<<

Flyer.qxd 2004-03-24 09:00 Page 1

International Conference on Steering Committee Objectives Contact Information Nuclear Knowledge Management: International Atomic H.S. Cherif The objective of this conference is to reach a clear and com- International Atomic Energy Agency Energy Agency P.J. Gowin mon understanding of issues related to nuclear knowledge Conference IAEA - CN-123 Strategies, Information Y. Ya n ev management for sustaining knowledge and expertise in nuclear International Centre France, CEA B. Gillet science and technology. Wagramer Strasse 5 CEA/INSTN D. Gentile Management and Human P.O.Box 100 CEA/INSTN C. Feltin The conference will provide a forum for professionals and deci- A-1400 Vienna, EUSIDIC J. van Halm Resource Development European Commission G. van Goethem sion makers in the nuclear sector, comprising industry, govern- Tel.: +43 1 26000 FORATOM P. Haug ments and academia as well as professionals in the knowledge Fax: +43 1 26007 Japan Atomic Industrial Forum N. Ishizuka management and information technology sectors E-mail: [email protected] OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency T. Haapalehto World Nuclear University J. Ritch, World Nuclear Association ∑ to exchange information and share experience on nuclear WONUC A. Maïsseu knowledge management, comprising strategies, informa- Scientific Secretariat (IAEA) Argentina, Atomic R. Cirimello tion management and human resource development; H.S. Cherif Department of Management Energy Commission P.J. Gowin Department of Nuclear Energy Belgium, Nuclear Research F. Moons ∑ to identify lessons learned and to embark on the develop- Y.L. Yanev Department of Nuclear Energy Centre (SCK•CEN) ment of new initiatives and concepts for nuclear knowl- France, CEA C. Brûlet, INIS Liaison Officer edge management in IAEA Member States; India, Department of Atomic Energy R.B. Grover Conference Organizer (IAEA) The Abdus Salam International B. K. Stewart ∑ for the INIS session, to discuss the present status and M. Solarik-Leahy Conference Services Section, MTCD Centre for Theoretical Physics Russian Federation, MINATOM V. M. Koupriyanov future developments of INIS. United States, DOE J. Gutteridge 7-10 September 2004, Saclay, France Liaison Officer and Local Organizer (CEA, France) Scientific Committee organized by the B. Gillet International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Commissariat à l’énergie atomique Division de l’énergie nucléaire D. Torgerson Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. Organized by the Bâtiment 212 F.H. Hammad Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cédex P. Fritz Research Centre Karlsruhe, Germany Government of France through the France G.F. Schultheiss Germany Commissariat à l’énergie atomique (CEA) R. Chidambaram Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India Tel: +33 1 69085355 In-Soon Chang Korea Atomic Energy Research Fax: +33 1 69085795 in co-operation with the Institute E-mail: [email protected] F. Mohd Amin Malaysian Institute for Nuclear European Commission (EC) WORLD NUCLEAR Technology Research OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA) UNIVERSITY A. Gagarinski Kurchatov Institute, Russian Federation European Atomic Forum (FORATOM) Conference web page: B. Mavko University of Ljubljana, Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/meetings/meetings.asp W. Stumpf Pretoria University, South Africa World Council of Nuclear Workers (WONUC) B.R. Sehgal Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden World Nuclear University (WNU) R. Workman British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., United Kingdom European Association of Information Services (EUSIDIC) International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management: Strategies, Information Management and Human Resource Development

7-10 September 2004, Saclay, France Programme Structure

Time 7 September 2004 8 September 2004 9 September 2004 10 September 2004 ”Keynotes” "Information and Knowledge" "Human Resources" "The Future"

9:00 8:00 Registration 09:00 Young Generation Session 2: Session 4: in the Nuclear 9:30 Opening Session "Managing and Preserving "Human Resources for Sector Nuclear Knowledge " the Nuclear Sector" IAEA information systems IAEA informationsystems 10:00 Innovation and 10:30 Opening Keynotes

Special Sessionon Nuclear Knowledge paper presentations paper presentations 11:00 Closing Panel 12:30 Lunch Lunch Lunch 12:00 Closing

14:00 Session 3: Session 5: Session 1: "Managing Nuclear "Networking Education "Keynotes on Information " and Training" Policies and Strategies" paper presentations paper presentations

17:30 Panel discussion and Rapporteur's summary Rapporteur's summary Summary 18:30 Reception (All) 20:30 Dinner (All)

Poster sessions will be held in parallel to Sessions 1 to 5. In addition, (online) demonstrations of software solutions and information services may be arranged.

International Atomic Energy Agency - International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management

International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management: Strategies, Information Management and Human Resource Development

Saclay, France

07-10 September 2004

BOOK OF EXTENDED SYNOPSES

IAEA-CN-123

1 LIST OF EXTENDED SYNOPSES

Number Title of Paper Name of Main Page Author Number IAEA-CN- Nuclear knowledge management strategies in D.F. Torgerson 3 123/01/O/2 Canada IAEA-CN- Maintaining nuclear competence and expertise in Y. Fujii 5 123/01/O/3 Japan IAEA-CN- Nuclear knowledge management – Russian lessons A. Gagarinsky 6 123/01/O/5 IAEA-CN- Nuclear knowledge management – the role of the I. Ahmad 8 123/01/O/8 IAEA and its Technical Cooperation programme IAEA-CN- Knowledge management at the IAEA – challenges Y. Yanev 9 123/01/O/7 and opportunities IAEA-CN- Nuclear knowledge management overview at EDF J. Ballay 11 123/02/O/1 IAEA-CN- Towards a common knowledge base for nuclear G. van Goethem 13 123/02/O/2 research: a challenge for the stakeholders community and for the EC IAEA-CN- Nuclear knowledge management: The GRS D. Beraha 15 123/02/O/3 realisation IAEA-CN- Maintaining knowledge of radioactive waste I. Upshall 16 123/02/O/4 IAEA-CN- Knowledge preservation strategies for nuclear power S. Koruna 18 123/02/O/5 plants IAEA-CN- The role of tacit knowledge and the challenges in L. Hyttinen 21 123/02/O/6 transferring it in the nuclear power plant context IAEA-CN- Nuclear Knowledge preservation of Atucha type M. O. de 23 123/02/O/7 reactor: practical approaches and lessons learned Eppenstein IAEA-CN- Knowledge management and networking for L. Lederman 25 123/02/O/8 enhancing nuclear safety IAEA-CN- Knowledge management at Eletronuclear W. P. S. Lepecki 26 123/02/P/1 IAEA-CN- Managing nuclear knowledge: a SCK-CEN concern L. Ruyssen 28 123/02/P/2 IAEA-CN- The International Science and Technology Center L. Tocheny 29 123/02/P/4 (ISTC): supporting of nuclear knowledge progress through ten years of international cooperation (Information Review) IAEA-CN- Science.Gov- a single gateway to the deep web B.A. Hitson 33 123/02/P/5 knowledge of US science agencies

Number Title of Paper Name of Main Page Author Number IAEA-CN- Towards an integrated knowledge management: K. J. Schmatjko 34 123/02/P/6 expert networking in the company IAEA-CN- Efforts in improvement of nuclear knowledge and S. Pleslic 36 123/02/P/7 information management in Croatia IAEA-CN- Problems of nuclear knowledge and information N.M. Grusha 38 123/02/P/8 management in CIS IAEA-CN- A structured approach to introduce the knowledge A.H. Daud 39 123/02/P/9 management practice in a national nuclear research institution in Malaysia IAEA-CN- A case study of a Cuban governmental institution A. L. Nunez 41 123/02/P/10 IAEA-CN- Nuclear knowledge management and preservation in R. Karaliūtė 43 123/02/P/11 Lithuania IAEA-CN- Ways of preserving nuclear knowledge in Tajikistan J. A. Salomov 44 123/02/P/12 IAEA-CN- Managing nuclear information in Tanzania S. F. Sawe 46 123/02/P/13 IAEA-CN- Implementing knowledge management in BNFL- a G.E. Grant 47 123/02/P/14 case study IAEA-CN- Historical survey of nuclear non-proliferation in I. Maalmann 50 123/02/P/15 IAEA-CN- Knowledge management: high energy physics as A. Trabelsi 51 123/02/P/16 model case IAEA-CN- Knowledge Management for the Decommissioning F. Kirschnick 52 123/03/O/1 of Nuclear Power Plants IAEA-CN- Robust record preservation system on geological J. Ohuchi 54 123/03/O/2 repository

IAEA-CN- Nuclear knowledge portal to support licensing and E. Gomes 55 123/03/O/3 control nuclear activities in the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission IAEA-CN- Nuclear knowledge management experience of the J. B. Briggs 57 123/03/O/4 international criticality safety benchmark evaluation project IAEA-CN- Trend of R&D publications in pressurised heavy V. Kumar 59 123/03/O/5 water reactors: a study using INIS and other databases IAEA-CN- eDOC: a collaboration infrastructure to manage J. M. Van 61 123/03/O/6 knowledge and information on nuclear projects and Craeynest research activities

Number Title of Paper Name of Main Page Author Number IAEA-CN- Web-based networking within the framework of K. W. Han 63 123/03/O/7 ANENT IAEA-CN- KNK-II knowledge preservation and related J. Knebel 65 123/03/O/8 activities in Germany IAEA-CN- Former students, present teachers- on both sides of A. R. Budu 67 123/03/P/1 the desk IAEA-CN- Methods for sharing tacit nuclear knowledge and N. Rintala 68 123/03/P/2 expertise IAEA-CN- Knowledge management initiatives of the Regional A. Musa 70 123/03/P/3 Cooperative Agreement (RCA) undertaken by the Electronic Networking and Outreach (ENO) project IAEA-CN- Documentation and information service at Turkish O. Seckin 72 123/03/P/4 Atomic Energy Authority: present state and future trends IAEA-CN- Case studies: managing nuclear information in L.G. Oviedo 74 123/03/P/5 Colombia IAEA-CN- Knowledge management for sustainable applications Z. Belete 76 123/03/P/7 of nuclear techniques in Ethiopia: case study

