1. Background

Like any highly technical endeavour, the use of nuclear technology relies heavily on the accumulation of knowledge. This includes technical information in the form of scientific research, engineering analysis, design documentation, operational data, maintenance records, regulatory reviews and other documents and data. It also includes knowledge embodied in people — e.g. scientists, engineers and technicians and human resources.

In recent years, a number of trends have drawn attention to the need for better management of nuclear knowledge. Depending on region and country, they include an ageing workforce, declining student enrolment figures, the risk of losing nuclear knowledge accumulated in the past, the need for capacity building and transfer of knowledge and recognition of achieving added value through knowledge sharing and networking.

"Whether or not nuclear power witnesses an expansion in the coming decades, it is essential that we preserve nuclear scientific and technical competence for the safe operation of existing facilities and applications. Effective management of nuclear knowledge should include succession planning for the nuclear work force, the maintenance of the ´nuclear safety case´ for operational reactors, and retention of the nuclear knowledge accumulated over the past six decades.

This is a growing concern for many of our Member States, and is a topic that relates to all areas of Agency activity. […] A substantial area of Agency activity involves assisting Member States with capacity building and human resources development - through education programmes, hands on training, and knowledge transfer - in ways best suited to their desired uses of nuclear technology" (IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, Statement to the forty-seventh regular session of the IAEA General Conference 2003).

In 2002, the annual meeting of the National Liaison Officers of the International Nuclear Information System (INIS) approved to hold their 2004 meeting in the form of a conference dedicated to nuclear knowledge and information management.

In 2002, the IAEA General Conference adopted a new resolution on "Nuclear Knowledge", reiterated in 2003, emphasizing the importance of these issues, calling for increased awareness and inviting both the Agency and Member States to strengthen their activities and efforts. The conference is organized in response to the recommendations from the INIS annual meeting of Liaison Officers and to the General Conference resolution.

2. Objectives

The objective of this conference is to reach a clear and common understanding of issues related to nuclear knowledge management for sustaining knowledge and expertise in nuclear science and technology.

The conference will provide a forum for professionals and decision makers in the nuclear sector, comprising industry, governments and academia as well as professionals in the knowledge management and information technology sectors

• to exchange information and share experience on nuclear knowledge management, comprising strategies, information management and human resource development;
• to identify lessons learned and to embark on the development of new initiatives and concepts for nuclear knowledge management in IAEA Member States;
• for the INIS session, to discuss the present status and future developments of INIS.

3. Thematic Scope

The conference will comprise the following topical sessions:

Session 1: Nuclear knowledge management – policies and strategies

• Policies and strategies for managing nuclear knowledge, both in developing and in developed countries, arising in operating installations, for achieving sustainable development in both nuclear energy and nuclear applications, for maintaining high safety standards and for securing a base for future R&D and innovations.
• The session may also include relevant examples from managing non-nuclear knowledge.

Session 2: Managing nuclear information – policies and strategies

• Approaches and concepts for managing nuclear information on either global, regional, national or institutional or corporate levels;
• Nuclear information and nuclear data management systems, internet based concepts and information portals;
• Information technology (IT) concepts and tools and related strategies;

Session 3: Managing nuclear information – case studies

• Case studies and on-going or planned projects related to managing nuclear information;
• Issues related to the need to preserve information and knowledge in the nuclear sector;
• Special focus will be given to case studies and projects on the preservation of nuclear information and knowledge.

Session 4: Human resources for the nuclear sector

• The “human resource pipeline“ including studies, approaches, assessments and strategies for both the demand and the supply side of human resources in the nuclear sector;
• The "supply side" of manpower comprises nuclear education, higher education and professional training, including university curricula, training approaches, and national support plans for human resources in the nuclear sector;
• The "demand side" of manpower comprises the need for human resources, arising in industry, for capacity building in developing countries, for innovation and to sustain a knowledge base for future R&D.

Session 5: Networking nuclear education and training

• Studies and projects related to networking institutions in nuclear education and training, e.g. curriculum harmonization and mutual recognition of degrees, university networks, student and teacher´s mobililty programmes and collaborative approaches for education and training;
• Special attention will be given to papers featuring best practice and lessons learned with an aim to facilitate the transfer of experience to new initiatives.

Special sessions on:

• the International Nuclear Information System (INIS);
• “Young Generation in the Nuclear Sector”
• “Innovation and Nuclear Knowledge”

A draft conference programme structure is attached to this announcement.

4. Contributed Papers and Posters

Concise papers on issues falling within the topics (Section 3) may be submitted as contributions to the conference; they must present original work.

In order to provide ample time for discussion, the number of papers that can be accepted for oral presentation is limited, thus poster sessions will be arranged. Authors may indicate if they would prefer to present their contribution orally or as a poster.

(a) Submission of Extended Synopses

Persons who wish to present a paper or a poster at the conference must submit an extended synopsis (in English) together with a completed Form for Submission of a Paper (Form B), and the Participation Form (Form A) to the competent official national authority for subsequent transmission to the IAEA. In addition, an electronic version of the extended synopsis must be submitted directly to the IAEA Scientific Secretariat, e-mail: n.pereppadan@iaea.org.

