Nuclear power advocate Alan Finkel to be named Australia's chief scientist

It is not yet clear whether Malcolm Turnbull's choice signals a new openness by the government to consider nuclear power generation

A vocal advocate of nuclear power in Australia, Dr Alan Finkel, is set to be named as the country's next chief scientist.

The appointment of Finkel, an engineer and former neuroscience research fellow who has served as the chancellor of Monash University since 2008, is due to be announced by Malcolm Turnbull this week.