IAEA-CN- Optimisation of information influences on problems A Sobaleu 77 123/03/P/8 of consequences of Chernobyl accident and quantitative criteria for estimation of information actions IAEA-CN- Impact of information on research and development E.A. Agyeman 78 123/03/P/9 activities of nuclear scientists in Ghana IAEA-CN- Knowledge domains cartography of the radio R. I Ricciardi 80 123/03/P/10 pharmacy center of IPEN- a case study IAEA-CN- Assuring future competence in nuclear safety in K. Koskinen 82 123/03/P/11 Finland IAEA-CN- Needs for restoration of nuclear knowledge M. Pesic 84 123/03/P/12 management in IAEA-CN- Knowledge degradation within routine operation M. Gharib 85 123/03/P/13 practices in TRR- lessons learned IAEA-CN- OECD/NEA data bank integral experiments E. Sartori 86 123/03/P/14 databases in support of knowledge preservation and transfer IAEA-CN- Management of nuclear information and knowledge A. G. Garcia 88 123/03/P/15 in Cuban institutions IAEA-CN- Computer science – a bridge between nuclear A. O. Pavelescu 89 123/03/P/16 knowledge and practice

Number Title of Paper Name of Main Page Author Number IAEA-CN- The radiation safety information computational B. L. Kirk 90 123/03/P/17 center (RSICC) - forty years of nuclear knowledge management IAEA-CN- Expectations of JAERI on INIS from a viewpoint of K. Yanagisawa 93 123/03/P/18 socio-economic evaluation IAEA-CN- Preservation and re-use of nuclear knowledge in the R. Workman 95 123/03/P/19 UK nuclear industry IAEA-CN- Presentation of Ingenium™, software tool for P. Sei 97 123/03/P/20 manage and share information and knowledge, and some applications in nuclear domain, with the CEA IAEA-CN- Nuclear education in Russia: status, peculiarities, B. N. Onykii 99 123/04/O/1 problems and perspectives IAEA-CN- Nuclear education in the United States: G. Brown 101 123/04/O/2 the first 50 years IAEA-CN- International collaboration for nuclear competence T. Haapalehto 104 123/04/O/3 building IAEA-CN- The Big Bang - XML Expanding the Information S. Rutt 106 123/04/O/4 Universe IAEA-CN- Nuclear education and training in Lithuania in the S. Ziedelis 107 123/04/O/5 context of EU accession IAEA-CN- Preservation and enhancement of nuclear knowledge M. Ardisasmita 109 123/04/O/6 towards Indonesia’s plan to operate first nuclear power plant by 2016 IAEA-CN- Assuring nuclear safety education into the 21st G. Löwenhielm 111 123/04/O/7 century in Sweden IAEA-CN- Addressing ageing of the workforce issues by I. Perisic 113 123/04/O/8 enabling knowledge management systems with social networks analysis capabilities IAEA-CN- The nuclear department, Royal Naval School of K.R. Trethewey 114 123/04/P/1 - provision of nuclear education and training to the naval nuclear propulsion programme and beyond IAEA-CN- Replacing nuclear staff: the proactively work at M.O. Pupak 116 123/04/P/2 IPEN/CNEN-SP IAEA-CN- Development of the system for academic training of E. F. Kryuchkov 118 123/04/P/3 personnel engaged in nuclear material protection control and accounting in Russia IAEA-CN- Students education and training for Slovak NPP J. Lipka 120 123/04/P/4 Slovakia

Number Title of Paper Name of Main Page Author Number IAEA-CN- Development of nuclear education and specialists K. Namazkulova 122 123/04/P/5 training in the Republic of Kazakhstan IAEA-CN- Propositions of nuclear issue education for teachers J. Turlo 123 123/04/P/6 and students IAEA-CN- About opportunity and advantages of adaptation the A. Mazurenko 125 123/04/P/7 system of education of experts on atomic engineering specialty in Odessa Polytechnic University to the European System of Education

IAEA-CN- Young generation in Romanian nuclear system - E. N. Ghizdeanu 126 123/04/P/8 Romanian nuclear organizations implication in nuclear knowledge management at University “Politehnica” of Bucharest - results and expectations

IAEA-CN- Building an integrated and A. Sneed 127 123/04/P/9 nuclear science human resources pipeline at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory

IAEA-CN- The quest for nuclear technology and the challenges A. Mundu 129 123/04/P/10 of knowledge management in Nigeria

IAEA-CN- Nuclear knowledge development in Armenia A. Gevorgyan 131 123/04/P/11 IAEA-CN- The need for nuclear knowledge management and A. Belfort 133 123/04/P/12 human resources development in the nuclear technology in a least developed country: The Haiti case

IAEA-CN- ISCTN: Cuban Strategy for reproducing, preserving E. Hardy 135 123/04/P/13 and developing the nuclear knowledge

IAEA-CN- Ukraine government support and international I. Kadenko 137 123/04/P/14 cooperation for nuclear knowledge management

IAEA-CN- Towards building nuclear competence of radiation A. Timoshchenko 139 123/04/P/15 protection specialists

IAEA-CN- The activities of the Institute of Nuclear Physics and M. Kadirova 140 123/04/P/16 Uzbekistan INIS center on attracting a young generation into the nuclear area

IAEA-CN- Raising public awareness of nuclear science in action L. Dobrzynski 142 123/04/P/17 IAEA-CN- Human resources for the nuclear sector in the S. Hassane 143 123/04/P/18 Republic of Niger

Number Title of Paper Name of Main Page Author Number IAEA-CN- Development of NPP personnel training system in V. Tarykin 146 123/04/P/20 Ukraine

IAEA-CN- Required courses for nuclear graduate programs- A.A. Canella 147 123/04/P/21 could one fit for all?

IAEA-CN- Human resource development progress to sustain A. Simo 148 123/04/P/22 nuclear science and technology applications in Cameroon

IAEA-CN- European master of science in nuclear engineering F. Moons 149 123/05/O/1 IAEA-CN- Preservation of nuclear talented experts in Japan by H. Mori 151 123/05/O/2 cooperation of industries, research institutes and universities

IAEA-CN- Industry, university and government partnership to R. M. Mathur 153 123/05/O/3 address research, education and human resource challenges for nuclear industry in Canada

IAEA-CN- CSNI activities in knowledge management and J. Reig 155 123/05/O/4 knowledge transfer - an international dimension

IAEA-CN- The German competence network on nuclear B. Kuczera 157 123/05/O/5 technology

IAEA-CN- The Asian Network for Education in Nuclear F. Amin 158 123/05/O/6 Technology (ANENT)

IAEA-CN- The role of networking for nuclear education P. Gowin 159 123/05/O/8 IAEA-CN- Implementation of Eugene Wigner Training Course E. N. Ghizdeanu 161 123/05/P/1 at University of “Politehnica” of Bucharest, Faculty, Nuclear Power Plant Department

IAEA-CN- The Belgian Nuclear Higher Education Network F. Moons 162 123/05/P/2 IAEA-CN- Review of international activities on nuclear B. J. Chung 163 123/05/P/3 knowledge management and proposals for further refinements

IAEA-CN- A central European training course on reactor H. Boeck 165 123/05/P/5 physics and kinetics – the “Eugene Wigner Course” –organisers View

IAEA-CN- The Nuclear safety Education and Training Network J. Bastos 167 123/05/P/6

2

IAEA-CN-123/01/O/2

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN CANADA

D.F. Torgerson, A.M.M. Aly, and B. Shalaby Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) Mississauga, Canada

E-mail address of main author: [email protected]

The Canadian Nuclear Industry recognizes the importance of nuclear knowledge management and has already implemented a number of initiatives to maintain competency, capture and preserve existing knowledge, advance the nuclear technology, develop future nuclear workers, and maintain a critical R&D capability. Although this paper addresses the Canadian scene in general, it will focus on knowledge management from a technology development point of view. Therefore, special emphasis will be placed on activities underway at present at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). Maintaining competency is a high priority issue. With the on-going retirement of nuclear workers, resource management, succession planning and technical training programs are all in place at AECL. For example, a comprehensive assessment was recently completed to identify critical core competencies and the potential and timing of future retirements. Using a risk- based approach, the technology disciplines were prioritized and a plan was developed to address the requirements. The plan is now being implemented to hire, train, mentor and develop a new core of technical experts. Collaboration and knowledge sharing are important success factors in that regard. This is being achieved through cross-functional teamwork, consolidation of expertise, on-going work on nuclear power plant projects (e.g., the just completed units in China and ongoing work on unit 2 at the Romanian Cernavoda site), developing and designing new products (Advanced CANDU Reactor, ACR-700), adopting and improving Quality Management Systems (e.g., ISO 9001:2000 Global Certification and pursuing business excellence through the adoption of the Canadian Framework for Business Excellence). Capturing and preserving existing knowledge as well as advancing nuclear technology have also received significant attention. Fully computerized engineering tools have been developed and used to document the complete design of CANDU plants, and this methodology is being used for the recent build projects. This encompasses all plant design, analysis and licensing knowledge including engineering drawings, design manuals, design reviews, analysis reports and all licensing documentation. The same system is being used today for the development of the ACR. In addition, a comprehensive feedback of experience system documents all operational issues to ensure lessons learned from operating plants are shared widely within AECL and with CANDU owners. AECL has also developed smart technology that transfers knowledge from highly specialized technical experts working in our laboratories to computer systems that can be accessed by plant operators. Such technology enables nuclear operators in monitoring station conditions, converting measured data into useful information, analyzing the information intelligently and providing recommendations to support decision making. In this way, specialized knowledge can be used throughout the nuclear industry.

