Peaceful Uses Of Atomic Energy Research Articles

The role of the IAEA in establishing international standards for the use of atomic energy (retrospective analysis)

Paradoxically, the peaceful use of nuclear energy and all the prospects it opens up for humanity often coexist with the prospect of nuclear proliferation and nuclear war. This difficult perception is understandable: the materials, knowledge, and expertise needed to produce nuclear weapons are generally no different from those needed to produce nuclear energy and conduct nuclear research.Therefore, ensuring the peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy has always been in the center of attention of the international community. The approach is determined by a complex of national and international measures. It is generally accepted that the primary responsibility for regulating the use of nuclear energy rests with national authorities, but it is also clear that other countries may also be affected. Thus, like many other human activities with potentially transboundary consequences, nuclear energy regulation requires a residual, and in some cases joint, responsibility on the part of the international community to ensure the harmonization of standards, coordination and pooling of resources and services, and regulatory cooperation this activity.In this regard, the IAEA and other international and regional organizations play the role of coordination centers. Article II of the IAEA Statute states that the organization shall seek to accelerate and increase the contribution of atomic energy to world peace, health and prosperity and shall provide, as far as possible, assistance upon request. IAEA supervision or control shall not be used to achieve any military objective.International peration in the field of nuclear energy over the past six decades has resulted in legally binding norms and advisory standards and regulations. This article outlines this global legal framework for the safe and peaceful development of nuclear energy. In particular, it concerns nuclear safety, radiation protection, radioactive waste management, transportation of radioactive materials, emergency assistance and planning, civil liability for nuclear damage, physical protection of nuclear material, armed attack on nuclear facilities, safeguards and controls carried out and provided by the IAEA.

How to transfer knowledge to Generation Z

Abstract. With this paper, we aim to raise awareness of the challenges of generational transition in the German nuclear industry. We present potential solutions for transferring and preserving knowledge in the future. For approximately 60 years, Germany has operated nuclear facilities successfully and safely. Germany phased out the peaceful use of nuclear energy in 2023 by shutting down the last three nuclear power plants. At the same time, a generational shift is imminent within the next 5–10 years, as a significant number of knowledgeable experts will be retiring. Simultaneously, the first “fully digitalized” Generation Z, whose learning methods and preferences differ significantly from the previous generation (see Fig. 1), will enter the job market (McKinsey & Company et al., 2018). This requires the development and establishment of new methods and didactics (Chillakuri, 2020). Furthermore, educational institutions in Germany are reducing their curriculum offerings in the field of nuclear technology. This necessarily leads to the challenge of introducing and training a growing number of newcomers with limited prior knowledge in the complex field of nuclear technology. In our investigation, we focused on the development of new learning concepts. Various research approaches, studies, and internal evaluations were considered that addressed the learning preferences and styles of Generation Z (McKinsey & Company et al., 2018; Chillakuri, 2020; Cilliers, 2017). Generation Z is characterized by a strong commitment to digital technologies, a high affinity for collaboration, and a preference for interactive and visual learning methods. Unlike previous generations, Generation Z increasingly favours informal, flexible, and context-based learning (Cilliers, 2017). To address these attributes, a multilevel learning concept was developed. The concept includes various digital and asynchronous (on-demand) formats that facilitate an attractive and flexible learning environment. A variety of media types, such as e-learning videos, podcasts, animated films, and virtual realities, were well-received by the participants. Attention span, which has changed compared to previous generations, was taken into account. To maintain attention, playful elements (gamification) were inserted into the format. Additionally, online expert discussions were established, as personal exchanges convey experiences and emotions, leading to a higher level of memorability. The future of nuclear safety and competence in Germany depends on a successful transfer of knowledge in the coming years. A lack of adaptation of learning methods and didactics to the needs of current and future generations risks the loss of a significant portion of accumulated expertise. This loss poses a risk to nuclear safety, can drive up costs, and can lead to project delays of several years.

Результати діяльності Інституту проблем безпеки атомних електростанцій НАН України у 2022 р.

