2008 Look Ahead: On the Front Lines of the Nuclear World

What´s ahead in 2008 for the IAEA and the world´s nuclear agenda? A selected preview of what´s in store:

January 2008

• Senior officials from India and the IAEA prepare to resume talks on nuclear safeguards in India initiated in November 2007.
• Experts meet at the IAEA in Vienna on problems related to denials of shipment of radioactive material, including life-saving medicines that hospitals need.
• Morocco hosts an IAEA seminar on responding to emergencies caused by malicious acts involving radioactive materials.
• Global leaders meet in Davos at the World Economic Forum. Sessions include debates on nuclear´s role for energy production and the mitigation of climate change.
• Young professionals from Russia and other countries assemble in St. Petersburg at "Polar Lights", a scientific conference held in cooperation with the IAEA.

February

• Inside looks at applications of science and technology for the world´s economic and environmental development are featured in Boston, USA, at the conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
• Through its programmes to fight the disease, the IAEA joins in marking World Cancer Day on 4 February.
• Nuclear communicators from Europe and other regions meet in Prague, Czech Republic, at the European Nuclear Society´s conference on public information.
• The premier international symposium for nuclear waste management surveys progress and problems at topical and technical sessions in Phoenix, Arizona.

March

• Starting 3 March in Vienna, the IAEA Board agenda includes nuclear safeguards inspections in Iran, among other topics.
• At the IAEA and elsewhere, the world marks International Women´s Day on 8 March.
• Special events in countries highlight World Water Day on 22 March, this year focusing attention on urgent needs for better sanitation systems.
• In Bahrain, the 8th Gulf Water Conference focuses on plans to help countries avoid critical water shortages, including using desalination technologies.

April

• The IAEA hosts the 4th review meeting of contracting parties to the International Convention on Nuclear Safety, which sets global benchmarks for safe operation of nuclear power plants.
• Advances in applications of radiation in medicine are reviewed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates at the 10th International Conference on Medical Physics.
• The challenge of capturing carbon from the burning of fossil fuels and trapping it underground is among key topics at a joint meeting of the IAEA and International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy.
• The Preparatory Committee for the next review conference of the global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty holds its second session in Geneva, Switzerland, starting 25 April.
• IAEA experts in nuclear safeguards and security participate in a comprehensive course on nuclear non-proliferation sponsored by the European Safeguards & Development Association in Italy.

May

• Ways to strengthen networks for nuclear education & training are highlighted in Budapest, Hungary, at NESTet 2008, sponsored by the European Nuclear Society and the IAEA.
• Women working in nuclear fields assemble in Marseille, France, for the annual meeting of the WIN association, focusing on workforce issues surrounding the "nuclear revival".
• Connections between climate change and disease are explored at a scientific meeting of the IAEA and International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy.
• The Republic of Korea hosts the 6th International Conference on Isotopes, highlighting industrial uses of radioisotopes and other technologies.

June

• Scientists and specialists studying the sources and effects of radioactivity in our environment meet in Bergen, Norway to examine the latest studies and findings.
• The world´s top physicians, scientists, and technologists in fields of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging update the global picture in New Orleans, USA.
• The IAEA Board´s mid-year meetings open in early June in Vienna.
• In Uganda, countries examine interconnections between groundwater resources and climate changes in Africa.

July

• The 2008 Summer Institute of the World Nuclear University opens at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, hosted by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Bruce Power, Cameco Corporation and Ontario Power Generation.
• Energy futures and the impact of science on development are among topics of debate at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, USA, including sessions related to nuclear power, safety, security and the IAEA´s work.

August

• The IAEA and Food & Agriculture Organization join to host the eighth international symposium on induced mutations in plants, through which food researchers breed beneficial crops using radiation-based techniques.
• The annual summer session at the International School of Nuclear Law takes place in Montpellier, France.
• World Water Week opens in Stockholm, Sweden, with a special focus on the sanitation needs of more than two billion people living in developing countries.

September

• Students and young professionals meet at the International Youth Nuclear Congress, in Switzerland, examining a range of topics in fields of nuclear science and technology.
• The IAEA General Conference of Member States meets in Vienna starting 29 September, again featuring a Scientific Forum on topical issues.
• The International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy, hosts the IAEA´s week-long School of Nuclear Knowledge Management.
• Worldwide advances in industrial applications of radiation processing in fields including health care and food production are reviewed in London.

October

• Adverse effects of rising carbon dioxide levels on the acidification of world´s oceans are examined at an interdisciplinary symposium in Monaco co-sponsored by the IAEA.
• Scientific and technical progress toward the generation of electricity using nuclear fusion is assessed at the IAEA´s 22nd Fusion Energy Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The global system designed to protect people and the environment from harmful effects of radioactivity comes under review at the 12th International Congress on Radiation Protection in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

November

• The IAEA Board´s Committee for Technical Cooperation meets at sessions starting 24 November. The full IAEA Board´s meeting starts 27 November.
• The safety of nuclear installations is examined from national and global perspectives at an IAEA conference in Mumbai, India.

December 2008

• In Vienna, the IAEA´s International Conference on Nuclear Security thematically targets global directions for years ahead.
• How are global changes affecting the quality and quantity of scarce water resources? An international conference in the USA takes stock of developments.

Keep informed by visiting www.IAEA.org and the meetings pages.