3

IAEA-CN-123/01/O/2

Another essential element in AECL’s strategy for preserving knowledge is the on-going design and development of advanced CANDU systems over the years. In this approach, each generation of CANDU reactor is firmly based on incremental advancements in technology, which ensures that future expertise is maintained and based on an extensive existing knowledge base. Development of future nuclear workers received a boost through the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) program. This is an alliance of Canadian universities, nuclear power utilities, research and regulatory agencies. The purpose of UNENE is to assure a sustainable supply of qualified nuclear engineers and scientists to meet the current and future needs of the Canadian nuclear industry. In addition to full-time under- graduate and graduate degrees, UNENE, through 5 major Canadian universities also offers part-time programs designed for students already employed in the industry. Courses are offered in flexible formats, generally at nuclear sites for the convenience of the students. More information on UNENE will be presented at this conference in a different paper. In addition to UNENE programs, the nuclear industry also started a new graduates hiring program to balance the demography of nuclear workers and ensure continuity. New graduates are rotated through a few different areas before they are assigned a specific position. The industry also encourages university students to choose a nuclear career by hiring and training many summer and coop students. Maintaining Research and Development capabilities is the backbone of any overall program to maintain competency and advance the nuclear technology. As reported in the IAEA meeting on knowledge management in June 2002, the CANDU Owners Group (COG) undertook a review of R&D capability and issued a recommendation that “the industry must implement, in the near term, an increase in funding to R&D programs to ensure that adequate core capability is maintained in key areas”. The appropriate level of R&D funding is under discussion. In conclusion, there is much awareness in the Canadian nuclear industry of the importance of knowledge management to the sustainability of nuclear energy as a major source of energy. Many issues are been addressed but additional measures will be required in the future to ensure smooth transition of knowledge to a new generation.

4

IAEA-CN-123/01/O/3

MAINTAINING NUCLEAR COMPETENCE AND EXPERTISE IN JAPAN

Y. Fujii Reserch Laboratory for Nuclear Reactors Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The fundamental law of atomic energy, which strictly restricts the application of atomic energy to the peaceful use, was established in 1955 in Japan. Since then, during the past five decades, great efforts were made to develop atomic energy. So far 52 units of light water reactors, 29 BWRs and 23 PWRs, have been built and in operation, 5 units are under construction and 6 units are planed to be built. Total capacity of presently operated NPPs amounts to 45.7 Gwe and the nuclear energy shares 30 % of the total electricity generation in Japan. During the past 10 years, several accidents occur in the nuclear facilities of electric power companies, and JNC ( previously PNC ). In spite of these accidents, including the accident of Kansai Electric Power Co. this year, the important role of nuclear energy to sustain the lives of people in Japan is intact. In the nuclear energy projection, the construction of NPPs continues till 2010. Thereafter reconstructions of NPPs are foreseen in the decade 2030’s for the replacement of present NPPs in operation after 60 years services. Attention has been directed to the technology preservation: how competence and expertise of nuclear engineering can be maintained till the next period of replacement construction, in particular, the period between years 2010 and 2030. The present paper reviews the status of nuclear engineering programs in universities in Japan. The nuclear education programs started in graduate schools in 1957 and expanded to undergraduate schools of major national universities. Presently nine universities are providing systematic nuclear education programs in their graduate schools, although the corresponding department have been changed their names from “nuclear” to more broaden terms of “quantum”, “energy” and “system” in several universities. Under the conditions of shrinking nuclear industries, how to maintain the present education system is seriously concerned matter in the universities. The present paper introduce the example of the traditional technology transfer across generation by generation. Japanese Shinto Shrine, Ise Jingu, traditionally moves and rebuilts its wooden sanctuaries every 20 years. This tradition has continued over 1000 years with a short interruption of 150 years in the war time of the mediaeval ages. Ise Jingu explained that the period of 20 years was not chosen for the reason of the technical tradition, but comes from their philosophy of the holy place. This system of rebuilding every 20 years, however, has proved that technology, even if sophisticated, can be transferred across generation by generation over 1000 years by the faith in the human beings.

5

IAEA-CN-123/01/O/5

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: RUSSIAN LESSONS

A. Gagarinski, Russian Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Russian Federation

N. Yakovlev Central Research Institute of Management Economics & Information, Russian Federation

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Since the very beginning of works on using the nuclear energy in practice in the Soviet Union, the issue of generation and accumulation of nuclear knowledge and human resources for realizing this knowledge in practice, have received strong governmental support, and were subject to strict control of the state. This policy, despite the well-known Russian difficulties related to the lag of computational base and complicated scientific & technical exchange with the West (“Iron Curtain”), in the 50-70ies has made it possible both to solve the required defence tasks and ensure development of peaceful nuclear energy applications in the Soviet Union. The report briefly summarizes the main achievements in the field of nuclear knowledge management strategy in the period of fast nuclear energy deployment, which include: • establishment, on the base of the “Uranium Project” founder institutions, of a series of nuclear science and engineering centers (Arzamas, Dimitrovgrad, Dubna, etc.), both within the nuclear branch and in the USSR and Soviet Republics’ Academies of Science; • formation of scientific schools headed by eminent scientists, on the base of major nuclear energy issues, gathering creative teams with “natural” nuclear knowledge transfer; • harmonious nuclear education system, including a large network of higher professional education institutions, which had a principal achievement - close relationship with the leading nuclear research centers; • creation of a regional centers’ network intended for regular retraining of nuclear specialists; • creation and development of national centers for collecting, processing and evaluation of nuclear and other data (materials, thermal physics, etc.) necessary for nuclear engineering, as well as for development of algorithms and codes. Russian nuclear program as a whole, and KNM system in particular, received three severe crises in a short time period: • Chernobyl accident (1986); • restructuring of the political system (end of 80ies – beginning of 90ies); • collapse of the Soviet Union (1991). The report discusses the problems caused by these crises (the “gap” between generations, “erosion” of science-design-industry knowledge transfer, loss of experimental base, ageing of scientific teams, weakening of governmental support, etc.). The obvious renaissance of Russian nuclear energy’s positive development in the recent years, as well as expectance of the “Second Nuclear Era” of large-scale nuclear energy use in this country, have made the liquidation of nuclear knowledge preservation shortcomings and

6

IAEA-CN-123/01/O/5 human resources’ development one of the necessary and most important conditions of the further nuclear development. The report also considers the measures taken by the Russian nuclear branch with this regard, including international cooperation.

7

IAEA-CN-123/01/O/8

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT – THE ROLE OF THE IAEA AND ITS TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME

I. Ahmad Prime Minister's Secretariat Constitution Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan

Email address of main author: [email protected]

IAEA has an excellent record in promoting the peaceful and safe use of the atom for socio- economic development. After nearly half a century, the Agency has acquired considerable expertise in both its promotional and regulatory activities. Recent years have seen, on the one hand, a greater emphasis being placed on the strengthening of safeguards, safety and security under the Agency's regular programme, while the promotional activities are somewhat being affected because of public disenchantment in the West, as well as donor fatigue and unwillingness to freely share know-how. Early euphoria for the development of peaceful uses of the nuclear programme seems to have evaporated. The Agency has to continue to strive to rectify this situation and play its leadership role. In this regard, there is a growing awareness to adequately develop Nuclear Knowledge Management (NKM) practices to face new challenges, resulting from retirement of professionals who pioneered national programmes, difficulties in replacement because of younger generation not opting for nuclear careers, and generally diminishing opportunities for nuclear education. Furthermore, aging nuclear facilities require special care and management for their operation and ultimate decommissioning and safe disposal. NKM as a tool for preservation and maintaining competence in nuclear technology should be developed and shared with MSs through Technical Cooperation Programme. There is a need to transform INIS from merely a database of published literature to an effective knowledge base service. Member States should know how to utilize the nuclear knowledge to determine where nuclear techniques have an edge. Valuable material is available with the Agency in the form of various reports which can be a good source to develop a rich knowledgebase for dissemination. The Agency and the MSs should know what they need to know to build and share nuclear knowledge for a self-reliant and sustainable national nuclear programme.

8

IAEA-CN-123/01/O/7

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AT THE IAEA – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Y.L. Yanev, S. Cherif International Atomic Energy Agency

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Knowledge Management caters to the critical issues of organizational adaptation, survival and competence in face of increasingly discontinuous change of environment. Essentially, it embodies organizational processes that seek synergistic combination of data and information processing capacity of information technologies, and the creative and innovative capacity of human beings” (Malhotra 1997).

International organizations are coming to view knowledge as their most valuable and strategic resource, and bringing that knowledge to bear on problems and opportunities as their most important capability. It is being realised that to remain geared to the evolving needs of their Member States it is a must to explicitly manage all intellectual resources and capabilities of the organization. To this end, many international organizations have initiated a range of knowledge management projects and programs. The primary focus of these efforts has been on developing new applications of information technology to support the digital capture, storage, retrieval and distribution of an organization's documented knowledge but also capturing valuable tacit knowledge existing within peoples' heads, augmented or shared via interpersonal interaction and social relationships. The concept of building and utilizing intellectual and "social capital" that develops from people i.e., new organizational cultures, forms and reward systems to enhance those social relationships has been implemented. Technical and organizational initiatives, when aligned and integrated, can provide a comprehensive infrastructure to support knowledge management processes. But while the appropriate infrastructure can enhance an organization's ability to create and exploit knowledge, it does not insure that the organization is making the best investment of its resources or that it is managing the right knowledge in the right way. Against the background of these trends and the opportunities and challenges they present the Agency has been active in establishing knowledge management as a crosscutting activity that includes both assisting Member States in managing their nuclear knowledge assets but also in establishing a “one house” approach to knowledge management. The challenge for the Agency in the medium term is threefold: • First to understand how the needs and interests of Member States are changing so as to be able to respond by focusing on the appropriate nuclear technologies and the necessary information, knowledge and skills, required for their efficient and safe implementation. • Second to contribute to the objective assessment of the use of nuclear technologies and to assist Member States building capacity in the safe application of those technologies that have a comparative advantage; • Last but not least to play a catalytic role in the international effort to maintain and increase knowledge, understanding and expertise in the nuclear field, particularly through the collection and dissemination of scientific information and the transfer of technology. This paper deals with the main challenges and opportunities for implementing knowledge management at the IAEA and in particular;

9

IAEA-CN-123/01/O/7

Where does the Agency want to be at the end of the next five-year time frame? How knowledge management is expected to have enhanced the ability of the Member States to make full use of nuclear technologies for their economic and social development. How knowledge management will strengthen the position of the Agency to be more widely recognized as the principal vehicle for the transfer of peaceful nuclear technology.