The most important results of the scientific and scientific-organizational activities of the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (ISP NPP, NAS of Ukraine) in 2022 are presented. It is shown that even under the extremely difficult conditions in which the entire country is due to the invasion of Russian troops into the territory of Ukraine, the employees of the Institute made great efforts to implement planned tasks to ensure nuclear and radiation safety of the destroyed fourth power unit of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, handling of nuclear hazardous materials, as well as increasing the reliability and safety of nuclear power plants operation. The results of these studies were implemented in the fields of production, electric power industry and during the educational process, as well as highlighted in a number of publications and scientific events. Thus, despite the objective difficulties and guided by the development strategy, the ISP NPP plans to preserve the scientific and technical potential under the conditions of power outages, lack of heating and water supply in some places, disruption of the functioning of public transport, telecommunications and data transmission facilities, etc., as well as to become the leading organization of Ukraine for scientific and technical support of activities for the peaceful use of nuclear energy

On the Legal Mechanism of Nuclear Safety in China under the Background of Environmental Protection

Background: Peaceful use of nuclear energy is of great significance for ensuring energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and achieving sustainable development environmental-friendly. Nuclear safety is the premise and foundation for the development of civil nuclear power industry. As a country with the largest scale of nuclear power plants under construction, preventing accidents properly is the best way to ensure nuclear safety. However, under the background of environmental protection nowadays, China has only officially implemented two laws related to nuclear safety - the Law on Prevention and Control of Radioactive Pollution and Nuclear Safety Law. It cannot fully meet the needs of nuclear safety supervision in China.Methods: To highlight the problems in the current legal system pertaining to nuclear safety, a legislation study is used to analyze the current content of related legislation and regulations. Comparative methodology is also adopted in this paper to analyze the legislative and administrative experience of other countries with or without nuclear power industry and summarize the problems in the current legal system in China.Result: Currently, the development of nuclear safety law system reflects the historical process of the development and application of nuclear technology in China. China’s nuclear safety-related legislation closely fits the strategy of China’s nuclear technology development and application under the background of environmental protection. Even though, there are still deficiencies about China’s nuclear safety legal system now, for example: the atomic energy law is still absent in China, so pertaining measures must be taken to develop and improve the nuclear safety legal system in China as for not only promoting the development of nuclear industry but also avoiding radioactive pollution incidents and protecting environment. Moreover, there is a conflict between the concept of “nuclear safety” in the Nuclear Safety Law and its content.

TRITIUM IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

Environmental tritium are natural and anthropogenic origins, the distribution has spread in atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere as a variety of chemical forms. The natural tritium is produced by nuclear reactions of neutron with N and O in the upper atmosphere, the production rate changes with 11-year cycle of the solar activity. The production and radioactive decay of natural tritium is balanced on the whole earth, results in the inventory of about 1EBq. Anthropogenic tritium by nuclear weapons testing had been released in 1950s-1960s, at highest intensity just before the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963, and the total release would be 186EBq. In accordance with a peaceful use of nuclear energy, tritium has been releasing to the environment as airborne and liquid effluents from nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel reprocessing plants. The release from the nuclear power plants depends on the reactor type. Other sources are the tritium production facility of military purpose and the consumer products that use tritium as luminescent energy and disposed to landfill site. Internal dose is only concerned on tritium due to low decay energy, suggesting tritium concentrations in drinking water and food are critical for dose evaluation.

Movement for Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy and the Practice of Technological Utopia in the Early Cold War

<p indent="0mm">Focusing on the movement for the peaceful use of atomic energy in the 1950s, this study analyzes the process of shaping, developing, and triggering risks. Additionally, it provides a reflection of the atomic utopia. The collation and analysis of archival reports, memoirs of witnesses, news reports, and relevant comments show the extensive implications of early ideas, technological choices, and interest relations in the field of nuclear application. The Cold War promoted superpowers to use the existing nuclear foundation to shape the atomic utopia, and the national independence movement encouraged other countries to enter the abovementioned utopia using nuclear power to achieve their own strategic objectives. The high energy consumption of modern society, unremitting pursuit of technical efficiency and economies of scale, excessive optimism of humans in managing complex systems and natural phenomena, and balance of interests in political and social fields promoted the emergence and strengthening of the atomic utopia, thereby mitigating the inherent vulnerability of large-scale energy systems.

Les atomes démobilisés, objets-frontière : la courte vie des isotopes en URSS

The article studies the peaceful use of atomic energy in the USSR in the 1950s-1960s on the basis of radioactive isotopes. The author considers isotopes as boundary objects that connect the worlds of secret production of radioactive material with the worlds of the latter’s open use in the national economy. Special attention is paid to interfaces of de-mobilization – infrastructures and hybrid institutional venues (from Glavatom to the Isotopes store on Leninskii Prospekt) that ensure the functioning of isotopes as boundary objects. The techno-social order, in which the project of transforming production, improving the quality of life and creating the material conditions of communism with the help of radioactive materials, coexists with the complexities of implementation, recognized risks and a crisis of nuclear optimism, is described as socialism of isotopes.

