We and other particle physicists working voluntarily in Fukushima, Japan, where people were evacuated in 2011 because of the nuclear accident, are neither “opportunistic” nor “adventurous”, as you quote (see Nature 499, 265–266; 2013). We seek only to use our expertise to find a way to reduce the radioactive contamination of the area's soil.

We give up our weekends to work independently on analysing soil samples — a gruelling task in the winter months. We give lectures on radiation to those forced to leave their homes, so that they can better understand their plight and our efforts to remedy it. Our goal is to enable local farmers' livelihoods eventually to be restored.