10

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/1

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW AT EDF

J. Ballay Service de la Formation Professionnelle, France

J. Vannieuwenhuyse Direction du Parc Nucléaire, CNPE Golfech, France

Email address of main author: [email protected]

This paper gives an overview of knowledge management practices in the French nuclear generation park. The study was initially partnered by one of the 19 Nuclear Power-plants, located at Golfech near Toulouse, and then extended to a more general overview. Golfech is a 650 people unit, from which 25 of them were interviewed to carry out the study. These staffs were made of managers, experts, seniors and juniors, all of them being working at Golfech in the different skills for nuclear generation needs: driving, engineering, maintenance, safety, environment, etc. They were questioned about their practices, tools and organisations concerning creating, sharing, transferring, and renewing knowledge. The study shows that professional knowledge is fundamentally made of four levels, which are embedded, by specific leverages and experiences. The first level is made of the “basic knowledge” which is required in every job, especially for juniors. It is delivered by the means of Human Resources and education systems : Recruitment, Learning & Training, Simulators, juniors mentoring, and Competencies management processes. These systems are thus the first category of KM processes. The second level of knowledge is the “technical knowledge”, that is codified in the procedures, norms, and all the technical specifications. This knowledge has grown up for 4 decades, by a special KM process called return on experience. This KM process is driven by a systematic way. Every technical problem is registered, analysed, and evaluated by experts and managers networks, and discussed with other stakeholders, so that recommendations can be held on at a national level. This return on experience process is a collective learning process, very efficient for safety and performance of the French nuclear park. By this process, the explicit knowledge of the last 3 decades is stored in a large knowledge base made of 10 000 documents a year. It is important to notice that, due to its explicit and collective dimension, this 3rd level of knowledge is the core competency shared by the whole nuclear community in its culture, norms and documents. The third level of knowledge consists in the different specific know-how, which are located in each power plant, due to local contexts. For example, the experts in chemistry problems have local know-how about how to use measurement apparatus in their geographic context. Another example: the organization is quite different from one unit to one another, depending on all sorts of parameters: personality of managers, environment, industrial context, history of each unit… This distinctive and flexible knowledge is a good thing for global competitiveness, because it suits to every kind of contexts and gives more situations for learning. At this 3rd level of knowledge, groupware and communities of practice are the KM systems very useful and powerful to share good practices. For example, a community of practice on engineering skills is now growing all over the 19 power plants, and this is a very powerful way for sharing good practices between the 1500 people concerned. This 3rd level of knowledge has no normative function, but only an added-value function for performance of

11

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/1 each power plant. Due to its tacit nature, it cannot be reproduced from one place to one another without a process of transformation and adaptation to the new context. The fourth level of knowledge is the expertise and experience of some people, engaged, during their personal history, in many learning affairs and projects. This 4th level of knowledge is incorporated in some individuals who are likely to learn in many situations and who are always interested in innovations and knowledge creation. These people take away their personal experience with them when they get retired, and this is a big lost of knowledge for the enterprise. So, it appears to be a special challenge for the institution to recognize them and encourage them to share the memory of their experience. Which needs a very specific process, because this knowledge is absolutely tacit and, in most cases, these people do not even know themselves how knowledge-full they are. This model of knowledge, with its four levels, is very important because it is the only way to understand that every KM system is adapted only to one of the four levels. For example, teaching ant HR tools are very well adapted for the first level of knowledge, but has no chance to leveraging the top level of knowledge that is incorporated in the experience of some people. On the other hand, IT and KM tools like intranet portals and groupware are suitable to share know-how between different places, but they are of no effect on the 4th level of knowledge that remains unconscious in individuals. Thus, all KM projects have to consider this model, so that they can chose the right KM system for each level of knowledge. Many KM projects over the world have failed because of their ignorance of this particularity. Knowledge is not a simple stock of information: its characteristics strongly differs from one level to one another. At the 1st and 2nd level, it is explicit and thus can be transferred and shared by KM processes like education, training, procedures, norms and documentation... At the 3rd level, it is quite hard to explicit it outside close teams, and thus it has to be shared in a tacit way through communities of practice. And at the 4th level, it cannot be shared, without being considerably altered in an explicit form. The lesson of the 4th level is that human being cannot be replaced by any kind of knowledge system.

Individual Learning

Knowledge Knowledge Management Leverage

Experiential Knowledge Experience & Expertise Explicitation (tacit individual knowledge) Story telling

Communities of practice Know-How Groupware (tacit knowledge Mobility, Companion embedded in local practices) Benchmarking

Technical Knowledge Return on Experience Regulation, Technical Watch (explicit knowledge in Procedures, Norms, standards prescriptions and systems) Documentation management

Basic knwoledge Competences & Employment Management (required in each job) Learning, Education, Simulators Recruitment, Mentoring

Organizational Learning

Figure 1: Nuclear Knowledge Management overview at EDF

12

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/2

TOWARDS A COMMON KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH: A CHALLENGE FOR THE STAKEHOLDERS COMMUNITY AND FOR THE EC

G. van Goethem

EC, DG Research, Unit J4 Energy: Nuclear Fission and Radiation Protection

Email address of main author: [email protected]

At the Lisbon 2000 summit, a strategic goal was proposed for the European Union: to become the most competitive knowledge-based society by 2010. In the particular case of nuclear fission technologies, this EC initiative has been widely accepted by the stakeholders community concerned. Most stakeholders, indeed, have expressed their interest in the construction of a common durable knowledge base that they could then exploit for their own purposes. In line with the European Research Area (ERA) concept, one of the aims of Euratom FP-6 (2003-2006) is then to set up the foundations of this knowledge base in co- operation with the nuclear fission community. To reach this ambitious goal, a nuclear knowledge management strategy is needed at the EU level. An EU strategy is proposed, focussing on the cycle “production–dissemination–exploitation” (PDE) of knowledge in the light of a possible internal market of research and innovation. There are a number of economical (e.g. EU internal market) and political (e.g. EU enlargement) reasons that are pushing against the fragmentation of European research and driving towards a consensus around a common durable knowledge base, as a result of shared (governmental / industrial) resources and programmes. A holistic approach of the cycle “production / dissemination / exploitation” of knowledge (in short, the PDE cycle) is illustrated in Figure 1, referring explicitly to the role of the new FP-6 instruments (integrated projects /IP/ and networks of excellence /NoE/) in this system.

Figure 1: Knowledge cycle (production / dissemination / exploitation) for nuclear research

13

IAEA-CN-123/01/O/2

The construction of the common durable knowledge base requires the integration of all stakeholders, sharing 3 essential items: a set of common needs, a common vision or strategy, and common instruments. In nuclear fission research, the main stakeholders are actually: the research organisations (with mixed governmental / industrial funding), the manufacturing industry, the utilities and waste organisations, the regulatory bodies (or technical safety organisations /TSO/) and the academia. Community research, despite its relatively small size (1.9 % of GDP), can act as a driving force to bring all stakeholders together and have them participate in the supply and demand mechanisms of knowledge. Amongst the stakeholders in the nuclear arena, there seems to be a wide consensus about the need for common research and about the Community instruments to conduct this research. To ensure full success of a European nuclear fission research policy, however, one component is still missing, namely: a clear common strategy on nuclear matters amongst all EU Member States. The stakeholders are usually interested not only in knowledge (if so, they could simply buy it !) but also in know-how. In addition, they want to minimise the cost/benefit ratio of their research programmes ! These are some of the reasons why most of them intend to participate actively in the construction process of the common knowledge base, offering either research results or operational experience. In conclusion, the above-discussed PDE cycle should be completed, taking into account the S/T and political/economic interests of the various stakeholders. In the particular case of nuclear fission research, the assembled system of knowledge and stakeholders is represented in Figure 2. Euratom FP-6 is located in the middle of the figure, but is actually just a catalyser, providing seed money to trigger the integration process. The greatest effort to make integration come true should actually come from the stakeholders organisations, represented around the central PDE cycle. Only if they bring resources (i.e. manpower, funding, etc) in the collective exercise and if they merge parts of their research programmes, can the integration become really effective and lead to the desired common durable knowledge base.