Activities of Kazakhstan on general disarmament

The whole world knows that with the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, Kazakhstan was the first in the world to refuse nuclear weapons. By its unprecedented decision, which has no analogs in the world, the Republic of Kazakhstan has earned the moral right to demand the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons throughout the world and call upon the states that are members of the nuclear club to make the same decision. The article presents the results of deep scientific research of literature and scientific articles on the activities of Kazakhstan in the field of general disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, which made it possible to present an overall picture of the current state of the problem. The ban on nuclear weapons testing has become global. During 30 years of struggle for a nuclear-free world, Kazakhstan has been doing a lot of work on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons throughout the world. The following initiatives allow all countries, regardless of their political, economic, and military capabilities, to participate in the discussion and resolution of the critical issues involved in abandoning nuclear weapons and developing projects for the peaceful use of atomic energy. The materials of this article can be used for further scientific research of Kazakhstan's position on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as well as for conducting classes with students and cadets on the disciplines "Modern History of Kazakhstan" and "Political Science".

Compensation for Damage Caused by Nuclear Energy from of Comparative Law Perspectives and Recommendations for Vietnam

The peaceful use of nuclear energy plays an important role in the development of manufacturing industry and becomes an indispensable need. However, along with the development of science and technology, there are always potential risks of accidents. Therefore, the legal mechanism in the event of an accident resulting in damage is always set as an indispensable premise before putting nuclear energy into application. By reviewing compensation for damage caused by nuclear energy from a comparative legal perspective, this article analyses the legal structure, basic principles and the mechanism of Vietnamese compensation law damage caused by nuclear energy.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Межгосударственный трансфер технологий по мирному использованию атома в 1950-1960-е гг. (на материалах Физико-химического института им. Л. Я. Карпова)

The aim of the study is to determine the ways, methods and directions of interstate technology transfer in the field of research on the peaceful use of atomic energy in the USSR in the 1950-1960s. The article considers the process of scientists’ interstate interaction in the field of the peaceful use of the atom on the basis of documents of the Union Leading Research Institute of Physics and Chemistry named after L. Ya. Karpov subordinate to the USSR Ministry of Chemical Industry. The scientific originality of the research consists in an integrated approach to the analysis of the interaction of political, scientific-organizational, production-technological, social, economic factors that determined technological transfer in the conditions of “competitive coexistence” of the USSR with the western (capitalist) world in the 1950-1960s. As a result of the research, the ways and practical results of the interstate transfer of technologies in the field of research and development on the peaceful use of atomic energy in the USSR in the 1950-1960s have been identified.

Международно-правовое регулирование энергетического сотрудничества Российской Федерации и Южно-Африканской Республики

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the international legal acts concerning cooperation between Russia and South Africa in the field of energy. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is formed by such methods of formal logic as methods of theoretical and legal analysis, synthesis, generalization and analogy, as well as the comparative method of legal study. The scientific novelty of the research is a reflection of the fact that it is the first study in which international legal acts concerning cooperation between Russia and South Africa in the field of energy are summarized, systematized and analyzed. The author has identified trends in the international legal framework for energy cooperation between Russia and South Africa and the energy sectors in which its development is possible. It is found that few international agreements in the field of energy have been concluded between Russia and South Africa. The intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of energy, which establishes the general framework for international cooperation between the states in the field of energy, is of special importance. In the field of the peaceful use of atomic energy there is an intergovernmental treaty on the peaceful use of atomic energy that establishes a list of certain specific areas of cooperation in this field, while there are no certain projects for implementation. Taking into account the problems of energy shortage and the need for foreign investment in South Africa, it is concluded that mutually beneficial international agreements with South Africa on the construction of energy facilities should be celebrated, being accompanied by the provision of a state loan by Russia for the purposes of projects. Such a mechanism would allow Russian companies to expand their presence in the energy sector of South Africa.

