Rosatom Technical Academy together with the IAEA hosted and conducted a 2-week Regional Research Reactor School on Research Reactor Operation and Utilization from 27 May to 7 June. Representatives from more than 11 countries improved competences in the field of nuclear knowledge on experimental power plants.
The event programme was packed with lectures by leading nuclear industry experts from the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, Rosatom Science and Innovations JSC, REIN Engineering JSC, Karpov Physical and Chemical Research Institute, and Proryv JSC. Speakers addressed up-to-date topics related to the application of technologies for fundamental research, radioisotope production, neutron scattering, radiography and materials characterization.
Nikolay Arkhangelsky, Advisor to the Innovation Management Unit of Rosatom Science and Innovations JSC, emphasized that more than a third of the nuclear reactors in operation in the world are used not for electricity generation but for scientific research, educational purposes and production of radioisotopes.
«Research reactors play a crucial role not only in the development of nuclear technology, but also in improving many aspects of everyday life, helping countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals», - noted Nikolay Arkhangelsky.
Alexander Zagornov, Director of the MBIR (Multipurpose Fast Research Reactor) project of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, shared the information with the audience about the technical characteristics of the unique research facility and presented the experimental capabilities of the reactor. The expert showed the bench base for the development of technologies for two-component nuclear power with a closed nuclear fuel cycle, which is at the final stage of development under the Second Federal Project.
In addition to lectures, participants had a unique opportunity to visit leading domestic scientific, educational and manufacturing enterprises. Thus, the students visited the MEPhI site, where they could get acquainted with the IRT research reactor for neutron flux generation for various experiments in physics and engineering.
In Obninsk, the foreign students visited the site of Kaluga Scientific and Technical Enterprise «CORAD», where they were shown technologies specializing in radiation treatment of food and non-food products. At the A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Center (MRRC), the participants were shown a proton accelerator for point targeting of tumors, and were also introduced to the production of radionuclide-based radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment.
During the second week of training, participants visited the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JUNR) in Dubna. There, together with experts from the Institute, they discussed the application of modern neutron sources to solve problems in the field of reactor physics, showed the IBR-2 pulsed reactor, and talked about neutron production.
The foreign students were also familiarized with the scientific infrastructure of the enterprise. Alexander Belushkin, Head of the Department of Neutron Research and Development in Condensed Media of the JINR Neutron Physics Laboratory, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, presented an overview report on the topic of neutron production. Using examples of the world neutron sources, he explained in detail how spallation reactions and nuclear fission are produced. The scientist spoke in detail about the key structural elements and operating principles of large neutron research facilities such as IBR-2, IR-8, FRM-II, PIK, etc.
The participants also visited the JINR Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, where they got acquainted with the Factory of Superheavy Elements, and the site of the NICA accelerator complex at the Laboratory of High Energy Physics. After the NICA collider at JINR is launched, scientists will be able to recreate and study in laboratory conditions a special state of matter - quark-gluon plasma, which existed in the first moments after the Big Bang, when our Universe was formed.
«Rosatom-IAEA Regional School provides a holistic view of resources a state should have to build research infrastructure on its territory participating in the IAEA nuclear programme. The knowledge and new experience gained will help participants to successfully plan the stages of research reactor development and production, as well as attract qualified personnel to participate in research projects», — Fredrick Chewe, a participant from Zambia, spoke about the opportunities provided by the School.
Viktor Mazepov, Director for International Cooperation of Rosatom Technical Academy, and IAEA expert Andrey Sitnikov addressed the participants at the closing of the School. They underlined the importance of developing educational programmes on research reactors and the need to continue working with the IAEA to advance knowledge and build competencies for industry professionals around the world.
«Organization of the Second Session of the Regional School on Research Reactors turned out to be one more event within the framework of cooperation between the Rosatom Technical Academy and the IAEA. During these two weeks the participants were able to deepen their knowledge not only on the production of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals, accounting and control of nuclear materials, nuclear and radiation protection, but also to get acquainted with various applications of research reactors. We hope that this School has become an important opportunity to build up your professional competences and will help you both in your personal development and in the development of the nuclear industry,» - Viktor Mazepov, Director for International Cooperation.
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As the IAEA Collaborating Centre on the topics of each of its core departments, Rosatom Technical Academy has been consistently building up its potential for cooperation with the Agency. The Research Reactor School was an example of the Technical Academy's involvement in harmonising the activities of the Department of Nuclear Energy and the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications with regard to training in non-energy applications of nuclear technology. The first Russian-IAEA School on Research Reactors was held in St Petersburg in 2022 and was a logical continuation of the joint activities in the field of non-energy applications of nuclear technologies organized by Rosatom Technical Academy.