energy Situation, Buildings, Solar Buildings, Renewable  Energy, Enhanced End-Use Efficiency, Transportation, Economics

Praise for the first edition:

"This insight is needed in Congress and the Executive Branch. Hafemeister, a former Congressional fellow with wide Washington experience, has written a book for physicists, chemists and engineers who want to learn science and policy on weapons, energy, and the environment. Scientists who want to make a difference will want this book."

Richard Scribner, first Director, Congressional Science and

Engineering Fellow Program, AAAS

"Hafemeister shows how much one can understand about nuclear weapons and missile issues through simple back-of-the-envelope calculations. He also provides compact explanations of the partially successful attempts that have been made over the past 60 years to control these weapons of mass destruction. Hopefully, Physics of Societal Issues will help interest a new generation of physicists in continuing this work."

Frank von Hippel, Professor, Princeton, former Assistant Director,

National Security, White House, OSTP

"Energy policy must be quantitative. People who don't calculate economic tradeoffs often champion simplistic hardware.‘The solution is more... nuclear power, or electric cars, or photovoltaics, etc.’ Some simple physics will show that the true solution matches supply and demand as an ‘integrated resource plan.’ Physics of Societal Issues is a good place to begin this journey."

Arthur Rosenfeld, former California Energy Commissioner,

Professor-emeritus, U. of California-Berkeley

• Air and Water Pollution
• Arms Control
• Electromagnetic Radiation
• Energy Planning
• Enery and Environment Chronology
• Enhanced End-Use Energy Efficiency
• From Physics to Treaty
• Missile Defenses
• National Security Text
• Nuclear Arms Chronology
• Nuclear Proliferation
• Nuclear Technologies
• Nuclear Weapons Treaties
• Physics and Climate Change
• Physics and Energy Policy
• Physics and Environment
• Physics and National Security
• Physics and Public Policy
• Physics and Society
• Radioactive Pollution
• Solar Buildings

• Physics Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, USA

  David Hafemeister

David Hafemeister is Professor Emeritus of Physics at California Polytechnic State University, and Science Affiliate at the Center For International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University. He has also had an impressive career in Washington, D.C., as a Professional Staff Member:

Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Governmental Affairs (1990-93 on arms control treaties at the end of the Cold War)

Science Advisor to Senator John Glenn (19775-77)

Special Assistant to Under Secretary of State Benson and Deputy Under-Secretary Nye (1977-78)

Visiting Scientist in the State Department’s Office of Nuclear Proliferation Policy (1979)

Office of Strategic Nuclear Policy (1987)

Study Director at the National Academy of Sciences (2000-02)

He has edited nine books, published more than 140 articles, and was awarded the APS Szilard award in 1996.

Policies and ethics