(1) Research Organisations (3) Utilities and service sector (governmental and

o : durable structuring NoE service and IP : product (Safety and performance) industrial) DISSEMINATION

PRODUCTION IP and NoE FP-6 EXPLOITATION IP and NoE (2) Manufacturing (4) Regulatory industry and designers Authorities (Safety, performance (Reactor Safety) and innovation)

(5) Education and Training SUPPLY (maintenance of competence) DEMAND

Figure 2 : Completed system (role of the stakeholders in the nuclear knowledge cycle)

14

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/3

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: THE GRS REALISATION

D. Beraha, T. Heigl, P. Westerheide Geseallschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) mbH, Germany

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Knowledge has become a crucial factor in our information society in deciding whether companies will last into the future. The aim of knowledge management is to promote systematically the acquisition, use, and distribution of knowledge in an organisation and to initiate measures for improving the knowledge processes. It therefore has a strategic significance for corporate decisions. The GRS faces the challenge of helping to shape the status and use of science and technology even in conditions in which many experts are retiring for age reasons. Knowledge management makes an essential contribution here. Methods and tools of knowledge management that support these activities will be outlined in the final paper. It will show also the ways of how systematic knowledge management in the GRS and its integration into projects is being performed. The approach of knowledge management for strengthening this factor consists in systematically analysing the knowledge-related processes in the identification, acquisition, sharing, distribution, use, retention, and growth of knowledge and in developing methods with the aim of managing knowledge processes better in the company. Advanced information technology enables knowledge-orientated methods (“enabling technologies”) to be supported and put to good practical use. The acute lack of newcomers in the field of nuclear techniques and the narrowing financial situation are strengthening the GRS approach. To show the operational actions of knowledge management in a complete form a knowledge model has been introduced at GRS that puts the different fields of action into context with the normative and strategic goals. That model will be presented. A further section will illuminate the supporting means for practical knowledge management, whether these are procedures for the daily work or tools like the GRS Portal, the Document Management System or tools for online collaboration. Under its caption “project oriented knowledge management”, the embedding of these means for support and realisation of projects will be shown. Also the developments in the area of meta knowledge and knowledge representation by means of formal methods and supporting tools will be investigated. Basic and advanced training is of fundamental significance to the retention of competence and transfer of knowledge. The basic training concept developed for newly appointed staff will be discussed. It is modular in construction and provides the possibility of setting individual priorities. GRS also disposes advanced training courses in an attractive range on specific subjects for in-house use and for other organisations. The last point covers an outlook on future steps to be made for the practical use of knowledge management activities in house, for example the human resources management, as well as on the efforts to be made for the integration of knowledge management beyond the GRS scope for a wider use between companies and other institutions in the international and world wide context.

15

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/4

MAINTAINING KNOWLEDGE OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE

I. Upshall United Kingdom Nirex Limited, United Kingdom

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Knowledge - “awareness or familiarity gained by experience (of a person, fact or thing) … a person’s range of information … the sum of what is known … true, justified belief; certain understanding, as opposed to opinion.” The Oxford Concise English Dictionary Organisations responsible for the safe and effective management of radioactive waste will be aware of the value of information characterising the waste and the need for its preservation. In the United Kingdom the principal legal instrument controlling nuclear site activities is the Nuclear Installations Act (1990), which requires certain licence conditions to be fulfilled. One of the 35 conditions of the nuclear site licence demands that operators ensure that adequate records are kept relating to, inter alia, “the location of all radioactive material, including nuclear fuel and radioactive waste”. Through the application of this licence condition, the relevant nuclear regulator, Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII), requires licensees to make arrangements for recording and preserving all the information that may be required in the future to ensure the safe management of radioactive material and radioactive waste. The majority of operators responsible for the long-term management of radioactive waste will establish systems for preserving information. In order for the system to deliver real benefits, there must be absolute clarity concerning what information is to be preserved, the reasons why it must be preserved, how it is to be managed over the long-term and who is responsible for its management. However, the decisive characteristic of this information management system that could make the difference between preserved liability and valued asset is the ability to access and interpret the information now and in the future. On first inspection, this characteristic appears obvious but how often are these systems established with the primary objective of preserving information when it should be ensuring future access to knowledge? Radioactive waste data, recorded in isolation, may have restricted value especially if its provenance is unknown, its significance is unclear, the originators cannot be consulted and its authenticity and trustworthiness are not verifiable. It is therefore necessary to combine this raw data with contextual information that will enable future generations to determine the significance of the record, distinguish it as valuable asset and create their own, contemporary knowledge base. Only when equipped with comprehensive, reliable and accurate knowledge will future generations have the confidence to make informed judgments about the impact of our waste on their society and environment. The mismanagement of our knowledge today could have significant repercussions in terms of cost, radiation dose and damage to the environment in the future. This presentation defines terms such as ‘data’, ‘information’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘wisdom’ and provides a simple model illustrating their relationship. This model is then used as the basis for an examination of the inputs and the ways in which they may be optimised. The nuclear industry, and even society, has developed an ‘implicit’ understanding of radioactive waste, at a variety of levels, and it may seem inconceivable that future societies would not retain this understanding in sufficient detail that it could adequately protect itself and the environment.

16

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/4

History shows, however, that as societies evolve and other priorities emerge previously implicit knowledge can decline. This leads us towards identifying present ‘implicit’ radioactive waste knowledge and developing means for capturing it. The presentation will conclude with an argument for the development of strategies that encourage the sharing of trustworthy radioactive waste-related knowledge. These strategies, supported national governments, whilst being both practical and cost-effective to implement must be cognisant of the need for local and regional security.

17

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/5

KNOWLEDGE PRESERVATION STRATEGIES FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

S. Koruna Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Unaxis Displays Zurich, Switzerland

H. Bachmann Convera Switzerland, Switzerland

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The nuclear industry is currently facing several challenges. An internal threat to the safety and operations of nuclear power plants is the loss of those employees who hold knowledge that is either critical to operations or safety. This report discusses the possibilities to preserve knowledge in nuclear power plants. The major threat to any knowledge-based operation is the often-unclear relationship between the employees’ knowledge and the organization’s output. Depending on whether the organizational activities are rather product or process-oriented the identification of the critical knowledge is organized differently: while product-oriented activities are rather task driven, the first unit of knowledge preservation analysis in such environments is the task. It is analyzed which employees contribute to the task and how important each employee’s contribution to the task fulfilment is. In process-oriented environments a similar procedure is followed. Here the process is analyzed according to which employees provide process input and how critical this input is to the process output. In both situations, those employees that provide critical input to the task/process become the unit of analysis. Employees are analyzed according to which knowledge bases they dispose of and deploy in order to reach their objectives. Knowledge is seen as the capacity for effective action and the result of a process that integrates expertise, methodological knowledge, social competence and meta-knowledge. Knowledge can be differentiated into two types of knowledge: explicit and tacit. While explicit knowledge is not too different from information, tacit knowledge is tough to grasp and tough to handle. While people are able to ride a bicycle or to swim, they are normally not capable to explain why they are able to do this. This is a problem for an organization when it wants to preserve knowledge. Thus tacit knowledge poses the primary barrier to knowledge preservation. Dependent on the degree of tacit ness two different knowledge preservation strategies can be discerned: personalization and codification. The personalization strategy for knowledge preservation comprises the creation of substitutes, the establishing of mentor/novice partnerships, communities of practice and the deployment of external experts. Generally, from a ‘preservation’ point of view, the personalization strategy is superior to the codification strategy as it creates a second source of knowledge for the organization. This is important to all activities that are time-critical and where action cannot be waited for.

18

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/5

On the other hand, when action is not time-critical, codification strategies can provide valuable services. They comprise the classical activity of documentation, exit interviews, de- briefings, knowledge elicitation, and simulation. The major disadvantage of the codification strategy is related to tacit knowledge. To create a document which allows a recipient to reconstruct an expert’s knowledge base is one of the most difficult endeavours in knowledge management. Knowledge is – normally – not free of context. Rather, knowledge is deeply rooted in context. To understand an activity often depends on understanding the context in which the activity took place. When documents are created, context is often neglected. In such a situation the reconstruction of knowledge at the recipient is difficult (or even impossible). Furthermore, tacit knowledge cannot be easily transferred on paper. Over time, people mask the relation between knowledge, action and output: a novice car driver switches gears thoughtfully while an experienced driver does not even pay attention to think about that procedure. He/she simply does it. The same is true for experts: do often do not have to think, they simply do (without having to think why they should do). Accordingly, it is very difficult to elicit knowledge, i.e. making explicit again the relation between knowledge, action and output. Such a process can take months or even years and it is the question how important this knowledge is to the organization to engage itself in such an activity. In some instances, there is no way around elicitation. This is the case when organizations want to develop simulations as a means for knowledge preservation. To conclude, the knowledge preservation activities discussed can be valued according to the criteria • cost, • immediacy of availability and • completeness. Based on those criteria the following picture emerges:

Cost s Immediat e Com plet eness Availabilit y

Substit ution

Tandem Communit ies of Practice ? Ext ernal Exper t s ?

Documentation De-Briefing Exit Int erview Knowledge Elicitation

Si m u l at io n

Fig. 1. Suitability of various knowledge preservation activities

19

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/5

One can clearly see where the strengths and the weaknesses of the various knowledge preservation strategies are. As there is not a single superior preservation strategy, the best strategy has to be chosen depending of the concrete situation. Furthermore, the strategies are complementary and not exclusive.

