International Conference on Advances in Nuclear Forensics - IAEA CN-218

Europe/Vienna
IAEA HQ

IAEA HQ

Vienna International Centre, 1400 Vienna, Austria
Description
International Conference on Advances in Nuclear Forensics
 
— Countering the Evolving Threat of Nuclear and Other Radioactive
Material out of Regulatory Control

Background:

Nuclear forensics is an essential component of national nuclear security infrastructure which can help to address the threat of nuclear and other radioactive material that is out of regulatory control as well as to assess nuclear security vulnerabilities.

Recognizing the benefits of nuclear forensics in the establishment and maintenance of national nuclear security regimes, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organized, in October 2002, the International Conference on Advances in Destructive and Non-Destructive Analysis for Environmental Monitoring and Nuclear Forensics in Karlsruhe, Germany. The conference was a useful starting event for including nuclear forensics support activities in IAEA nuclear security plans and projects.

IAEA General Conference resolutions on nuclear security emphasize the importance of nuclear forensics as a component of a Member State’s nuclear security infrastructure. The 2012 General Conference resolution on nuclear security noted the IAEA’s work in nuclear forensics to include activities in training and development of guidance to aid in a nuclear forensics examination. Nuclear forensics was also featured in the President’s Summary of the IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security: Enhancing Global Efforts, 1 – 5 July 2013. This conference included a technical session on nuclear forensics where 15 oral and poster presentations and an expert panel described the important role of nuclear forensics in support of law enforcement and nuclear security vulnerability assessments.

The Nuclear Security Plan 2014–2017, which the IAEA is currently working on, will reflect the importance of nuclear forensics for the effectiveness and sustainability of national nuclear security measures. Recognizing the importance of international collaboration in nuclear forensics, the IAEA cooperates with the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) and the ITWG in providing various forms of assistance, including enhancement of awareness, guidance and training.

The international community increasingly recognizes the role of nuclear forensics as a deterrent and as a support tool in the response to nuclear security events. Through this international conference on nuclear forensics, the IAEA seeks to facilitate a comprehensive exchange of information on relevant new technologies and techniques, as well as to address other achievements in the application of nuclear forensics.



Objectives of the Conference:

 
  • To review the role of nuclear forensics as an essential element of a national nuclear security infrastructure;
 
  • To present recent scientific achievements and to exchange experience and lessons learned related to the application of nuclear forensics;
 
  • To review current practices in nuclear forensics and identify advances in analytical tools;
 
  • To discuss ways of strengthening nuclear forensics capabilities and capacity building in order to ensure the implementation and sustainability of national nuclear forensics programmes; and
 
  • To propose and discuss mechanisms for achieving further international and regional cooperation and the IAEA’s support functions, upon request, in the area of nuclear forensics.


Persons who wish to present a paper or poster at the conference must submit a synopsis in electronic format (no paper copies) directly to the IAEA. The synopses must be submitted through this system.