Worldview Aspect of the Evolutionary-Projective Philosophy of Russian Cosmism

The article examines two worldview strategies of the evolutionary-projective philosophy of Russian Cosmism: the strategy associated with elimination of human corporeality, which has found adherents in current transhumanism, and the strategy proposed by humanistic worldview paradigm that directs humanity to the implementation of a deontological noospheric project of coevolution of planetary nature and society as a necessary condition for progress of our socio-natural universe. The focus is on analysis of the worldview insights of Russian Cosmists. In particular, the article addresses Vladimir Vernadsky’s worldview concepts regarding the changing role of man in nature and society. This is caused by changes in material resources, methods and degree of man’s transformation of the world as a result of the use of the microworld’s objects and processes as tools of labor (which are now called nanotechnologies). Among V.I. Vernadsky’s major insights that have been successfully verified in social practice, the article considers such worldview conceptions as orientation toward peaceful use of nuclear energy and the inevitability of replacing organic energy sources with inorganic ones; the need to maintain invariability of the biogenic constants of the planetary ecosystem (biosphere); human autotrophy – providing mankind with abiogenic food and other technogenic resources instead of substances and resources of biogenic origin; formation of a specific hu man person as a factor in the evolution of a planetary socio-natural whole. Taken together, all of these are due to the change in the place and role of modern man in nature and society, and these are also reflected in the formation of an ideological paradigm that is adequate to new trends in the practical evolution of the planetary socio-natural whole.

The imaginary and epistemology of disaster preparedness: The case of Japan's nuclear safety failure

The Fukushima nuclear disaster was profoundly a man-made one, resulting from the organizational failure of nuclear emergency preparedness. To fully understand the cause of this disaster, I propose to extend an organizational perspective on disasters into a macro-institutional perspective on disaster preparedness. To this end, I borrow from science and technology studies the concepts of "sociotechnical imaginary" and "civic epistemology" to probe the deepest layers of meaning-making constitutive of disaster preparedness. I then apply these concepts to the history of nuclear energy in postwar Japan that was centered on the developmental state pursuing industrial transformation. Specifically, I illustrate how the "pacifist imaginary" emphasized positive contributions of "the peaceful use of nuclear energy," legitimating a priori the promotion of nuclear power as a means of economic development; and how the "technocratic epistemology" invoked the superior competencies of state bureaucrats and expert advisers, legitimating post hoc their disregard for the possibility of a severe accident. The imaginary and epistemology thus enabled the developmental state to pursue pro-nuclear policy by securing acquiescence from the majority of citizens and discrediting the minority of antinuclear activists – until the earthquake and tsunami exposed the preparedness failure in March 2011.

Proton therapy for patients with esophageal cancer: History, characteristics, clinical outcome and future direction of proton beam therapy.

After the second war, Wilson who participated in development of the atomic bomb in Los Alamos studied peaceful use of atomic energy and proposed a property of proton beam that has potential to treat cancer. According to his proposal, the first patient was treated with proton beam therapy at the University of California Berkley in 1954. The first series of proton beam therapy for patients with esophageal cancer was reported from Japan in 1993. After that many proton facilities in Japan reported the clinical outcome of patients with esophageal cancer. Many dosimetric and clinical studies showed proton beam therapy for esophageal cancer was less toxic than photon beam therapy, however there is a paucity of randomized trials and evidence that proton beam therapy has clearly superior survival compared to photon therapy. Only one randomized trial has been conducted to study less toxicity for proton beam compared with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), which was stopped early because toxicities of IMRT were higher. A phase III study comparing overall survival between proton beam therapy and IMRT is now activated. A cost reduction for proton therapy is necessary to facilitate patient care and establishment of clinical evidence.

The Role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Maintaining Nuclear Peace and Non-proliferation Regime in the 21st Century

The article is an attempt to explain the IAEA’s critical role in ensuring global nuclear safety and on the global nuclear governance system. The objective of the Agency’s operation is promotion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including the use of energy to produce electricity, along with establishment of a system of safeguards to ensure that the countries do not use the peaceful assistance for military purposes.The aim of the article is to present the principles of the internationalsystem of nuclear safeguards and the role of the IAEA in maintaining nuclear peace and nuclear challenges of non-proliferation regime reform. The duality of nuclear technology (dual use) causes the need of strengthening the competence-control and institutional resources of the IAEA. It is necessary to oblige the Member States to cooperate with the Agency’s inspectors. The Agency should also develop a procedure to standardize the rules, structure, and legal restrictions. In addition the UN Security Council should react faster in the case of non-compliance detection. A separate issue is the internationalization of the fuel cycle.

