Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Friday, January 10, 2014

What to Expect from the IAEA in 2014

What to Expect from the IAEA in 2014

In El Salvador, the IAEA supports research to improve nutrition for school-age children
The peaceful use of nuclear technologies contributes to peace, health and prosperity. For instance, here in El Salvador, the IAEA supports research to improve nutrition for school-age children. Other IAEA nutrition projects around the world help reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, as well as combat HIV/AIDS malaria and other diseases. (Photo: E. Cody/IAEA)
What's ahead in 2014 for the IAEA? Here is a selected preview of what to expect:
February
The International Experts' Meeting (IEMs) on Radiation Protection after the Fukushima Daiichi Accident: Promoting Confidence and Understanding will take place in Vienna, Austria, from 17 to 21 February 2014. The objective of this IEM is to provide a forum for Member States to exchange information and experience related to radiation protection, with an emphasis on preparing for and managing the long term consequences of a nuclear or radiological accident. In the light of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, this IEM will focus on the complex technical, societal, environmental and economic issues in radiation protection that have broad application and may need to be addressed during remediation and long-term recovery operations following a nuclear or radiological accident.
The IAEA will commemorate World Cancer Day 2014 on 4 February 2014 at its headquarters. The objectives of the event are to reaffirm the Agency's commitment to sustained support for cancer activities in Member States and to create wider awareness on the IAEA's role in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
March
The first regular meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors will be held from 3 to 7 March 2014 in Vienna, Austria.
The Netherlands is hosting the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS 2014) in the Hague from 24 to 25 March 2014, a world Summit that is aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism around the globe. Summits were held in Washington, D.C. (2010) and in Seoul, Korea (2012). NSS 2014 shall deliberate on implementing "a series of pre-emptive measures to prevent internal and/or external threats directly or indirectly related to nuclear materials, radioactive sources, relevant facilities or other associated activities." The Summit will also focus on a number of other nuclear-related issues such as encouraging the ratification by more countries of the >Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material that will lead to its entry into force as soon as possible, more frequent reviews of state security structures by IAEA advisory missions, national registration and protection of highly radioactive sources (e.g. medical equipment), and a greater role for industry in nuclear security, to enhance the security culture and existing regulations.
The International Experts' Meeting (IEMs) on Severe Accident Management in the Light of the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant will be held from 17 to 21 March 2014 in Vienna, Austria. This IEM will focus on gathering and sharing knowledge and experience gained in the light of the accident concerning severe accident management, as well as to identifying lessons learned and best practices.
International Women's Day is traditionally observed on 8 March. As an organization committed to promoting gender equality in the workplace, the IAEA's observance commemorates the contributions of women in the field of nuclear science.
May
The Programme and Budget Committee of the IAEA Board of Governors will meet from 5 to 9 May 2014 in Vienna, Austria.
The IAEA is hosting the International Conference on Human Resource Development (HRD) for Nuclear Power Programmes: Building and Sustaining Capacity in Vienna, Austria, from 12 to 16 May 2014. The objectives of the Conference are to review developments in the global status of HRD since the 2010 international conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Undernutrition, already one of the world's most serious health problems, is at risk of worsening as the global economy deteriorates. To draw wider attention to this grave health issue, the IAEA is hosting the International Symposium on Understanding Moderate Malnutrition in Children for Effective Interventions in Vienna, Austria, from 26 to 29 May 2014. The Symposium will focus on developments in the area of management of moderate acute malnutrition in infants and children.
June
The IAEA Board of Governors mid-year meeting will take place from 2 to 5 June 2014 in Vienna, Austria.
The International Symposium on Uranium Raw Material for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Exploration, Mining, Production, Supply and Demand, Economics and Environmental Issues will be hosted by the IAEA in Vienna, Austria, from 23 to 27 June 2014. The purpose of this Symposium is to analyse uranium supply-demand scenarios and to present and discuss new developments in uranium geology, exploration, mining and processing, as well as in environmental requirements for uranium operations and site decommissioning.
July
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 IAEA is hosting the International Conference on Advances in Nuclear Forensics: Countering the Evolving Threat of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material out of Regulatory Control in Vienna, Austria, from 7 to 10 July 2014.
September
The IAEA Board of Governors will meet from 15 to 19 September 2014, followed by the 58th Session of the IAEA General Conference that convenes in Vienna for a week beginning 22 September 2014. The General Conference is also the venue for a two-day >em>Scientific Forum. A further one-day meeting of the Board of Governor is scheduled for 29 September 2014.
October
The IAEA fosters the exchange of scientific and technical results in nuclear fusion research through its series of Fusion Energy Conferences. The 25th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2014) aims to provide a forum for the discussion of key physics and technology issues as well as innovative concepts of direct relevance to the use of nuclear fusion as a source of energy. The Conference will be held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, from 13 to 18 October 2014.
Every four years, the IAEA Department of Safeguards organizes a safeguards symposium. These symposia provide an important forum for interaction between the IAEA and its Member States on a wide variety of international safeguards and non-proliferation issues. The Symposium on International Safeguards: Linking Strategy, Implementation and People is taking place in Vienna, Austria, from 20 to 24 October 2014. This Symposium, the twelfth in the series, will address safeguards during a time of change. The nuclear landscape is evolving, and this presents the IAEA and its Member States with both challenges and opportunities.
In this month, the International Conference on Challenges Faced By Technical and Scientific Support Organizations (TSOs) in Enhancing Nuclear Safety and Security will also take place in Beijing, China, from 27 to 31 October 2014.
November
The International Symposium on Food Safety and Quality: Applications of Nuclear and Related Techniques, taking place in Vienna, Austria, from 10 to 13 November 2014, is being organized by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. For decades the IAEA, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has assisted Member States to produce more, better and safer food by helping countries to achieve enhanced agricultural outputs using nuclear technology. The Symposium will include a wide range of topics involving nuclear techniques in food and agriculture such as food irradiation, as well as analytical technologies for food authentication, traceability and contaminant control. Related issues such as climate change, emerging opportunities and threats to the integrity of the food supply and potential control techniques will be covered, as well as chemometrics and guidelines for consumer protection and international trade.
The IAEA Board of Governors shall convene from 17 to 21 November 2014, which also includes the meeting of the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee on 17 to 19 November, which will review any new technical cooperation projects and the forthcoming budget.
For an updated schedule of major IAEA events in 2014, please visit the IAEA Meetings Website.
--by Aabha Dixit, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication

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