Authors are urged to make use of the following Extended Synopsis Template in Word 2000:

The specifications and instructions for preparing the synopsis and how to use the synopsis template are given in the attached “Instructions on how to prepare the extended synopsis and how to submit it electronically”. Also attached is a sample extended synopsis.

The synopsis will be considered by the Programme Committee only if the Participation (Form A) and Paper Submission (Form B) have been received by the IAEA through official government channels.

The deadline for receipt of the of the extended synopses, Forms A and B is 15 April 2004.

(b) Acceptance of papers/posters

Authors will be notified in May 2004 whether their paper(s) have been accepted by the Programme Committee if the extended synopsis has been accepted for oral presentation or for presentation as a poster. They will also be informed of the assigned paper number and session of presentation. All accepted synopses will be reproduced in unedited form in the Book of Extended Synopses.

Please note that the IAEA reserves the right to refuse the presentation or publication of any paper that does not meet the expectations based on the information given in the extended synopsis.

5. Exhibits

A limited amount of space will be available for commercial vendors´ displays/exhibits during the conference. Interested parties should contact the local organizer.

6. Participation

All persons wishing to participate in the conference are requested to complete a Participation Form (see attached ( Form A) and send it as soon as possible to the competent official authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or national atomic energy authority) for subsequent transmission to the IAEA. A participant will be accepted only if the Participation Form is transmitted through the government of a Member State of the IAEA or by an organization invited to participate.

Participants whose official designations have been received by the IAEA will receive further information on the conference about two months before the conference. This information will also be posted on the conference website.

7. Expenditures

No registration fee is charged to participants.

As a general rule, the IAEA does not pay the cost of attendance, i.e. travel and living expenses, of participants. However, limited funds are available to help meet the cost of attendance of selected specialists mainly from developing countries with low economic resources. Travel grants will be awarded only to authors of accepted papers. Generally, not more than one grant will be awarded to any one country.

If governments wish to apply for a grant on behalf of one of their specialists presenting a paper or poster, they should address specific requests to the IAEA Secretariat to this effect. Governments should ensure that applications for grants:

• are submitted by 15 April 2004;
• are accompanied by a duly completed and signed Grant Application Form (see attached ( Form C).

Applications that do not comply with those conditions cannot be considered. The grants awarded will be in the form of lump sums that usually cover only part of the cost of attendance.

8. Conference Proceedings

The proceedings of the conference will be published shortly after the conference.

9. Working Language

The working language of the conference will be English. All communications, synopses, abstracts and papers must be sent in English.

10. Distribution of Documents

A Conference Agenda will be sent to the participants in advance of the conference. The final Agenda and the book of extended synopses will be distributed on registration.

11. Accommodation

Detailed information on accommodation and other information of interest will be sent to all designated participants well in advance of the meeting and will also be available on the conference website.

12. Visas

Designated participants who require a visa (Schengen visa) to enter France should submit the necessary application(s) to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of France as early as possible.

13. Key dates

Deadline for receipt of electronic version of Extended Synopsis	15 April 2004
Deadline for receipt of Forms for Submission of Papers (Form B) and copy of Extended Synopsis through official channels	15 April 2004
Deadline for receipt of Grant Application Forms (Form C) through official channels	15 April 2004.

14. Channels of Communication

The Participation Form ( Form A) and the Form for the Submission of a Paper (Form B), together with a copy of each synopsis, and, if applicable, the Grant Application Form (Form C), should be sent to the competent national authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or national atomic energy authority) for official transmission to the IAEA.

Subsequent correspondence on scientific matters should be sent to the Scientific Secretariat and correspondence on administrative matters to the IAEA Conference Services Section.

15. Conference web page

It is recommended to visit this conference webpage regularly for changes and updates.

16. Conference Secretariat

Scientific Secretariat of the Conference:

Mr. H.S. Cherif
Office of Programme Development and Performance Assessment
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria

Telephone No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 21117
Telefax No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 7
E-mail:	H.S.Cherif@iaea.org
E-mail address for paper submission:	n.pereppadan@iaea.org

Mr. P. Gowin
Department of Nuclear Energy, INIS Section
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria

Telephone No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 22811
Telefax No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 7
E-mail:	P.Gowin@iaea.org

Mr. Y. Yanev
Department of Nuclear Energy, INIS Section
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria

Telephone No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 22887
Telefax No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 7
E-mail:	Y.Yanev@iaea.org

Administration and organization:

Ms. M. Solarik-Leahy
Division of Conference and Document Services
Conference Services Section
IAEA-CN-123
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria

Telephone No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 21321
Telefax No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 7
E-mail:	M.Solarik-Leahy@iaea.org

Liaison Officer and Local Organizer (CEA, France)

Mr. Bruno Gillet
CEA Nuclear Energy Division
Batiment 212
F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex
France

Telephone No.:	(+33 2) 69085355
Telefax No.:	(+33 1) 69085795
E-mail:	bruno.gillet@cea.fr

Secretarial Support and Paper Submission to:

Mr. Nixon Pereppadan
International Atomic Energy Agency
Division of Nuclear Power
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria

Telephone No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 22849
Telefax No.:	(+ 43 1) 2600 7
E-mail:	n.pereppadan@iaea.org