The development and enhancement of systems to detect radiation and their use to ensure nuclear security was in focus at a recent IAEA Technical Meeting.
The Second Technical Meeting on Radiation Detection Instruments for Nuclear Security: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities, held 16-20 April 2018, brought 135 representatives from 71 Member States and more than 70 representatives from equipment manufacturers and vendors together for discussions on topics such as air cargo detection operations, maintenance challenges and the role of drones and artificial intelligence.
“The implementation of many nuclear security related activities requires the use of radiation detection instruments,” Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Security, told meeting participants at the opening. “These uses range from detection of material out of regulatory control to searches for stolen sources, and ensuring security of material under control and developing nuclear forensic libraries.”
Elsie Monale, Chief Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Radiation Security from the Republic of South Africa, and one of the meeting’s two co-presidents, said discussions at the meeting helped the IAEA understand Member States’ needs and challenges, and participants learn from each other’s experiences.
