Nuclear Security Culture Discussed at the IAEA Conference

Vienna, Austria -- July 4, 2013

A panel of experts made presentations and discussed various approaches to assess and improve nuclear security culture as a prerequisite for better nuclear security. Panelists presented their experience in conducting self-assessment exercises (Indonesia), promoting better nuclear security through regional Centers of Excellence (Japan, Korea and China), fostering the next generation of nuclear security professionals through a MSc degree program in nuclear security (Netherlands), and lessons learned from security culture failures at critical nuclear facilities (USA). Presentations and more information are available here.

Nuclear Security Culture for Practitioners: South Africa

The aim of this workshop is to help develop and measure nuclear security culture at nuclear and radiological facilities in South Africa. It is intended, in part, to build on the successes of the previous workshop “Ensuring a Secure Nuclear Infrastructure in South Africa” held in Johannesburg in December, 2012. This workshop will address a similar theme through examples from overseas organisations and share these experiences with the South African delegates. The goal is for participants take these experiences, and where appropriate incorporate the lessons learned into their home institutions. This workshop hopes to leverage the enthusiasm of some of the attendees of the previous workshop including the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), iThemba LABS and Eskom who engage operators of South African nuclear and radiological facilities on the topic of nuclear security culture. The workshop is organized in cooperation by the Institute for Security Studies, University of Witwatesrand, and Partnership for Nuclear Security (US Department of State).

New Masters Programme in Nuclear Security is Launched at Delft University of Technology

A ceremony launching the first ever Masters Programme in Nuclear Security was held on 18 April 2013 at the Reactor Institute of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, marking the growing importance of security on the global nuclear agenda. Five other European universities are also taking part in the programme: the University of Oslo, the Technical University of Vienna, the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences, the National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos" in Greece, and the University of Manchester Dalton Nuclear Institute.

Ten students are currently enrolled in the programme, under which they will spend time or attend lectures at the participating universities in the next 20 months. The syllabus is based on the 12 modules defined in the IAEA's Educational Programme in Nuclear Security, which is a publication under the IAEA Nuclear Security Series. The course includes prevention and planning; detection of, and response to, unauthorized access; theft; sabotage; and illegal transfer or other malicious acts involving nuclear material, other radioactive substances or their associated facilities. The Masters Programme aims to provide nuclear security managers with the ability to effectively build strategies and tactics within organizations to manage security hazards and risks.

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Promoting Nuclear Security Culture in the Developing World

08/04/2013 - Trieste, Italy

Nuclear and radioactive materials, though useful and beneficial in many fields including energy, medicine, agriculture and industry, could pose a danger to the environment and to the public if handled improperly.

To help developing countries build effective nuclear security strategies, ICTP and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are conducting the third annual "International School on Nuclear Security" in Trieste from 8 to 19 April 2013.

The school, which combines ICTP's international network of researchers in developing countries with IAEA nuclear security expertise, plays an essential role in supporting countries' efforts to prepare experts who are well equipped and qualified to analyse national nuclear security needs, prevent and combat the threat of sabotage or the use of nuclear and radioactive material for criminal or unauthorized acts, and prepare effective response measures to nuclear security events.

This year's school attracted 182 applicants, of which 48 were selected, representing 39 countries (7 of which are least-developed countries). Participants come from regulatory authorities, universities, research institutes, national ministries, and law enforcement agencies.

"One of the best ways to ensure the sustainability of a secure nuclear culture is through education and training," explained Tim Andrews of the IAEA's Department of Nuclear Safety and Security and one of the school's lecturers.

Co-sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the school was initially proposed by the Italian government in 2010 during a Nuclear Summit in Washington, DC, where a number of nations pledged their support to strengthen global nuclear security.

"This school is a clear sign of the commitment of the international community to ensuring nuclear security," said Giovanni Brauzzi, Deputy Director General/ Principal Director for Security, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in opening remarks at the school.

Brauzzi added, "Italy attaches great importance to the role that ICTP and the IAEA are taking as disseminators of nuclear security knowledge, especially in their 'training the trainer' approach."

More details about the school are available on its website.

Original link. 

CITS Senior Researcher Dmitriy Nikonov was one of the invited speakers at the School.

Nuclear Security Culture Assessment in Indonesia Underway

During the period of November 2012-February 2013, the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN) is conducting a self-assessment of nuclear security culture at three of its research reactor facilities at Serpong, Bandung and Yogyakarta. Began in October 2012, this collaborative pilot project between BATAN and CITS/UGA is utilizing a self-assessment methodology, which is currently being developed by IAEA technical expert group, with the results of the process to be shared during the International Conference on Nuclear Security in Vienna in July 2013. 

BATAN self-assessment teams conduct surveys and interviews with select groups of facility employees to assess the status of security culture and identify gaps, which later will be addressed.