20

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/6

THE ROLE OF TACIT KNOWLEDGE AND THE CHALLENGES IN TRANSFERRING IT IN THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CONTEXT

L. Hyttinen, N. Helminen Helsinki University of Technology, Finland

Email address of main author: [email protected]

In nuclear power plant context all the relevant knowledge should be in explicit (written) form and the documentation is controlled by legislation and official regulations. However, knowledge has also a tacit element, which is the know-how of individuals including mental models, crafts, skills, intuitions, hunches and feelings which may be very difficult or even impossible to articulate [1]. In this preliminary study, the aim is to find out the role of tacit knowledge in the nuclear power plant context and the challenges related to it at the moment. Furthermore, the current methods and practices in use for transferring the tacit knowledge in power plants will also be examined [2]. The study is conducted in the two Finnish nuclear power plants, in Olkiluoto and Loviisa. The data are collected in March and April 2004 by interviewing 8-10 key informants at each plant. The interviewees are mainly middle and top management with a broad and deep view on the subject. The study is planned to be followed by a 2-3 year project, in which the transfer of tacit knowledge will be examined in four cases, in which the role and transfer of tacit knowledge has been found critical. In these cases, methods for improving the transfer of tacit knowledge will be developed, piloted and evaluated. Based on the experiences from the cases, the methods will be finally applied also to other parts of the organizations. As a result of the data gathered so far, even though the emphasis of the knowledge in the nuclear power plant context was considered to be on explicit knowledge, also the role of tacit knowledge was considered important. The role of tacit knowledge was especially emphasized in knowledge related to e.g. the building process of the power plant (e.g. design bases and project know-how); the experience of using the power plants; finding the relevant explicit knowledge from the paper files; interpreting and evaluating the resonance of issues and situations; the know-how embedded in commissioning as well as public approval; domestic and international relations; and fuel acquisition and radioactive waste management. The role of tacit knowledge in the nuclear power plant context was considered critical at least for three reasons: 1) the nuclear technology is remarkably complex; 2) nuclear know-how is only in hands of a few in Finland; and 3) the safety and quality of operation in nuclear context are extremely important. The most significant challenge in transferring the tacit knowledge was seen the forthcoming retirement of a large proportion of staff who had worked in the nuclear power plant from the beginning. These employees have tacit knowledge related to e.g. the commissioning and initial operations of the power plant, and huge experience in using the power plants as well as effective domestic and international relations. The fact that this kind of tacit knowledge is in hands of a few had not earlier caused problems as the turnover of the workers have been low. The challenge of ageing workforce of the nuclear power industry has been noticed elsewhere as well [3]. On the other hand, not all of the tacit knowledge embedded in these experts were considered worth transferring: especially some customs and practices were found more

21

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/6 effective among the younger generation, and some prevailing practices were not desired to be maintained. Another challenge related to the tacit knowledge was the building of new nuclear plants and documenting the knowledge related to the process so that it would be as much in explicit form as possible and the transfer of the remaining tacit knowledge would be effectively controlled and planned. Furthermore, challenges were also found in creating new training material and developing more multifaceted and interactive training, which would lead not only to transfer of explicit knowledge but also to effective transfer of tacit knowledge as well.

REFERENCES

[1] NONAKA, I. (1994) A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation, Organization Science, Vol. 5 (1), pp. 14-37. [2] HELMINEN, N. and HYTTINEN, L. (2004) Methods for Sharing Tacit Knowledge and Expertise in Nuclear Power Plants, Proceedings in International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management: Strategies, Information Management and Human Resource Development, 7-10 September 2004, Saclay, France. [3] IAEA (2004) The Nuclear Power Industry’s Ageing Workforce and Transfer of Knowledge to the Next Generation, IAEA-TECDOC-xxxx, Austria.

22

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/7

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE PRESERVATION OF ATUCHA TYPE REATOR: PRACTICAL APPROACHES AND LESSONS LEARNED

M. Eppenstein, C. Vetere Atomic Energy Commission, Argentina

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The nuclear option is born in Argentina in 1950. Since then and after half century, the Argentine nuclear sector reaches a hierarchy and an important technological – scientific dimension in all the issues related to activities linked to the nuclear sector. The export of research reactors, the nuclear fuel production and the installation of nucleoeléctrical power stations constitute one of the most outstanding achievements of this activity. The Atucha I Nuclear Power Plant, of Siemens-KWU technology with 30 years of operation and Embalse (Candu type) with 20 years of operation, register an efficient and safe performance, within the worldwide standards. In addition, and with Siemens technology the Atucha II NPP is in construction with a 82% of work advance. At the moment Siemens, has transferred his place as designer of reactors LWR to the Framaton ANP Company and consequently Argentina will have to make all the efforts to assure the " knowledge preservation" of the technology of this line of reactors, if it hopes that Atucha I extends its useful life and Atucha II is finalized. Likewise the aging of the personnel in the sector is worrisome being numerous the great number of people who are close to retire what it worsens if we think that there are a few young people able in this specialty by the lack of the entrance of candidates in compatible races This situation generated the necessity to implement a system of Knowledge Management to capture and to capitalize the tacit and explicit knowledge, to spread it and to share by using techniques and tools adapted through the organization. Practical Approaches and Lessons Learned A - Analysis of the strategy: The strategy was based on recognizing the critical knowledge by means of the use of a methodology that incorporates the technique of the map of the critical knowledge. That is to say, to recognize the patrimony of the knowledge around the reactor. The layout of the knowledge map of reactor together with the systematic analysis of criticities generated the architecture of the taxonomies of reactor Atucha type behavior as also it allowed to carried out its own actions of the knowledge management from the diagnosis of the it where proposals and actions arise destined to reduce the criticity and to put into operation the different processes system. (Cycle of Nonaka and Takeuchi) B. - Technical of development and its disadvantages: Factors of analysis How to restore a new methodology that requires of the application of techniques for personal and group interviews. It is essential to consider this time at the time of project planning. The project demands much interaction with experts of different profiles and availability of their time because it involves to all the nuclear sector and the complete service life of the Reactor (project, design, operation, decommissioning, dismantling). Effects of the operation state of plant in the accomplishment of different activities from the project The infrastructure of the ITC of different generations that coexist can force to generate migrations of information and to develop new additional tools.

23

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/7

The limited HHRR, financial resources, the administrative circuits, the different corporative cultures that coexist and the critical knowledge that keeps in mind of people close to get their retirement, require of an exhaustive previous analysis to determine their influence in the criticity of the system.

24

IAEA-CN-123/02/O/8

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND NETWORKING FOR ENHANCING NUCLEAR SAFETY

T. Taniguchi, L. Lederman International Atomic Energy Agency, Austria

Email address of main author: l. [email protected]

Striving for innovative solutions to enhance efficiency of programme delivery and a wider outreach of its nuclear safety activities, the IAEA has developed an Integrated Safety Approach as a platform for linking its safety related statutory functions and its many related activities. The approach recognizes the vital importance of effective management of the knowledge base and builds on the integration between the Agency’s safety standards and all aspects of the provision for their application, including peer reviews and technical meetings to share lessons learned. The IAEA is using knowledge management techniques to develop process flows, map safety knowledge and to promote knowledge sharing. The first practical application was the establishment of a knowledge base related to ageing and long-term operation of nuclear power plants. The IAEA is also promoting and facilitating the establishment of regional nuclear and radiation safety networks to preserve existing knowledge and expertise as well as to strengthen sharing and creation of new knowledge in these fields. Prominent examples are the Asian Nuclear Safety Network established in the frame of the Agency’s Programme on the Safety of Nuclear Installations in South East Asia, Pacific and Far East Countries, and the Ibero-American Radiation Safety Network in the frame of the Ibero-American Forum of Nuclear Regulators. Results to date are most encouraging and suggest that this pioneer work should be extended to other regions and eventually to a global safety network. Responsive to the need of Member States, the IAEA Secretariat has prepared and made available a large number of up-to-date training packages in nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety, using the Agency’s safety standards as a basis. It has also provided instruction to trainers in Member States on the use of these modules. This ensures that the material is properly used and that the Agency receives feedback so that training services and material are improved and kept current. This approach adds a new dimension for transferring knowledge as compared to conventional training methods. Recognizing that nuclear safety and security are truly global and transboundary issues, the IAEA has put forward the vision of a global nuclear safety and security regime that provides for the protection of people and the environment from effects of ionizing radiation, the minimization of the likelihood of accidents that could endanger life and property, and effective mitigation of the effects of any such events. The IAEA will pursue knowledge management and networking as fundamental elements for achieving this vision.

25

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/1

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AT ELETRONUCLEAR

W. Lepecki Consultant, Knowledge Management, to ELETRONUCLEAR, Brazil

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The paper describes the Knowledge Management (KM) activities at ELETRONUCLEAR, owner and operator of nuclear power plants in Brazil. Systematic measures to preserve its essential technological know-how have been taken, especially in view of personnel attrition due to ageing. A special project was established in January 2001 for this purpose. The first phase consisted in the identification of the extent and location of the existing know- how, with existing and future gaps in the essential know-how being identified and evaluated. A multidisciplinary team was established to implement the Project. The team interacted with experts both in Brazil and abroad to achieve a sound technical basis for the work, in terms of Knowledge Management techniques. The results of the know-how survey are stored in an electronic data bank, which facilitates preparation of several types of reports, according to various criteria. A second phase was performed in 2002, involving an in-depth analysis of the results of the survey. Proposals for solutions to fill in the know-how gaps were set up, comprising both a short-term and a long-term time frame. A third phase is under way (2003/4), consisting of measures to establish Knowledge Management (KM) as a permanent activity in the Company. In particular, methods to elicit tacit knowledge from departing (esp. retiring) experts are being developed This work was the first by ELETRONUCLEAR in the field of Knowledge Management. Although the work was performed with ELETRONUCLER's own staff, discussions with persons and institutions acquainted with this relatively new field, especially in the nuclear area, were very important for the implementation of the Project. In particular, cooperation with EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute, USA) was very instrumental to the attainment of its objectives. Eletronuclear and EPRI have maintained a close working relationship during the last years during which EPRI created an innovative process and methods for eliciting and capturing valuable undocumented knowledge and ELETRONUCLEAR proceeded with the project described above. Experience was thus exchanged continuously between the two. ELETRONUCLEAR and EPRI intend to launch a joint pilot project to apply in ELETRONUCLEAR the processes and methods for knowledge capture and use developed by EPRI. This will permit Eletronuclear to develop Knowledge Modules (KMs)[1] containing valuable expertise that may be used in the future. It is intended, in particular, to use the Concept Map method for this purpose. As a continuation of the basic KM work described above, now applied to the determination of detailed personnel necessities, a method was developed and used called the Competence Tree method [2]. Its objective is to represent, archive and use " intellectual competences". The concept of the model focuses on the definition of competence usage and not only knowledge.

