BACKGROUND
In accordance with the Nuclear Security Plan 2018-2021, the Member States have encouraged the IAEA to keep pace with evolving challenges and threats to nuclear security using scientific and technological innovations. To address this request, the IAEA has organized a series of technical meetings to enable Member States to share their experiences related to the use of radiation detection equipment for Nuclear Security purposes. The 2nd Technical Meeting, hosted in April 2018, brought together over 150 expert participants from over 70 Member States and the EU, along with more than 60 representatives from radiation detection equipment vendors. The 2nd TM reaffirmed the importance of holding these technical meetings on a biennual basis in order to continue sharing experiences, challenges, and advancements related to radiation detection equipment for Nuclear Security.The 3rd Technical Meeting will continue the series with an interactive format for the sharing of best practices and lessons learned, the latest on equipment developments and specifications, and discussions of relevant "hot topics" and evolving threats and technologies.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the meeting is to bring together experts in, and users of, radiation detection instruments with the manufacturers of such equipment in order to identify:
- What emerging threats exist and the relevant needed detection technologies;
- What needs exist for improvements to the underlying technology; and
- What functional and technical specifications are needed and desired to achieve more effective use and application of such instruments in the detection of nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control.
The meeting will cover the following topics:
- National and international experiences with the detection of nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control or during the response to nuclear security events;
- Evolving threats and technologies;
- Current status and capabilities of radiation detection instruments;
- Maintenance, repair, calibration and testing;
- R&D on radiation detection instruments - improving performance and sustainability;
- Active detection systems;
- Integration of active and passive systems;
- Data analytics and artificial intelligence;
- Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) - drones;
- Complex spectra analysis;
- Technical and functional specifications for equipment (including revision of NSS 1);
- Applications of detection technology in safety-security interface including trade facilitation;
- Networking of radiation detectors; and
- Improving user interface and operability.
TARGET AUDIENCE AND PARTICIPANTS' QUALIFICATIONS
Target audience includes experts in the development, use, specification, testing, maintenance, calibration, and sustainment of radiation detection instruments used for nuclear security purposes.
The ideal participant has in-depth knowledge of, and experience with, radiation detection systems (both passive and active) used for the detection of nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control or during the response to nuclear security events. The participants should be responsible for one or more of the following:
- Use of instruments in a field environment;
- R&D on instruments and their analytical use;
- Technical specifications of the instruments for procurement and use;
- Acceptance testing, calibration and repair of the instruments;
- Decision making on threat materials and adversaries;and
- Decision making on the development and implementation of detection strategies
MEETING FORMAT
The working language of the meeting is English; no interpretation will be provided. The meeting will comprise eight technical sessions organized around the topics listed above. The agenda will be structured with a balance of invited Member State presentations, panel discussions, poster presentations, smaller breakout discussions, and vendor presentations.
KEY DATES
- 4 February 2020: Beginning of abstract submission
- 30 April 2020: Deadline for submission of abstracts (The deadline for submissions has been extended for two weeks to 30 April)
- 17 April 2020: Submission of Participant Form through the appropriate governmental authority
- 8 May 2020: Notification of acceptance of abstracts
- 13 July 2020: Meeting begins
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Aside from invited presentations, there will also be time allotted for a limited number of submitted contributions, either as oral or poster presentations. Participants wishing to make a contribution at the meeting should submit an abstract electronically via INDICO (this system) by no later than 17 April 2020.
The abstract should be no more than 500 words and relevant to the topics mentioned above. The abstract must represent original work and give enough information on the contents of the proposed presentation or poster to enable it to be evaluated. Abstract authors will be informed of the acceptance of their contributions by 8 May 2020
