How the IAEA Supports Member States in the Event of Nuclear and Radiological Incidents and Emergencies outlined the history of the assistance provided by the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre to countries during nuclear and radiological emergencies. The event also demonstrated the evolution of the Centre’s operations regarding emergency preparedness and response to recent events.
The event 100 International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) Missions: A Major Milestone for the IAEA’s Flagship Mission in the Area of Physical Protection commemorated the milestone. From the very first International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) missions in Bulgaria and Slovenia in 1996 to the most recent 100th mission in Zambia, teams of international experts convened by the IAEA have reviewed the physical protection of nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities in 60 countries, as well as at the IAEA Laboratories in Seibersdorf.
During the Status Update on Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All, country representatives updated participants on their achievements during the initial phase of the Rays of Hope initiative, which aims to help countries close their cancer care gaps via projects strengthening radiation safety legislation, infrastructure and providing quality control, guidance, training and equipment. At the event, anchor centres were presented.
The event The Battle Against Childhood Cancer: Finding A Ray of Hope focused on the role of IAEA when combatting various challenges associated with childhood cancer, such as misdiagnoses, malnutrition, inaccessible treatment and the lack of specialized health professionals. Attendees learned how the IAEA’s activities, including the Rays of Hope initiative, assist radiation application in countries to address these challenges.
The NUTEC Plastics: Progress and Prospects event included graphical representations on the progress of the NUTEC Plastics initiative to date, which has combatted plastic pollution on two fronts: at point of source, with irradiation to improve plastic recycling; and in the ocean, to trace and monitor plastics , particularly microplastics.
IAEA’s contributions to remediate the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan was featured during the event on Remediation of the Semipalatinsk Test Site: 30 Years of IAEA Assistance. Participants learned about the impact of IAEA’s assistance, as well as prospects for the future economic use of the site.
The journey of the IAEA Safety Standards publications was showcased at The History of the IAEA Safety Standards and the Present Services for Enhancing their Footprint for Safety. This event marked 65 years of this set of publications, which serve as the global reference for national nuclear regulatory authorities to help protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
During a visit to the Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre (NSTDC) located in Seibersdorf, Austria, the participants of The IAEA’s NSTDC: Contributions to Nuclear Security Training had a sneak preview to the first ever NSTDC and the training activities planned to start in October 2023.
The focus of the event SMR Platform Activity: Reactor Technology Assessment Using the ARIS Database was the Nuclear Reactor Technology Assessment (RTA) methodology, one of the tools offered to assist countries in the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). Participants at the event learned how to perform SMR assessment using the RTA methodology, and about the Advanced Reactors Information System (ARIS) database.
