International Conference on Research Reactors: Safe Management and Effective Utilization

5-9 November 2007
Sydney, Australia

Organized by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Hosted by the
Government of Australia
through the
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)

Conference Report
Presentations    NEW
Programme
Information for Participants
Accommodation Information
Sydney map with hotels
Reserve accommodation/technical tour/social functions
Useful information for your stay in Sydney
Information for authors: How to Plan Your Presentation
Power Point Presentation Guidelines
Poster Preparation Guidelines
IAEA Proceedings Paper Template in Word 2000
To download the template, right-click on the icon to the left and select “Save Target As” from the menu. The corresponding Winzip archive contains the template.
Participation Form (Form A): PDF, Word
Form for Submission of a Paper (Form B): PDF, Word
Grant Application Form (Form C): PDF, Word
How to prepare the Synopsis and Submit it Electronically (.DOC)
Sample Extended Synopsis (.DOC)


ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS




1. BACKGROUND

The IAEA has promoted and fostered exchange of scientific and technical information on research reactors for many years. An important mechanism for this exchange has been the periodic meetings, seminars, symposia and conferences organized by the IAEA. In recent years, the IAEA has organized major international conferences on topics of interest to the research reactor community every four years. The last such meeting was the International Conference on Research Reactor Utilization, Safety, Decommissioning, Fuel and Waste Management, held in Santiago, Chile, in November 2003.

A number of significant issues, primarily related to safety and security, operation and utilization, the fuel cycle, decommissioning and waste management, are being faced by the research reactor community. In view of the continuing interest in these topics and in a wide range of additional issues, it is timely to convene another conference in the series of international conferences to discuss the issues, report progress and plans, exchange information and foster cooperation among the worldwide research reactor community. This exchange of information is expected to include projects on design, construction and commissioning of new research reactor facilities.

2. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this conference is to foster exchange of information on current research reactors and to provide a forum for reactor operators, designers, managers, users and regulators to share experience, exchange opinions and discuss options and priorities.

3. THEMATIC SCOPE

The conference will have a number of technical sessions dealing with specific topical areas. Sessions are expected to include papers from invited speakers as well as contributions by participants. While most papers will focus on one of the principal areas below, authors are encouraged to consider integration with the other areas as appropriate.

The topical areas are grouped below under five major headings:

Safety and security of research reactors

  • Experience with the application of the Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors.
  • Ongoing safety management, including:
    • Experience in promoting safety culture;
    • Training and qualification of reactor operating personnel and regulators;
    • Safety documentation and configuration management;
    • Periodic safety reviews;
    • Reactors in extended shutdown;
    • Modifications and upgrades;
    • Ageing;
    • Safety oversight;
    • Lessons learned;
    • Experimental facilities and experiments.
  • Operational safety experience.
  • Regulatory aspects and experience with current research reactor issues, including core conversion.
  • Core safety and utilization parameters — calculation and measurements, progress in verification and validation of computer codes.
  • Methodology for upgrading security in existing research reactors for the present security environment.
  • New research reactor projects.

    Operation and utilization of research reactors
  • Operating experience and lessons learned.
  • Emerging uses and issues for utilization in existing and new reactors:
  • Materials research;
  • Neutron beam research;
  • Reactor/accelerator coupling;
  • Isotope production and other applications.
  • Utilization programmes for low and medium flux research reactors.
  • Training and education programmes.
  • Strategies and issues for sustainable utilization.
  • Networking, cooperation and collaboration.

    Fuel cycle
  • Fuel management experience, related issues and lessons learned:
  • Corrosion, water quality, failures;
  • Storage;
  • Transport;
  • Final disposition.
  • Status report on RERTR ( Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors ) Programme activities and spent fuel return programmes (invited papers only):
  • Qualification of new fuels, IAEA guidance on qualification of new fuels;
  • Core conversion programmes;
  • Spent fuel return programmes and related experience.

    Decommissioning

    Status report on ongoing and recently completed decommissioning projects (invited papers only).

    Waste management

    Operational waste management and disposal.

    4. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

    The conference programme will consist of an opening session, technical sessions with invited and contributed papers, several poster sessions, open forum discussions and a closing session.

    Invited papers will examine issues of special interest. Open forum discussions introduced by senior experts will provide an opportunity for a more intensive exchange of views on important issues with the audience. Ample time for discussion will be allowed.

    A closing session will summarize the principal observations made during the conference, providing feedback and making recommendations.

    A technical tour to ANSTO’s Lucas Heights facilities is foreseen for Friday afternoon, 9 November 2007. Additional information about the tour can be found as it become available on the IAEA web site, as specified below in Section 14.



    5. CONTRIBUTED PAPERS AND POSTERS

    Concise papers on issues falling within the topics (Section 3) may be submitted as contributions to the conference. All papers — other than invited review papers — must present original work and must not have been published elsewhere.

