Category: Nuclear Weapons

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Malaysia has long been a regional leader in using nuclear applications to advance sustainable development both nationally and throughout Southeast Asia. Building on decades of cooperation, the IAEA has extended the designation of the Malaysia Nuclear Agency (MNA) as an IAEA Collaborating Centre in three research areas: plant breeding, non-destructive testing and radiation processing of polymers.

“Malaysia has taken great strides in applying nuclear technologies for development since the 1970s. Today, the MNA is widely recognised as a regional provider of expertise and capacity building in each of the three areas of the Collaborating Centre’s work,” said IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications Najat Mokhtar at a signing ceremony held at IAEA headquarters on 27 September 2023 in the margins of the 67th General Conference.

“Malaysia is strongly committed to promoting peaceful applications of nuclear technology through the National Nuclear Technology Policy 2030, which was recently launched by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. The redesignation of Malaysian Nuclear Agency as an IAEA Collaborating Centre marks a significant milestone in our nation’s journey towards harnessing advancements in nuclear technology,” said Malaysia Nuclear Agency Director General Rosli Darmawan.

Plant breeding using nuclear techniques to speed up the natural selection process is a significant element in Malaysia’s efforts to enhance the sustainability of its food and agriculture sector. This process, known as mutation breeding, produces stronger, more nutritious and higher-yielding crops. One successful example is the development of a new rice variety with improved ability to withstand both drought and flooding. The MNA’s gamma greenhouse, a large-scale irradiation facility, allows researchers to expose plants to low-dose radiation over longer periods of time, offering enhanced possibilities to improve crops through natural selection. The Collaborating Centre will make extensive use of the gamma greenhouse facility, including by providing services to plant breeders across Southeast Asia.

Non-destructive testing (NDT), which is used to evaluate the properties of a material, component, structure or system for characteristic differences or welding defects and discontinuities without causing damage to the original part, has contributed to the competitiveness of Malaysia’s manufacturing sector. For example, radiography is used to find cracks in welded joints in industrial piping. Malaysia has established a niche in Southeast Asia, offering non-destructive testing services to manufacturers in neighbouring countries. Several decades ago, the IAEA played an important role in establishing an accredited NDT training and certification scheme within the MNA. Today, the IAEA and the MNA are jointly pursuing research and training in advanced and novel non-destructive testing, making use of artificial intelligence, and developing prototypes of instruments and software. They are also working together to expand capacity building and training in the region.

Radiation processing of polymers has produced numerous new materials with desirable characteristics for the manufacture of medical devices, cables and other products, as well as biodegradable plastics. The IAEA’s collaboration with the MNA focuses on strengthening the development of environmentally friendly polymers, including various forms of plastic and rubber in many common consumer products. Special attention will be given to recycling polymers and producing bio-composites, a blend of natural and synthetic materials. The MNA has played a major role in spreading this know-how throughout the region, increasing the availability and use of these products and helping to reduce plastic waste. MNA’s expertise in radiation-based plastic recycling will also be put to good use in the IAEA’s NUTEC Plastics Initiative, which aims to help reduce global plastic pollution by upgrading plastic recycling processes using nuclear techniques. Malaysia has recently been designated as a pilot country for this flagship IAEA initiative.

“The IAEA’s partnership with the MNA in the Collaborating Centre will continue to be a driver of innovation for sustainable development in Malaysia and beyond,” Mokhtar said.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

For the first time in over two decades, the United Nations and the IAEA are collaborating on a new collection coming to the stamp counter.

The United Nations Postal Administration will issue a definitive set of Marie Sklodowska-Curie stamps and first-day envelopes adorned with a new IAEA distinctive cachet on 7 November 2023. The collection is to honour the anniversary of her birth and recognize her significant contributions to nuclear science.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie’s legacy maintains a strong connection to the IAEA through her pioneering breakthroughs in radioactive research and the discovery of radium and polonium. Even coining the term ‘radioactivity,’ Sklodowska-Curie fundamentally transformed our understanding of the atomic and subatomic worlds that exist today. Her work as a physicist and chemist extends into practical applications as well, most notably in the fields of radiology and radiation therapy. Because of her pioneering efforts, these medical advancements have saved and greatly improved countless lives.

