Bedrock Geosciences is a multidisciplinary consultancy which specialises in the field of radioactive waste management and geological sciences
Bedrock Geosciences
Dr. Russell Alexander C.V.
Geoscientist with more than two decades experience in the field of geological disposal of radioactive waste. Demonstrated abilities in international project management (in over 25 countries worldwide) entailing close collaboration with a wide variety of organisations (commercial, governmental, research labs, mining companies etc.) and the co-ordination and direction of a wide range of personnel in the office, field and laboratory.
Co-author/editor of 3 books and over 150 technical papers, reports etc. on waste disposal, knowledge management, radionuclide retardation, natural analogues, communications and quality management systems.
2006-present Bedrock Geosciences
- Established in July 2006 as an independent consultancy offering wide range of services in the field of radioactive waste disposal and CO2 sequestration (see Services)
- Current and past clients include BGS (UK), JAEA, (J), McKinley Consulting (CH), Nagra (CH), NDA (UK), Obayashi (J), Posiva (SF), RWMC (J), Serco (UK), SKB (S), Taisei (J), Entec (UK) and Quintessa (J). Associate of MCM (CH).
2004-present ITC School
- Tutor and, since 2011, Chairman of the ITC School of Underground Waste Storage and Disposal (http://www.itc-school.org)
- 1998-2006 International consultancy division of Nagra (Swiss National Co-operative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste)
- Direct project management of and/or technical support for a wide range of international projects in the fields of geochemistry, geology, hydrogeology, performance assessment, radiochemistry, natural analogues and communications.
- Project initiater/developer of multi-national projects at Nagra’s URL, the Grimsel Test Site (www.grimsel.com)
- Technical reviewer of geosphere disposal programmes in several national programmes (eg H12, TRU-2 in Japan)
- Advisor to JAEA’s Tono Analogue Project (TAP)
- Co-ordination of all Nagra work (commercial and non-commercial) in Japan, Taiwan and the UK.
- Head of marketing for Nagra’s international consultancy division from 2004
1993-present NAWG
- Member and, since 1997, Chairman of the thirty nation strong Natural Analogue Working Group (www.natural-analogues.com)
- Ad hoc group co-ordinates international collaboration in the analogues field and communication of issues of relevance to the use of natural analogues in waste disposal (radioactive, chemo-toxic and carbon dioxide wastes)
- Organises occasional workshops on natural analogues
- Publishes position statements, papers etc on natural analogues
1990-1998 Rock-Water Interaction Group, University of Berne
- Consultant on a wide range of projects in the fields of radioactive waste disposal and geosciences
- Project manager of multi-national projects on radionuclide retardation in the geosphere at the Grimsel Test Site, including design and construction of the Level B radiation controlled zone
- Technical advisor on projects in the Mont Terri URL (www.mont-terri.ch)
- Technical advisor on projects in the Kamaishi and Tono URLs in Japan
- Technical advisor/presenter on the ‘Traces of the Future’ international video project (http://www.nagra.ch/g3.cms/s_page/83220/s_name/shopproductdetail1/s_level/10220/s_product/6001)
1987-1990 Paul Scherrer Institute
- Technical project manager/radiochemist in the Hot Laboratory
- Responsible for design and construction of two, controlled atmosphere laboratories within the Hot Laboratory
- Design and execution of two mini drilling campaigns to recover rock samples from potential repository host rocks in Switzerland
- 1986-1987 Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre (now SUERC)
- Post-doctorate, examining radionuclide retardation in the geosphere
1985 MIT
- Post-doctorate in stable isotope geochemistry in marine systems
1984 UKDoE
- Technician on a North Atlantic cruise, studying deep ocean disposal of radioactive waste.
Education/Professional Qualifications
B.Sc.(Hons), Geology, University of Edinburgh, 1980
Ph.D., Marine Chemistry, University of Leeds/Marine Biological Association, 1985
CGeol, EurGeol, CSci
Fellow of the Geological Society of London, member of the European Association of Geochemists and the Swiss Society of Mineralogy and Petrology.
Personal
UK citizen, Swiss residence permit.
Native English speaker with fluent German and some French.
Married with four children.
Hobbies? Don’t have the time, but messing around with classic cars, renovating old houses and walking all help the blood pressure.