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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