26

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/1

Its structure allows operations that can identify, compare and manipulate individual competences and groups of competences. A computer system prototype was developed to show that the model may be implemented and support a decision making process The computer system was applied to the practical case of determining personnel needs in the Technical Directorate.

REFERENCES

[1] "CAPTURING AND USING HIGH-VALUE UNDOCUMENTED KNOWLEDGE IN THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY: GUIDELINES AND METHODS", EPRI, Palo Alto, CA: 2002. 1002896. [2] MAGARINOS TORRES, D.M., Magarinos Torres, M., "Competences’ Tree", COPPE/UFRJ- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), 2002.

27

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/2

MANAGING NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE: A SCK•CEN CONCERN

M. L. Ruyssen, F. Moons, P. Borgermans Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN), Belgium

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Managing knowledge can be seen as the processes governing the creation, the dissemination and the utilisation of knowledge. Any organisation and specially a research centre will need a continuously updated body of knowledge as a basis of its sustained existence. Since its very beginning, SCK•CEN has always been a knowledge-based organisation aiming to solve topical problems based on experiences in the field, model-oriented experiments and fundamental research. Preserving and enhancing our institutional memory has become vital for the SCK•CEN. We are therefore pursuing our efforts to stimulating preservation and sharing of Nuclear Knowledge. Our knowledge exists in different forms and formats ranging from dispersed pieces of technical or scientific information on different media to a complex reservoir of people with the required educational background, expertise and acquired insights to apply that knowledge safely and effectively. SCK•CEN decided in 2001 to tackle this strategic concern by adopting a practical knowledge management (KM) approach. Our programme started in 2002 is built on ‘what already exists’. KM activities were identified all over our organisation – building databases, assembling nuclear and technical information, implementing QA procedures, conducting training, writing publications – so that every researcher or technical staff can lay claim to it. However, a co- ordinated approach to Knowledge Management requires an efficient re-use of the recorded knowledge and an effective transfer of the available knowledge. This approach ensures an added value to our research work and guarantees on the long term the preservation of our institutional memory. The objective of the KM programme is the continuous improvement of the information management coupled with the elicitation of tacit knowledge, the stimulation of collaboration and the knowledge transfer. KM also enhances the information objects by adding or linking related additional information and tacit knowledge. KM needs were detected and prioritised. The necessary mechanisms and systems were created. In 2002, we decided to sustain existing communities of practice through web-based portals. Those knowledge systems are based on the same underlying content management framework for storing, retrieving and re-use of shared document collections and databases. Those systems offer today such features as personalised interface, editoring, version control and collaboration tools for discussion. In conclusion, knowledge management is essential for a knowledge-based organisation such as a scientific research centre. On the long term, we hope that the effective management of nuclear knowledge at SCK•CEN will ensure the continued availability of essential reservoirs of both technical information and qualified people.

28

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/4

THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER (ISTC): SUPPORTING OF NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE PROGRESS THROUGH TEN YEARS INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION (INFORMATION REVIEW)

L. Tocheny International Science and Technology Center (ISTR), Russia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The ISTC is a unique international organisation created more than ten years ago by Russia, USA, EU and Japan in Moscow. Numerous science and technology projects are realised with the ISTC support in different areas, from biotechnologies and environmental problems to all aspects of nuclear studies, including those focused on the development of effective innovative concepts and technologies in the nuclear field, in general, and for improvement of nuclear safety, in particular. Indeed, the concern of the international nuclear community about keeping information and skills is reasonable, and assistance to preservation of nuclear knowledge is important and relevant task rightly undertaken under the IAEA auspices. The presentation addresses some results of the ISTC projects as well as methods and approaches employed by the ISTC to foster close international collaboration and manage projects towards fruitful results. 1. ISTC – history, state-of-the-art, potential and perspectives The basic idea behind establishing the ISTC was to support non-proliferation of the mass destruction weapons technologies by re-directing former Soviet weapons scientists to peaceful research thus preventing the drain of dangerous knowledge and expertise from Russia and other CIS countries. The Agreement on the ISTC creation as an intergovernmental organisation was signed in November 1992 on behalf of the European Union, Japan, Russia, and the United States of America. It was declared that the ISTC would pursue the following objectives: • Give weapons experts in the CIS the opportunity to redirect their talents to peaceful activities • Contribute to the solution of national and international science and technology problems • Reinforce the transition to market economies • Support basic and applied research • Promote integration of CIS scientists into global scientific community Thus, the ISTC motto is “Non-proliferation through Science Cooperation”. The ISTC is registered with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and enjoys the status equal to that of a diplomatic mission. The Center began its operations in Moscow in March 1994. Since then, the initial parties to the ISTC Agreement have been joined by Norway, the Republic of Korea, and Canada, as well as by Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan. 1.1. Principles of ISTC Operations • The ISTC solicits, approves, finances, and monitors peaceful science and technology research conducted by Russia and CIS weapons scientists • Projects are carried out at research institutes and facilities located in Russia and other CIS countries • In the process of project implementation, collaboration with Western scientists and science organizations is highly encouraged

29

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/4

1.2. ISTC Science Project Program The Science Project Program is the most comprehensive non-proliferation activity conducted by the ISTC. Through this program, the ISTC solicits scientific project proposals from institutes throughout the CIS and provides funding and logistic support to project teams. Project teams receive written concurrence from the host country on whose territory their research will be conducted, and then develop and execute their project with foreign collaborating organizations. Foreign collaborators ensure that the project goals contribute to the state-of-the-art in the field, and results will find applications to real problems in basic and applied research. At present, the ISTC is looking to introduce a more programmatic approach towards meeting its goals and, continuing to support individual projects, plans to launch large scale international programs. An example of such a program is the establishment of the International Science Laboratory – a long-term cooperative science facility that would enjoy both the expertise of the hosting science staff and the experience of visiting collaborators. 1.3. ISTC Partner Program To better contribute to the solution of national and international science and technology problems, and to match Russia and CIS scientific potential and expertise to the needs of the world science, industries and businesses, since 1997 the ISTC has been pursuing its Partner program. Presently, the ISTC Partner list includes over 180 organizations and leading industrial companies from all ISTC parties. 1.4. ISTC Activities to Date • Over 4300 project proposals registered • About 30 new proposals received each month • As of April 2004, about2000 projects have been approved for funding • Total funding of the ISTC projects exceeds US $600 million with over US $160 million provided by the ISTC Partners • Partner contribution to the annual ISTC project funding approaches 50 percent • More than 600 institutions and 52,000 specialists have received grants through the ISTC 1.5. Other ISTC Programs • Seminar Program: the ISTC organizes and conducts seminars toward heightening the awareness of CIS scientific potential, maintaining strong international scientific cooperation between foreign and CIS scientists, linking scientific potential with technology markets, and establishing cooperation with other international organizations and programs. Seminar topics are of broad technical and global interest and support the objectives of the Center and of other international non-proliferation initiatives. • The Business Management Training Program is conducted to assist ISTC project managers in developing their general business knowledge, presentation skills, and understanding of intellectual property rights. The training complements the technical aspects of the ISTC project, toward helping the project manager in future commercialization of the project results and in securing funding from sources beyond the ISTC.

30

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/4

• Technologies Database Program: through its contacts with hundreds of research institutes and centers throughout the CIS, the ISTC has uncovered many innovative technical projects either planned or now underway which conform to the non- proliferation objectives of the ISTC. The ISTC established the Technologies Database Program to establish and expand information exchange infrastructure concerning research activities, toward promoting the expertise of CIS research institutes and cooperation between CIS and foreign technical experts. • The Travel Support program fosters collaboration by reimbursing travel and related expenses for CIS scientists who wish to begin or continue technical consultations on the proposals they submit to the ISTC. • Communication Support, Patenting Support, and other supporting Programs 1.6. Main Topics, fit with nuclear knowledge management Among four thousand projects submitted to ISTC, there are above five hundred funded and as of yet non-funded projects related to different aspects of nuclear science, reactor physics and modelling, and NFC - Nuclear Fuel Cycle, including actinide transmutation and Plutonium disposition. Indeed, the concern of the international nuclear community about keeping information and skills is reasonable, and assistance to preservation of nuclear knowledge is important and relevant task rightly undertaken under the IAEA auspices. These aspects are: Publishing of monographs (in English and in Russian): • Nuclear reactors; • Materials and material science; • Theory, mathematical and computer modeling; • Lasers, plasma physics, accelerators; • Measurement and record technique; • Generators, etc. Plutonium disposition, including general technical and economical analysis of NFC. Experimental and computer benchmarking. Severe accident analysis. Radio ecological information (nuclear accidents, radiation legacy, etc.). Nuclear data – measurements and evaluation. Critical and other integral experiments. Nuclear power for Space exploration. Medical nuclear physics (radiotherapy, diagnostics). Decommissioning of nuclear reactors, including nuclear submarines. RAW management and burial. NFC simulators and training centers, etc. • Forms of ISTC activity The ISTC favours the co-ordination of the project flow through participation at joint project workshops, seminars, topical committees, etc. • The ISTC SAC Seminar

