From the analysis and testing of industrial materials to the production of radioisotopes, the global fleet of 235 research reactors across 53 countries is routinely leveraged by experts to exhibit scientific principles to students, produce life-saving medicines, propel our understanding of the environment and to develop advanced materials. However, studies demonstrate that many reactors are not sufficiently used, and their full potential remains untapped.
To help increase the use of research reactors, and to preserve the skills of an ageing workforce, the IAEA has launched a new e-learning course aimed at young specialists, technicians and analysts on neutron imaging, a non-destructive technique for analysing the structure of a sample, which is applied using a research reactor.
“Many research reactors, mainly in developing countries, were built in the 1960 and 1970s, with the idea of showing the potential of the peaceful uses [of nuclear science], such as energy or neutron beam-based applications,” explained Nikolay Kardjilov, a Neutron Tomography Beamline Scientist at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) who helped to develop the e-learning course. “The generation of scientists and operators who helped to establish these reactors, however, is approaching their retirement age and, due to the lack of continuing investments in infrastructure and equipment, it has been difficult to build a living, scientific user community around these facilities.”
Through capacity building and expert review missions, the IAEA supports countries in their assessment and maintenance of research reactors, counteracting both their physical ageing and obsolescence. However, there exists a corresponding need to plan for, and respond to, the retirement and departure of the industry’s ageing workforce.
Alongside education and training, isotope production for nuclear medicine applications and neutron activation analysis (NAA), neutron imaging is among the most common applications of research reactors.
