What's ahead for the IAEA and the global nuclear agenda in 2017? Here is a preview of selected meetings and events:
February
Through its programme to fight cancer, the IAEA will join in marking World Cancer Day on 4 February.
March
The IAEA Board’s meeting will open on 6 March in Vienna.
The 7th Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties of the Convention on Nuclear Safety will commence at IAEA headquarters in Vienna on 27 March, where the Contracting Parties will discuss deficiencies and strengths in national programmes and how to improve nuclear safety worldwide through a constructive exchange of views.
April
Key developments in the applications of radiation science and technology will be discussed at the ICARST conference beginning on 24 April. The conference will serve as a platform for more than 300 industry professionals, officials and academics from countries worldwide to explore the latest developments in the applications of radiation science and technology to meet global challenges.
May
New developments, trends and challenges related to insect pest management in agriculture and public health will be discussed at an IAEA conference beginning on 22 May. Academics, industry experts and policy makers will explore how to increase the effectiveness of insect pest control. Participants will include professionals in areas beyond the field of entomology, such as geneticists and applied researchers, human, animal and plant protection specialists, public health and medical personnel, and officials in sanitary and phytosanitary regulatory bodies.
Also in May the international conference on the IAEA Technical Cooperation (TC) programme will provide an ideal opportunity for taking stock of what has been achieved through the TC programme and demonstrating how the programme can best contribute to the development and attainment of the SDGs in Member States.
June
Various types of stakeholder organizations in Member States will have an opportunity to exchange information on the latest approaches, advances and challenges in the demonstration of the safety of nuclear power plants planned to be licensed and constructed in the near future. The focus of the meeting will be on water cooled reactors.
The next meeting of the Board of Governors will commence on 12 June.
Developments in clinical applications in the fields of radiation oncology, radiation biology and medical physics, with a view to addressing the challenge of cancer management in Member States, will be reviewed by health care professionals during a conference in Vienna.
The IAEA will continue long-standing efforts to foster the exchange of information on national and international programmes, and more generally new developments and experiences in the field of fast reactors and related fuel cycle technologies, through its series of international conferences on fast reactors and related fuel cycles. This year’s edition will focus on next generation nuclear systems for sustainable development (FR17).
September
The IAEA General Conference will commence in Vienna on 18 September, marking the 61st anniversary of the IAEA. Its programme will again include a Scientific Forum held on 19-20 September, and the IAEA Board will meet both before and after the General Conference on 11 and 25 September.
October
The IAEA will continue to organize conferences on nuclear power plant life management. This year the objective of the fourth conference in Lyon, France, is to emphasize the role of plant life management programmes in assuring safety and improving reliable nuclear power plant operation, and to provide key elements and good practices related to the safety aspects of ageing, ageing management and long term operation.
The IAEA will hold its 4th International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century from 30 October to 1 November in Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. Participants will discuss the role of nuclear power in mitigating climate change and in contributing to sustainable development; the factors that affect the development of nuclear power and the role of the Milestones approach in newcomer and expanding countries; how to ensure high levels of safety, security and non-proliferation and to establish appropriate infrastructure; and new developments in areas related to nuclear power, including innovation and diversification in nuclear power technologies.
November
The IAEA Board’s Committee for Technical Cooperation will meet starting 20 November. The full IAEA Board will convene on 23 November.
The International Conference on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities will focus on exchange of information, practices and experiences among regulatory bodies, law enforcement organizations, facility operators, shippers, carriers and technical support organisations related to the physical protection of nuclear material and facilities to include transportation.
December
The last conference of the year will review actions taken and results achieved in radiation protection in medicine since the 2012 International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine in Bonn. The conference will focus on actions proposed in the Bonn Call for Action, look ahead at new developments influencing radiation protection in medicine, and review advances, challenges and opportunities in this field.
To stay up-to-date with IAEA events and meetings, please visit our meeting pages.
