Ministers and other high-level representatives of governments and international organizations will gather at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week to review the contribution of nuclear technology in key areas such as food security, human health, industry and the environment. The IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology: Addressing Current and Emerging Development Challenges, will take place in Vienna, Austria, from 28 to 30 November.
The peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology have expanded to many areas in recent decades and have the potential to further help countries as they face a changing climate, rapid industrialization, population growth and an upsurge in human and animal diseases. The conference brings together over 1,000 participants from more than 135 countries to review high-impact innovations in nuclear science and technology to help countries in tackling these challenges.
Topics to be discussed include, among others, advances in nuclear and radiation medicine, the significant contribution of nuclear techniques to industry, ways to better monitor ocean acidification and techniques to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change. The conference will also review means to boost education and training in nuclear sciences, with a particular focus on women.
The conference will take place in Boardroom B/M1, M Building, Vienna International Centre (VIC).
The event is open to media.
The opening session will include remarks by the following dignitaries:
- Yukiya Amano, Director General, IAEA
- HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
- Epsy Campbell Barr, Vice-President and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica
- Kiyoto Tsuji, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Thomas Reiter, Interagency Coordinator, European Space Agency
- LI Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization
- Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization
Live video streaming will be available for the entire conference from Wednesday, 28 November at 9:30 a.m. Please note that the video stream will be broadcast on a view-only channel.
A detailed programme and additional information can be found on the conference website.
Parallel to the conference, a first ever IAEA hosted TEDx event entitled Science, not fiction will take place at in Board Room A, M-Building, VIC on 29 November at 18:00.
Some speakers will be available for interviews. Please contact the IAEA Press Office for more details.
Accreditation
All journalists are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans to attend. Journalists with permanent credentials to the VIC need no additional credentials. We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation, to request it at UNIS Vienna.
Others should contact Michelle Gruensteidl for accreditation. Please email m.gruensteidl@iaea.org or call [+43-1] 2600-22048 or [+43-1] 2600-21273.