Introduction
The Technical Meeting on Nuclear Forensics will build on the outcomes of the prior IAEA Technical Meeting on Nuclear Forensics, which took place in April 2019. The meeting will address recent statements in the General Conference Resolutions supporting the development and widest possible implementation of nuclear forensics and radiological crime scene management among Member State partners. The meeting will include plenary sessions with key speakers, as well as parallel technical sessions on Nuclear Forensics Capability Building - Initiation and Sustainability, Nuclear Forensics Human Resource - Development and Sustainability, Nuclear Forensics Practices and Experiences, and Nuclear Forensic Science Research and Development - Current Status and Future Opportunities.
Objectives
The objective of the meeting is to focus on the application of nuclear forensics in response to incidents involving nuclear and other radioactive materials out of regulatory control, and to demonstrate links to radiological crime scene management, and support to potential judicial proceedings. Another important objective is to highlight States' experience in utilizing nuclear forensics for the prevention and response to criminal or intentional unauthorized acts involving nuclear or other radioactive material out of regulatory control.
Target Audience
Participants should comprise nuclear and forensic scientists, nuclear security event responders, law enforcement officials; prosecutors, nuclear regulators, nuclear security specialists and managers, those responsible for policies and plans for nuclear forensics and radiological crime scene management as well a as other subject matter experts involved in the conduct of a nuclear forensics examination and formulation of conclusions involving an investigation of a nuclear security event. Participants should have awareness and understanding of the role of nuclear forensics as a preventive and response measure to criminal or intentional unauthorized acts involving nuclear or other radioactive material out of regulatory control.
Working Language(s)
English
Structure
The Technical Meeting programme will consist of an opening session, plenary sessions, technical sessions, interactive poster presentations, interactive content sessions, side events, mini exercises and a closing session. The opening session will include welcoming addresses by representatives of the IAEA and cooperating organizations. The plenary sessions will continue with a combination of invited keynote presentations and contributed presentations addressing the main themes of the meeting. Each technical session will include selected presentations and/or pane discussions delivered by invited experts and participants and based on the extended abstracts submitted. The meeting will also include poster and interactive content sessions, with sufficient time for face-to-face discussions and interaction with colleagues. The final plenary session will be dedicated to technical and scientific findings and investigative conclusions that inform future IAEA planning.
The agenda will be structured with a balance of invited Member States' presentations, panel discussions and poster presentations.
Recognising the importance of international collaboration in nuclear forensics, the IAEA cooperates with nuclear forensic partners, including the Nuclear Forensics International Working Group (ITWG), the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) and the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), all of which are expected to take part in the meeting. Exhibition areas will be available for the organizations above and the IAEA's partner institutes.