Sklodowska-Curie set a ground breaking precedent for women during a time when they were heavily marginalized in the scientific community by becoming the first woman ever to win a Nobel Prize and the first individual to claim this prestigious honour twice. To this day, she is also the only person ever to receive two Nobel Prizes in different fields of science, one in physics in 1903 and one in chemistry in 1911.

The special envelope also pays tribute to the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP), which upholds the IAEA’s commitment to promoting diversity and empowering women in nuclear science by aiming to increase the number of women in the field. The programme is designed to encourage and support women to engage in nuclear research and technology by providing female students with scholarships for master’s programmes and an opportunity to pursue an IAEA-facilitated internship.  

The IAEA also supports young women’s career development in the nuclear sector, via a programme honouring Austrian-Swedish physicist, Lise Meitner, who coincidentally shares the same birthday as Sklodowska-Curie. The two programmes work hand in hand, to attract and retain more women in nuclear. On the occasion of the birthdays of these two great scientists, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi announced an event commemorating International Women’s Day on 8 March 2024. The event will bring together participants of both programmes in Vienna, to exchange ideas and to strengthen their network and leadership skills, as well as industry and recruitment agencies to explore opportunities to advance their careers.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie is the latest famous historical figure the United Nations Postal Administration has released definitive stamps for. In past years, the administration has issued definitive stamps honouring Kofi Annan, Mahatma Gandhi, Florence Nightingale, Mother Teresa and Wangari Maathai.

The forthcoming release of this philatelic cover is by the renowned Norwegian designer and stamp engraver, Martin Mörck, who is tasked with the intricate work of engraving the stamps to be released.

Sklodowska-Curie remains a symbol of relentless dedication to the pursuit of knowledge and as a trailblazer for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This unique collection serves as a tribute to one of history’s most influential scientists.

This limited collection can be found on unstamps.org, as well as in the IAEA souvenir shop and the UNPA stamp counter at checkpoint 1, in the Vienna International Center on its release date.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The IAEA profiles employees to provide insight into the variety of career paths that support the Agency’s mission of Atoms for Peace and Development and to inspire and encourage readers, particularly women, to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) or STEM-adjacent fields. Read more profiles of women at the IAEA.

“I left the Royal Marsden Hospital in London with a suitcase full of scientific papers, because there were no laptops back then, and I wanted to bring all that knowledge with me.”

Jenia Vassileva speaks with passion when remembering her 1998 IAEA research fellowship in diagnostic radiology — a turning point in her 30-year career. Vassileva’s passion for medical physics remained undiminished in her role at the IAEA, working as a radiation protection specialist in the Radiation Protection of Patients Unit of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.

Growing up, Vassileva showed a marked tendency towards mathematics and physics from an early age. Her talents prompted her to study to become a nuclear engineer, an in-demand profession in 1970s Bulgaria, as the country was initiating its nuclear power programme. She pursued her studies at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute in the former Soviet Union.

On return to Bulgaria, she was working as an assistant professor in nuclear physics when she was given what she describes as a “life changing” opportunity to establish Bulgaria’s first academic programme in medical physics at Shumen University. With her knowledge of nuclear physics as a basis, Vassileva quickly gained expertise in medical physics under the mentorship of leading clinical medical physicists who shaped her passion in this specialized field. She also took courses offered at the faculty, carried out independent study and received international training.

“I did not even know that the profession of medical physicist existed. When I entered the field, it became my life,” she said.

Another career highlight was being selected for a three-month IAEA fellowship with the Diagnostic Physics Group at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where she developed a deeper knowledge in patient dosimetry and quality assurance in diagnostic radiology.

Vassileva likes to describe her professional life as a series of small steps and urges younger generations to stay resilient in the face of setbacks. “It is common to want to grow and develop our career fast, but often, life does not go that way,” she said. “We may feel discouraged when we do not see improvement, but we need to be grateful for the small steps and look forward with optimism towards realistic goals.”