Research on the standardization strategy of China's nuclear industry

This paper introduced a standardization strategy of China's nuclear industry based on a jointed consulting research and tried to find out the current issues and unsolved problems of standardization in China's nuclear industry. Standardization plays an important role in supporting industrial development and promoting scientific and technological progress. As a high-tech industry and a cornerstone of national security, China's nuclear industry has to be faced the new challenge and met the actual demand in the new era. Under the circumstance, standardization is expected to accelerate the safe and innovative development, to guarantee the peaceful use of nuclear energy, to comprehensively enhance the core competitiveness and lead high-quality development of the nuclear industry. Via focusing on restrictive factors, the current research presented a main output mode of standardization work, and proposed the implementation paths and specific suggestions for the standardization strategy of China's nuclear industry. At last, the policy recommendations were concluded as (1) establishing a synchronous implementation mechanism for major scientific research or engineering projects and standard development; (2) improving the integration of independent standard system with the nuclear safety regulation system; (3) encouraging and supporting preponderant association/society in nuclear industry to enact corresponding group standards.

Three nuclear power plant accidents in history and related public books

The peaceful use of nuclear energy has a history of nearly 80 years, and the development of nuclear energy in China has been actively and steadily promoted. Up to now, there have been three major nuclear power plant accidents in human history: Three Mile Island nuclear accident in the United States, Chernobyl nuclear accident in the former Soviet Union and Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. However, the public in our country knows little about the three nuclear accidents. This paper introduces some books on the three nuclear accidents for the general public, which help the public understand the nuclear accidents from a non-professional point of view. 摘要： 核能和平利用己有将近 80 年的历史, 我国的核能发展也在积极稳步的推进。截止到目前为止, 人类历史上共 发生了 3 起影响巨大的核电站事故:美国的三哩岛核事故, 前苏联的切尔诺贝利核事故和日本的福岛核事故。但是, 我国公众对这 3 起核事故所知甚少。本文介绍一些关于这 3 起核事故及其相关的图书, 帮助公众从非专业的角度来 了解核事故。

The Virtual Silk Road between China and the Arab States

In March 2015, China issued an action plan which described the main objectives of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As part of the BRI, Beijing launched the Digital Silk Road (DSR) in 2015 with a loose mandate. It has since become a significant part of Beijing’s overall BRI strategy, under which China provides aid, political support, and other assistance to recipient states. In June 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the sixth session of the ministerial meeting of the China–Arab States Cooperation Forum. During the meeting, Xi put forward the strategic concept of China–Arab cooperation mode as ‘1 + 2 + 3,’ with the ‘3’ including nuclear energy, aerospace and satellite technology and new energy. The two sides have agreed on the establishment of the China–Arab Centre for Technology Transfer, the construction of training centres for Arabian countries peaceful use of nuclear energy, and research on the use of China’s Beidou Navigation Satellite system in the Arab states. in Tunisia in April 2018. This paper will review the collaboration of China and the Arab states to implement a positive model of technological development and digital connectivity. Further, the ICT development of the Arab states in comparison to China will be investigated to explain changes observed in the countries ICT Exports.

Design requirements of safeguards sealing system for real-time verification

To ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy, nuclear safeguards are applied in member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The two main goals of nuclear safeguards are effectiveness and efficiency. The International Atomic Energy Agency has a great interest in using a containment and surveillance technology to maintain continuity of knowledge. A representative means of a containment and surveillance technology is a sealing system to alert the user to tampering. The existing sealing systems used by the International Atomic Energy Agency are of limited utility for real-time verification purposes. To address this limitation, the present study analyzed the design requirements of a sealing system proposed by various institutions including the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a number of national laboratories, and companies. Then, we identified the appropriate design requirements of this system for real-time verification. The next step is to develop a real-time verification sealing system based on the design requirements identified and discussed herein. Such a system is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of nuclear safeguards.

Nuclear energy: Russia’s international treaties with other EEU members

The purpose of the study is to identify trends and compare the scope of multilateral and bilateral international legal regulation of relations between Russia and other Eurasian Economic Union members in the field of peaceful use of nuclear power (energy). The methodological basis of the research consists of general scientific and special legal methods. The application of these methods made it possible to subject the current national legislation in the field of nuclear energy to in-depth comparative legal analysis and to identify the prospects for its modernization. The result of the study was the absence of special provisions in the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union aimed at integration in the nuclear energy sector and the formation of a common nuclear energy market of the Eurasian Economic Union. The study’s novelty lies in the authors’ approach to the allocation and comparison of the scope and subject matter of existing international treaties of Russia with other Eurasian Economic Union members, regulating cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, which are not included in the Eurasian Economic Union law. According to the authors, despite the prospects and trends of forming the Eurasian Economic Union nuclear law noted by experts, Russia’s bilateral international agreements with other Eurasian Economic Union members will continue to play a special role in regulating relations in the nuclear energy sector.