Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme - Side Events

Side Events: Day 3

THURSDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2024 - Morning

• Characterization and irradiation for the preservation of cultural heritage
  
  Two IAEA collaborating centers have been designated in France on the theme of heritage preservation. This side-event aims at giving an overview of their complementary activities. 
  
  Since 2021, the University of Paris-Saclay, at the heart of Europe’s largest innovation campus, has been progressively opening up its characterization and dating potential to international collaboration in an unprecedented way, with the IAEA “Atoms for Heritage” program, through the organization of training modules, international exchanges, a broad program of events, methodological and instrumental developments, including for computing and data analysis, and e-learning modules. Several of these programs are supported by the Île-de-France Region. The Université Paris-Saclay collaboration center comprises more than 10 accelerators on site, including a dedicated synchrotron platform, AMS C14 facilities, ion beam accelerators and ion implanters. These facilities help characterize heritage materials to reconstruct past chronologies, document artistic and production methods, describe the impact of human activities on their natural environment. A key development has been the search for ways to reduce irradiation dose to achieve the safest possible conditions for the advanced study of heritage objects, a decade-long joint initiative by teams from Paris-Saclay and the IAEA.
  
  With over 50 years of existence, ARC-Nucléart has been designated as an IAEA Collaborating Centre, recognizing its international expertise in the conservation and restoration of organic materials from cultural importance through ionizing radiation treatments together with other conservation activities. Each year, many museums, local authorities, or even private owners call on ARC-Nucléart for its wide range of techniques and skills to put science at the service of cultural heritage. The center relies on a multidisciplinary team of both scientists and staff with a diverse range of cultural backgrounds. Heritage conservation professionals exploit the potential of gamma rays for the preservation of cultural heritage artefacts, particularly in the fight against the harmful decomposers of organic matter such as insects, fungi, and bacteria. ARC-Nucléart also developed the so-called "Nucléart" consolidation method using styrene – polyester resin impregnation followed by radio polymerization. The method is applied to weakened wooden objects of cultural significance. Once objects are hardened and consolidated, they can be restored, exposed, or even be used again for their original purpose. This event is organized by France.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. in Conference Room M2, M Building, 1 floor.
   
• Development of rice (Oryza sativa L.) lines resistant to herbicides through seed induced mutation with gamma rays
  
  Induced mutation is used with great success by different breeding programmes for developing new cultivars. The method commonly used for promoting mutation in rice is seed treatment with ionizing radiation, such as gamma-rays. The Epagri rice breeding programme has been working since 1985 in collaboration with the Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA/USP (University of São Paulo)) for the development of new cultivars through mutation with gamma-rays. The partnership allowed the development of two mutant rice cultivars, SCS114  ‘Andosan’and SCS118 ‘Marques’. These mutant cultivars showed good resistance to lodging, high yield potential and long grains with good quality. Different research groups have sought to improve the induced mutation technique as a tool to develop cultivars that show tolerance to herbicides. In paddy rice production systems, weedy rice (red rice) is the main limiting factor that reduces rice yield and can severely reduce rice production worldwide. The use of herbicide-resistant rice cultivars may improve weed control, reducing costs and labor associated with manual removal of red rice (roguing). Herbicide-resistant rice is particularly useful where rice is direct seeded. Herbicides inhibiting acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) are very effective to control grass weeds, including weedy rice in paddy rice production systems. ACCase inhibitors affect the enzyme by blocking fatty acid biosynthesis, causing plant death. This herbicide resistance in rice is conferred by a single point mutation resulting in an amino acid substitution of the carboxyl transferase domain of ACCase, as has been reported in many grasses weed species.  In this work, the development of mutant rice lines with resistance to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides developed through gamma-ray irradiation is reported. This event is organized by Brazil.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. in Conference Room M4, M Building, Ground floor.
   
• Innovative Radiation Strategies in Micro/Nanoplastic Remediation
  
  This event will discuss the latest research and advancements in the application of radiation for the efficient degradation and remediation of micro/nanoplastics. The experts will introduce innovative methodologies, evaluate the efficacy of various radiation-based approaches, and discuss prospective developments in this pivotal area. Participants will acquire knowledge on the capabilities of radiation technologies to address plastic pollution, contributing to enhanced environmental sustainability and public health. This event is organized by Brazil.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. in Conference Room M5, M Building, Ground floor.

• Skydio - World Leader in Autonomous Flight for Security & Inspections
  
  Skydio is the leading US drone manufacturer trust by Los Alamos and many other US Department of Energy sites. This event is organized by United States of America.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. in Conference Room MOE100, M Building, Ground floor.
   
• 50 years of the RECH-1 Chilean Reactor: Assessing OMARR and IRRUR Missions for Sustainability and New Applications
  
  In the framework of the 50th anniversary of the Chilean Research Reactor (RECH-1), the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission proposes to hold a meeting to present the objectives and main results of the two missions, OMARR and IRRUR, carried out simultaneously in Chile, in order to review potential new applications of the reactor, as well as measures to be adopted in terms of aging. All this to promote the sustainability of a relevant facility for the socioeconomic development of the country. This event is organized by Chile.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 8.45 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. in E-Space, M Building, 1 floor.

THURSDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2024 - Lunchtime

• Promoting Ocean Health in the Gulf and Sea of Oman – A Kuwait-IAEA Collaboration
  
  Climate change is driving change in the ocean – increasing temperatures, melting glaciers, and more frequent extreme weather events. The rising seawater levels, lowering of seawater pH and increased temperatures stress not only marine organisms, including seafood species, but also the coastal communities. 
  
  As the effect of climate change worsens, concern has grown that warmer, less alkaline waters could affect the growth and health of fish and the way pollutants affect food chains, which impacts seafood safety. Therefore, monitoring and assessing ocean change is key to designing policies for ensuring the resilience of marine ecosystems and coastal communities.   
  
  The Gulf being a very warm water is experiencing a lowering of pH at an unprecedented scale, while at the same time, huge desalination capacities increase the salinity countering the effect of the drop in pH. Over the past two decades, Kuwait has carried out extensive assessments of the ecosystem functioning and has observed resilience among the Gulf organisms to climatic stresses.  
  
  The long-standing collaboration between KISR and the IAEA’s Nuclear Sciences and Applications Department was formalized in 2019 through the designation of KISR as an IAEA Collaborating Centre, and re-designation in 2024 to include both radioactive and non-radioactive contamination in coastal and marine areas. The State of Kuwait and the IAEA wish to take this cooperation to another level through a new Ocean Health project in the Gulf.  
  
  This project will address the information gaps as improving the health of the ocean requires reliable data and science-based knowledge on the impact of climate change and increasing CO2 levels on the ocean, and the impact of pollution from microplastics, radionuclides, and inorganic and organic contaminants of emerging concern (e.g. forever chemicals). This information is essential for informed decision-making and the implementation of effective conservation and protection actions for the oceans.  
  
  Looking at the scale of the project it is prudent that it is implemented in phases. Phase 1 of the project will cover the Gulf and Sea of Oman and later Phase 2 and Phase 3 will cover other oceans across the continents. 
  
  The availability of KISR’s new RV “Al-Mustakshif” (“the Explorer”) will be a central tool to enhance joint KISR-IAEA open-ocean research and building capacities for the Gulf region and beyond, supporting e.g. IAEA’s NUTEC Plastics flagship initiative and Ocean Acidification International Coordination Center work as well as KISR’s strategic vision to be a regional and international player in environment and climate change.  
  
  This high-level side event at the Ministerial Conference will launch the Kuwait-IAEA joint project to support Ocean Health in the Gulf. The State of Kuwait and the IAEA would like to invite regional partners to share their experiences and join this project. This event is organized by Kuwait.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. Board Room A, M Building, 2 floor.
   
• France global support for infrastructure development in the fight against cancer
  
  The unequal worldwide distribution of radiotherapy facilities and trained personnel leads to an acute cancer care gap affecting many countries. Developing such resources in low- and middle-income countries, and making them accessible for the local population is still a long way. France has been strongly engaged in supporting IAEA initiatives and projects under the “One Heath” approach, in line with its strategy for world health, particularly in the fight against cancer through the Rays of Hope initiative.
  
  Numerous actions are already implemented by various French stakeholders: contribution to the establishment of the necessary regulatory framework, consulting services for health infrastructure development, project management for hospital construction, building of facilities, partnerships for long-term human capacity building promoting gender equality, support to operation, experience sharing in facility and equipment operation, patients’ safety and wellbeing, and so on. We are convinced that grouping all these potential services under a global, holistic and modular offer maximizes their effectiveness and management. One key aspect of the approach is associating regional champions to the initiative.
  
  The workshop will provide information on existing actions implemented with the support of the Agency and will showcase the spirit of the French global support for capacity building in the fight against cancer. French stakeholders and representatives from partner and beneficiary countries will share success stories, lessons learned and testimonies contributing to a more comprehensive approach towards one of the world’s greatest societal challenges – equal access to health. This event is organized by France and the Kingdom of Morocco.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. in Conference Room M2, M Building, 1 floor.
   
• Empowering Young Women in Nuclear: Advancing Leadership in Latin America and the Caribbean
  
  This side event is part of ARCAL’s initiative aimed at training young women professionals in the field of nuclear science and technology. This side event offers a platform for panel discussions featuring prominent women speakers from the Agency and the region of Latin America and the Caribbean, who will share their experiences and perspectives in the nuclear field and professional development. Young professionals participating in the training will have the opportunity to present their own experiences. The event also aims to serve as a networking opportunity amongst women at various stages of their careers in the nuclear field. This event is organized by Chile.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. in M3, M Building, 1 floor.
   
• Accelerating Progress- The important role of nuclear science and technology infrastructure
  
  This event will showcase the role of nuclear science and technology infrastructure in addressing the most pressing scientific and developmental challenges of our time. Through a series of case studies, it will explore the numerous beneficial applications of research reactors, neutron beam instruments, and accelerator derived capabilities, such as synchrotron light source facilities, and other cutting-edge technologies. This event is organized by Australia.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. in Conference Room M4, M Building, Ground floor.
   
