Data for Development

Nuclear science and technology provide unique and accurate data of relevance to a wide range of sustainable development topics. From analyzing water in glaciers, rivers and the ocean to monitoring animal disease outbreaks and food fraud, nuclear scientists are able to shed light on complex issues, providing countries with precise scientific data for informed decision-making. The IAEA helps its Member States to apply nuclear science to generate, store and share valuable data through capacity building, the provision of equipment and the creation of regional and interregional networks.

The IAEA also maintains a number of topic-specific databases, including the IAEA Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation, Global Network of Isotopes in Rivers and IAEA/FAO Mutant Variety databases, among others. The long-term collection of data, much of which is accessible to the general public through NUCLEUS, allows countries to track changes over time and across regions.