First International Conference on Nuclear Law: The Global Debate

Registration

The conference will be held as an in-person event, with the possibility of remote connection, if needed.

There is no deadline for registration of participants without a paper submission or grant request. No registration fee is charged. Registration of all persons actively involved in the conference and/or attending in-person has to be done via the InTouch+ Platform, as explained in the Announcement.

Representatives of Permanent Missions that already hold a grounds pass to access the VIC are not required to register seperately for the conference.

Persons who would like to attend the conference virtually can register as an observer here.

All registered participants and observers will receive, in the week prior to the start of the conference, an email notification providing login information to the conference app/virtual conference platform. The virtual conference platform will feature a ‘Live Stage’ for the on-going sessions as well as all conference related material (e.g. abstracts, held presentations, posters, exhibition, side events) and will provide a Q&A feature allowing virtual attendees to actively participate.

Persons who only want to follow the presentations without actively taking part and without registering can do so via the Live Video Stream which will be available on this website.

Background

Although a highly specialised field of law, nuclear law permeates the entire nuclear sector. Whether it be in the form of international treaties on the safety and security of nuclear power plants, agreements enabling the verification of nations’ nuclear non-proliferation commitments, provisions enabling emergency preparedness and response or those addressing questions of compensation and civil liability for nuclear damage – nuclear law underpins all the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. As promising new technologies emerge, nuclear law also needs to accommodate new developments, including small modular reactors (SMRs); and allow for nuclear science and technology to address imminent challenges, including climate change.

Over the course of five days, the First International Conference on Nuclear Law: The Global Debate will provide a unique forum for leading global experts from governments, international and non-governmental organizations, industry, academia and civil society to share experiences and discuss topical issues with a view to developing further the various areas of nuclear law and promoting international expertise in this field.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi announced the IAEA’s First International Conference on Nuclear Law during his opening statement at the November 2020 meeting of the Board of Governors.

The Director General highlighted that “Nuclear law is an essential prerequisite for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear technology and its applications. This Conference, the first of its kind for the Agency, is an important opportunity for us to take stock and discuss nuclear law for the future.” Director General Grossi continued that through this Conference “We are able to integrate and bring together the many valuable efforts being made throughout the world in this field, not just by governments, but also by our UN system partners, regional organisations, insurance and nuclear industries, its associations and its advisers, think tanks, NGOs, civil society, academia and many others.”

A high-level opening session will include the Director General and keynote speeches from leading global experts in the nuclear field. Keynote speakers will be announced in advance of the Conference. A series of topical sessions will address key nuclear law issues. Each topical session will include invited and submitted papers and will conclude with a general discussion. A final decision on the issues to be covered and the papers to be presented in each topical session will be made well in advance of the Conference. Round-table discussions will provide the opportunity for focused discussions and feedback from the Conference participants. The closing session will include a summary of the main conclusions of the Conference.

Throughout the Conference there will be various initiatives to encourage engagement and professional development of students and young career professionals interested in nuclear law. Among such initiatives are an essay competition and TED Talk-like presentations of the essay winners. The deadline for submission is 15 November 2021. Details may be found in the Related Resources section on this page.

A number of other side events, activities and exhibitions will take place in the margins of the Conference.

All sessions will be recorded and available through the live video stream link that will be made available on the day of the Conference on this page. Participants are encouraged to use the official hashtag on social media: #ICNL2022.

Target Audience

The Conference is aimed at and will be of interest to 1) representatives from governments, including regulators, policy-makers and law-makers; 2) international organizations; 3) non-governmental organizations; 4) operators and nuclear industry; 5) legal and insurance sectors; and 6) academia and civil society. The IAEA welcomes and encourages the participation of women, students and early career professionals; and individuals from developing countries.

List of Topics

A tentative list of topics is attached to the Announcement and Call for Papers.

Call for Papers

The Call for Papers is now closed. Those who submitted synopses will be informed on 30 September 2021, whether their paper has been accepted for presentation at the Conference.

Exhibits

A limited amount of space will be available for commercial vendors’ displays/exhibits during the conference. The list of exhibitors (name, logo, website) will be included in the IAEA Conference App under a separate tab ‘Exhibitors’. Interested parties should contact the Scientific Secretariat by email before 15 March 2022.

Side Events

A number of rooms and other space will be available for side events in the margins of the conference (e.g., during lunchtime, coffee breaks, after the last session) that focus specifically on topics related to the programme. Side events should not be of any commercial nature and should be relevant to the IAEA’s activities, compatible with its aims, functions, objectives and purpose, both in content and presentation. Side events will be included in the Conference programme the Conference App, and optional also on the Conference website and other information sources promoting the event. Member States and invited/cooperating organizations interested in holding a side event should contact the Scientific Secretariat by email by 15 March 2022.

Key Deadlines

Registration:

• No deadline: Registration for Participation with no paper submission; no grant request (Submission of Form A only through the InTouch+ platform)
• 30 September 2021: Notification of Acceptance of Papers for Presentation at the Conference
• 25 February 2022: Registration for Participation with grant request; no paper submission (Submission of Forms A and C only through the InTouch+ platform)

Exhibits and Side Events:

• 15 March 2022: Deadline for expressions of interest to organize an Exhibit at the Conference
• 15 March 2022: Deadline for expression of interest to hold a Side Event during the Conference

Essay Competition:

• 15 November 2021: Deadline for submission in the essay competition for students and early career professionals

Greening

To demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, the IAEA will organize this conference as a 'green meeting' according to the guidelines of the Austrian Ecolabel. There will be a focus on the areas of paper smart documentation, waste reduction and recycling, and environmentally friendly catering.

Conference app

The IAEA Conferences and Meetings App provides a one-stop access to information on the Conference, exhibitions and scheduled side events. The app also allows users to put together their own personalized schedule of events. Via this app participants will be able to view contributed papers and the latest conference programme, message other participants, and view PowerPoint presentations released after the event. Participants will receive an email inviting them to register for the app approximately one week before the conference.

For iPhone or iPad users, get your free download through the Apple iTunes Store; those with Android devices can visit the Google Play Store.

Contact details

Subsequent correspondence on scientific matters should be sent to the Scientific Secretary and correspondence on administrative matters to the Conference Services Section.