• Evaluating the Social Implications and Benefits of Introducing Micro Reactors in Brazil's Electrical Grid: A Comprehensive Analysis of Economic, Environmental, and Community Effects.
  
  This side event will explore the multifaceted social impact of integrating micro reactors into Brazil's electrical generation system. As Brazil seeks to diversify its energy portfolio and enhance the reliability of its power supply, micro reactors present a promising solution. Their integration offers considerable advantages, particularly for industries and service companies with intensive electricity consumption, as well as for the power grid in cities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants, such as those in the Brazilian backlands (sertão brasileiro - a remote, rural, and often arid region in the interior of Brazil).
  
  Additionally, the event will address the integration of micro reactor electricity generation with renewable sources (solar and wind) to ensure energy quality. Discussions will also cover studies on public acceptance and micro reactor installation sites, adhering to ESG criteria - Environmental, Social, and Governance - along with economic standards, to ensure economic, social, and environmental sustainability. This event is organized by Brazil.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.15 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. in Conference Room M5, M Building, Ground floor.
   
• Advancing Plastics Recycling in Asia-Pacific: NUTEC's Innovative Approaches and Future Pathways
  
  Since its launch in May 2021, the IAEA Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics) has achieved significant milestones in addressing plastic pollution by pioneering advanced recycling technologies. This event will spotlight the transition from research to development in the Asia-Pacific region, showcasing collaborative efforts with industrial partners, key achievements, and valuable lessons learned. Highlighting success stories from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, the session will provide an engaging overview of the current progress and future directions, emphasizing the positive impact and potential of NUTEC Plastics in combating plastic pollution. This event is organized by Philippines.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.15 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. in Conference Room M6, M Building, Ground floor.
   
• Theranostics in Asia-Pacific: Achievements and way forward
  
  Since its inception, theranostics has emerged as a highly effective modality in cancer management, with proven clinical efficacy in various malignancies. This side event will highlight the successes achieved in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on the general applications of theranostics in clinical settings. Highlighting key milestones and collaborative efforts, the session will emphasize the importance of partnerships in advancing theranostics. By sharing success stories from various countries in the region, participants will gain insights into the transformative impact of theranostics and the critical role of international cooperation in improving cancer care.  This event is organized by the KIRAMS, Republic of Korea.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. in Conference Room M7, M Building, Ground floor.
   
• PEANUT: The Peaceful Nuclear Technologies Portal
   

  The global uptake of peaceful nuclear technologies is hindered by a lack of accessible information on the available technologies and how they can advance new and existing human / environmental development objectives.

  Such technologies contend with disproportionate historic opposition and fear; a perception of (over)complexity; a lack of clear-eyed analysis of synergies; demographic and industrial considerations; and poorly communicated comparative benefits over non-nuclear equivalent technologies.

  BASIC’s Peaceful Nuclear Technologies Portal (PEANUT) is a “one-stop-shop” website for global policy communities to access reliable information on peaceful nuclear technologies, their comparative advantages and disadvantages, their synergies, and the contexts in which they are most useful, driven in the first instance by development needs relevant to agriculture, water, and environment.
  This event is organised by the United Kingdom. 
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.15 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. in Conference Room MOE100, M Building, Ground floor.
   

• Bridging Continents for Equal Health: The EU-Africa Synergy in Advancing Targeted Alpha Therapy through Collaboration between the Steve Biko Academic Hospital-NuMeRI Anchor Center (South Africa) and the European Commission’s JRC (Karlsruhe, Germany)
  
  This side event will showcase the exemplary collaboration between the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Steve Biko Academic Hospital- NuMeRI Anchor Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, which exemplifies an equal partnership in the field of nuclear medical applications. The session will highlight the significant progress made in combating prostate cancer through the development and application of Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT), underscoring the mutual benefits and impact of this cooperation for both Europe and Africa. Attendees will gain insights into the journey of developing 225Actinium-PSMA617, the ground-breaking building block for an innovative treatment of prostate cancer, and the successful capacity-building initiatives that have led to over 400 South African patients receiving life-saving therapies. The event will delve into the role of the JRC in training hospital personnel and supplying critical medical isotopes, demonstrating the tangible outcomes of this transcontinental alliance.  Furthermore, the side event will explore avenues to amplify this partnership's success, with potential future support from the IAEA and other potential partners, to broaden the reach of TAT capacity building on a global scale. Participants will engage in discussions on how this EU-Africa model of equal partnership could serve as a beacon for international cooperation in healthcare innovation and the fight against cancer. This event is organized by the European Union.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. in E-Space, M Building, First floor.
   
• Nuclear Techniques in Addressing Food Security Challenges: Successful Stories from the Global South
  
  Nuclear techniques have significantly enhanced food security in the Global South by improving crop yields, pest control, and irrigation efficiency. This event is organized by Sudan and Italy.
  
  This event will be held on Thursday, 28 November 2024, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. in E-Space, M Building, Ground floor.