“Nothing happens quickly,” Vassileva emphasized, pointing out that she received her PhD in Bulgaria in 2002 at a more advanced age than her peers. Her doctorate was based on her research in medical physics for diagnostic radiology and was the first on this subject in Bulgaria.

When Bulgaria started negotiations to join the European Union (EU), the country began harmonizing national legislation to EU conditions and directives. As a result, in 2003, Vassileva was invited by the director of the National Centre of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection (NCRRP) in the capital Sofia to establish a laboratory there dealing with radiation protection related to medical exposure.

As head of this new NCRRP department, Vassileva found herself at the helm of a laboratory that was driving all developments and the implementation of EU standards in patient dosimetry and quality assurance in Bulgaria, attracting top-tier international experts and technical support through EU special assistance programmes. The department also became a counterpart to the IAEA’s technical cooperation (TC) programme.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Mr Grossi’s visit to Slovakia included a trip to the country’s Mochovce NPP, with the Minister of Economy, Denisa Sakova, and the Director General of Slovenske Elektrarne,  which operates the NPP, Branislav Strycek. Also in attendance was the  chairperson of Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Slovakia, Marta Ziakova, reflecting Slovakia’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening its regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety.     

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Over 600 policy makers, regulators, owners and operators of nuclear and radiation facilities, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations and academic institutions are participating in discussions at the International Conference on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, Decommissioning, Environmental Protection and Remediation: Ensuring Safety and Enabling Sustainability.  

The weeklong conference that opens today will cover various thematic topics — on the management of radioactive waste, environmental protection, decommissioning of facilities using radioactive materials, and remediation of contaminated areas — and draw attention to the relationship between safety and sustainability.

“There are many opportunities for nuclear science and technology to contribute to sustainable development if we get it right – in particular, if it is safe throughout its lifecycle,” said Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security in her opening remarks, noting that “it is important to generate awareness on this relationship between safety and sustainability. Relevant interested parties: regulators, operators, governments, play a vital role as do the public who ultimately play an essential role in the acceptance and development of safe and sustainable solutions for the uses of nuclear technologies and applications.”

Through its mandate to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity, the IAEA actively supports countries in their efforts to reach United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The use of nuclear science and technology contributes directly to nine of the 17 SDGs, in areas including energy, human health, food production, water management and environmental protection. The safe management of radioactive waste, environmental releases, decommissioning, and remediation is key to ensuring that the use of nuclear science and technologies is itself sustainable.

The interconnection between safety and sustainability is a systemic and dynamic one as they both influence each other. Enabling the sustainable use of nuclear applications requires optimization of the related protection and safety parameters and at the same time, the optimisation of protection and safety is anchored in the three pillars of sustainability.

At the conference, participants will also learn about one of the ways in which the IAEA supports its Member States to strengthen the sustainable uses of nuclear applications through nuclear safety— which is through the peer reviews and advisory services it offers. One such service is the Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation (ARTEMIS) that offers independent expert opinion and advice based on the IAEA safety standards, technical guidance and international good practices.

Another important area that will be discussed at the conference is the IAEA safety standards that serve as a global reference for protecting human health and the environment. These safety standards highlight that the societal, economic and environmental aspects should also be taken into account and be integrated with safety aspects in a holistic way in the decision-making processes for sustainable development.

“Whichever way you look at it, safety – safety throughout the lifetime of nuclear science and technology – is intrinsically integrated with sustainable development,” said Evrard adding that “the safety standards also reflect this influence of sustainability on safety.” 

The IAEA conference is being held in cooperation with the European Commission (EC), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

“It is timely to consider carefully the implications of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals for the international framework for safety,” said Carl-Magnus Larsson, the Conference Chair.  “By learning from decommissioning, waste management, remediation, and environmental protection, we may position ourselves better in carrying out future activities in a way that is safe and sustainable,” he added.