    The number of papers that can be accepted for oral presentation is limited. Therefore, poster sessions will be arranged for the remaining papers. Authors may also indicate if they would prefer to present their contribution as an oral presentation or as a poster.

    (a) Submission of extended synopses

    Persons wishing to present a paper or poster during the conference must submit an extended synopsis of maximum 800 words in electronic format (no paper copies should be submitted) directly to the IAEA on one of the subjects/topics listed under Section 3. The synopses (in Portable Document Format — PDF) should be submitted through the IAEA’s web browser based password protected file submission system, named LISA ( http://www.iaea.org/cgi-bin/lisa-RR/start). Instructions on using the LISA system are attached as Annex A, and a sample extended synopsis is attached as Annex B. Further instructions on how to use the LISA system will be available on the LISA web site. An initial password to access the LISA system must be obtained by request (email: physics@iaea.org). The LISA system will be open for submission of extended synopses between 12 February 2007 and 19 April 2007. Extended synopses must be submitted during this period.

    It is the responsibility of the authors to ensure that their extended synopsis has received any clearance necessary from their relevant government authorities. Authors must submit the following forms to their appropriate government authority (see Section 13) for transmission to the IAEA by 19 April 2007 :
  • Participation Form A (attached);
  • Form for Submission of a Paper/Poster (Form B, attached).
The extended synopsis will be considered by the Programme Committee only if the Participation Form A and Paper/Poster Submission Form B have been received by the IAEA through official government channels.

The synopsis should give enough information on the contents of the proposed paper to enable the Programme Committee to evaluate it. Introductory and general matters should not be included.

(b) Acceptance of papers

Authors will be informed by the end of July 2007 whether their papers have been accepted for oral presentation or as a poster on the basis of the extended synopsis. The IAEA, however, reserves the right to refuse the presentation and publication of any paper that does not meet expectations based on the information given in the extended synopsis.

(c) Submission of full papers

Specifications for the layout and electronic format (PDF) of the full manuscripts and for the preparation of posters will be sent to all main authors of accepted papers. These specifications will also be posted on the conference web page when available. The full manuscripts must be submitted through LISA in the same way as the extended synopsis (see Annex A). LISA will be reopened for submission of accepted papers on 7 September 2007. The deadline for electronic submission of the full papers, in PDF, is 8 October 2007. It is the responsibility of the author to ensure that the submitted paper has received any necessary clearance by the relevant authorities.

6. PARTICIPATION

All persons wishing to participate in the conference are requested to register in advance online. In addition, they must send a completed Participation Form (Form A) and, if relevant, the Paper/Poster Submission Form (Form B) and the Grant Application Form (Form C) 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 at least three months before the meeting. This information will also be available on the conference web page.

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. 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, they should address specific requests to the IAEA Secretariat to this effect. Governments should ensure that applications for grants:

a) Are submitted by 19 April 2007;
b) Are accompanied by a duly completed and signed Grant Application Form (see attached Form C).

Applications that do not comply with conditions (a) and (b) 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 meeting will be published by the IAEA in camera-ready, unedited form as a CD ROM as soon as possible after the meeting. All participants will receive a free copy of the proceedings.

9. WORKING LANGUAGE

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

10. DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS

A preliminary programme of the conference will be sent to participants before the meeting. The final programme and the book of extended synopses will be distributed at registration.

11. ACCOMMODATION

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

12. VISAS

Designated participants who require a visa to enter Australia should submit the necessary application(s) to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of Australia as early as possible. This procedure may take up to three weeks.

13. CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION

The Participation Form ( Form A) and, if applicable, the Form for the Submission of a Paper/Poster ( Form B), together with two copies of each synopsis, and 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 Secretaries and correspondence on administrative matters to the IAEA Conference Services Section.

14. CONFERENCE WEB PAGE

Please visit the web page regularly for any new and/or updated information regarding the conference:
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/Announcements.asp?ConfID=156

15. IAEA CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT

Scientific Secretariat of the Conference:

Mr. H. Abou Yehia (Lead Scientific Secretary)
Division of Nuclear Installation Safety
Telephone No.: (+43 1) 2600 22400
Telefax No.: (+43 1) 2600 7
Email: H.Abou-Yehia@iaea.org


Mr. S. Paranjpe
Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Telephone No.: (+43 1) 2600 21751
Telefax No.: (+43 1) 2600 7
Email: S.Paranjpe@iaea.org


Mr. P. Adelfang
Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
Telephone No.: (+43 1) 2600 22770
Telefax No.: (+43 1) 2600 7
Email: P.Adelfang@iaea.org


Administration and organization:

Ms. K. Morrison
Division of Conference and Document Services
Telephone No.: (+43 1) 2600 21317
Telefax No.: (+43 1) 2600 7
Email: K.Morrison@iaea.org


International Atomic Energy Agency

IAEA-CN-156
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel: +43 1 2600 0
Fax: +43 1 2600 7
Email: official.mail@iaea.org