31

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/4

A set of Seminars of the ISTC Scientific Advisory Committee includes presentations of leaders of Russian and international and ISTC project managers. • Contact Experts Groups Several CEGs have been established by ISTC and foreign collaborator institutions, which co- ordinate group of projects related to definite problems, e.g., “MOX and utilisation of Plutonium as reactor fuel”, “GT-MHR project”, “Transmutation technologies”, “Severe accidents and corium management”. Hopefully expected, some new CEGs are to be created soon – for Reactor Materials Study and Space Exploration. • Steering Committees Within some projects the coordination functions are fulfilled by the Steering Committee, established by both Recipient institute, ISTC and foreign collaborators. Regular meetings, workshops and active information exchange help to effective project fulfilment. SCs have been organised for the projects on “Economics of plutonium fuel cycle in Russia”, “HTGR project concept”, and so on. • Relations with Organisations The ISTC maintains close contact with international and national nuclear organisations, such as IAEA, OECD/ NEA, International Nuclear Safety Center (Moscow), International Radiation Safety Center (Moscow), and so on. The goal of this activity is use of available information, concentrated in these institutions, for effective realisation of the projects and for incorporation of its personnel, installations and results into international programs. • Information Exchange General information on the ISTC activity, procedures, project summaries, events is available on the ISTC web site. To get the Final reports or/and project detailed information it is necessary to contact with both project Recipient institute and the ISTC Secretariat. • Conclusion The goals of this presentation are to introduce the ISTC programmes, particularly those, related to integration and keeping of nuclear knowledge, and making it accessible to international nuclear community, and to establish partnership between project recipients, foreign organisations and the ISTC, in order to define areas and forms of possible collaboration in future. REFERENCES

[1] THE ISTC ANNUAL REPORTS - ISTC, Moscow, 1996 - 2004. [2] THE ISTC WEB-SITE: http:// www.istc.ru

32

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/5

SCIENCE.GOV – A SINGLE GATEWAY TO THE DEEP WEB KNOWLEDGE OF U.S. SCIENCE AGENCIES

B. A. Hitson U.S. Department of Energy, United Stats of America

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The impact of science and technology on our daily lives is easily demonstrated. From new drug discoveries, to new and more efficient energy sources, to the incorporation of new technologies into business and industry, the productive applications of R&D are innumerable. The possibility of creating such applications depends most heavily on the availability of one resource: knowledge. Knowledge must be shared for scientific progress to occur. In the past, the ability to share knowledge electronically has been limited by the “deep web” nature of scientific databases and the lack of technology to simultaneously search disparate and decentralized information collections. U.S. science agencies invest billions of dollars each year on basic and applied research and development projects. To make the collective knowledge from this R&D more easily accessible and searchable, 12 science agencies collaborated to develop Science.gov – a single, searchable gateway to the deep web knowledge of U.S. science agencies. This session will describe Science.gov and the subsequent versions released or planned for release. Science.gov contains reliable information resources selected by the respective agencies as their best science information. Two major types of information are included—selected authoritative science web sites (over 1700 as of early April 2004, with more being added on a regular update basis) and databases of technical reports, journal articles, conference proceedings, and other published materials. (The specific content varies by database. Thirty databases are included currently.) The selected web sites can be explored from the Science.gov homepage. The web pages and the databases can be searched individually or simultaneously from the search page. Version 2.0, to be released in May or June 2004, will combine the information into a single search, with results displayed in relevancy-ranked order. In all, roughly 50 million pages of R&D information are available through Science.gov. Science.gov was developed by an interagency working group of 17 scientific and technical information organizations from 12 major science agencies. Together these agencies make up the Science.gov Alliance. These agencies are committed to serving the information needs of the science-attentive citizen, including science professionals, students and educators, business people and entrepreneurs, and members of the public with an interest in science. The Alliance and Science.gov were formed to improve and enhance access to information at science agency programs. Technically, the decentralized collections of Science.gov are made searchable through a distributed search engine. The precision of searches has been significantly improved through relevancy ranking of title text. In the near future, precision searching will be further improved by using information in the complete bibliographic record and abstracts, when available. Plans are also being made for Science.gov to take precision searching to the next level, basing its relevancy ranking on full text.

33

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/6

TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: EXPERT NETWORKING IN THE COMPANY

K. J. Schmatjko Famatome ANP GmbH, Germany

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Companies in the field of nuclear power generation are active in a knowledge based business: They are faced with the close interaction of quite different technologies, the complexity of large projects – especially in constructing new plants – and the challenges of the long lifetime of their product. In the past daily needs have pushed the introduction of diverse procedures and tools for knowledge handling in the different organisational units of Framatome ANP, e.g. project documentation systematic, knowledge transfer to young engineers, or co- operation with external institutes. The different approaches can be classified in a portfolio spanning the ‘depth’ of knowledge handled (data ... ‘experience’ as interpretation of data within a context) vs. the sharing effect (some persons ... many units). Obviously the complete coverage of the two dimensions cannot be expected from one method or tool. Even attempts for more integration in IT based knowledge management systems have failed due to the effort required for supporting the application scopes in the different technical fields and in project management.

many org. units network intranet of experts process manuals external sharing co-operation effect (universities, institutes) document ‘lessons management learned’ systems data base

know how transfer by some mentors persons

data experience ‚depth‘ of knowledge accessible

Nonetheless some aspects have become apparent requiring an integrating view for these distinct elements: • Methods and tools may be useful for other business contexts in the company also. Therefore there is an obvious need for exchange of information and ‘best practice’. • Common projects and collaboration require mutual use of methods and tools by different units not foreseen before. General guidelines agreed for knowledge management facilitate the linking and merging of tools. • Knowledge improvement and extension – i.e. innovation – should be supported within all methods and tools. Promoting suggestions from users and integrating improvements are optimized approaches to be unified within the company.

34

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/6

Handling these issues by a specialized unit only will not overcome the barriers between the approaches faced in the past. Best solutions are expected by involving directly users with a more general scope. This is now easily organized, after having introduced in the AREVA Group the status of experts and their networking. First they are a complimentary element in the management of knowledge, but furthermore their duties defined will result in the transverse integrating effect for the elements deployed yet. The respective assignments for experts are – in addition to the work in their operational units: • expanding and consolidating various areas of knowledge and know-how with regard to the areas of expertise, • making this knowledge and know-how available within the Group and sharing it, • identifying, developing, analyzing, assimilating and harnessing the new technologies required for future markets. The need for interaction of experts from different technical areas by networking is obvious, as is the need for procedures and ‘team tools’ documenting approach and results. Thus experts will contribute to the methods of knowledge management in a constitutive way. The mutual adjustment of the tools and methods by the community of experts, who represent technical contents through expertise and its use through their operational duties, is a decisive step for an integrated management of knowledge within the company. It ensures the flexibility required for success.

35

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/7

EFFORTS IN IMPROVEMENT OF NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT IN CROATIA

S. Pleslic Faculty of and Computing, Croatia

N. Novosel Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, Croatia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The IAEA (Vienna, Austria) as an autonomous intergovernmental organization was authorized for exchange of technical and scientific information on peaceful uses of atomic energy and established International Nuclear Information System (INIS) in 1970 as an international bibliographic database in the nuclear field and in nuclear related areas. Today INIS is big technological and science information system with 129 Members, including Croatia, which joined INIS in 1994. Countries at different levels of technological development could derive benefits from the output products but most of members are developing countries, in which the economic growth is expected. Use of energy sources according to demands for sustainable development will be critical problem in future. Nuclear energy is probably not the best and only solution but as a major energy source it is very important for future energy systems. Applications of nuclear and radiation techniques in different areas (medicine, agriculture, water resource and radioactive waste management...) also contribute to sustainable development. The use of nuclear technology relies on the accumulation of knowledge in nuclear science and technology, including both technical information in documents and databases, and knowledge in human resources (scientists, researchers, engineers and technicians). Nuclear knowledge and information exchange are important for process of decision making on all issues connected with the full cycle of using nuclear technologies. So, the IAEA started to support and to help all Members in systematic knowledge preservation and information exchange wanting to transfer the practical experience to the younger generation and to archive important information from this segment. Croatia is strongly involved in all activities in knowledge and information management. Croatian Radiation Protection Association, incorporated into International Radiation Protection Association, is a public organization with the purpose of promoting and developing scientific, educational and cultural activities in the field of radiation protection and related fields of science. The aim of the Croatian Nuclear Society is to improve science and procedures by the peaceful use of nuclear sciences, technologies, and the appropriate security, as well as to introduce the public with the need and specialities of using nuclear technology. The Croatian Society of Nuclear Medicine and the Croatian Energy Association work with similar goals as previous societies: to improve the general knowledge in society of the benefits of nuclear science and technology and their applications in related fields; to promote all scientific and professional activities by organization and participation on international meetings and conferences; to work on popularisation of nuclear science, its results and applications through organization of popular lectures, editing of publications and participation in manifestations of broader social importance.

36

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/7

Croatian Young Generation Network (YGN) as a part of Croatian Nuclear Society was founded in 1999 with goals of attracting young people, education and training of the young experts, knowledge and experience transition between the generations, international contacts and engagement in the international projects, encouraging young experts to join conferences, workshops and seminars, students involvement in the YGN activities and popularisation of the nuclear studies among the students. During almost 10 years Croatian membership in INIS was established as a decentralized system following in this way the INIS philosophy. This decentralized approach to input and output was selected because it represents the most comprehensive coverage of nuclear literature including effective handling of information and the most satisfactory services for users of the INIS Database (DB). Since 1994 input submitting in Croatia was continuous with significant increase of input records satisfying in the same time all requests of INIS Secretariat. Two years ago Croatia got Internet Access to the IAEA INIS Database for Universities of INIS Members free of charge providing us with information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This year Croatia joined group of INIS Members which work on voluntary input in INIS DB contributing and improving quality and quantity of the database. Croatia involved in regional technical co-operation project in Europe supported by IAEA. In the field of nuclear techniques for humanitarian demining, device known as PELAN (Pulsed Elemental Analysis with Neutrons) was developed by the laboratory in the USA and showed positive results. As Croatia is country infested with landmines (about 600 000 landmines), an intense effort is taking place for the demining of the country. In 2002 field-testing started in order to evaluate PELAN performance and capability in near to realistic conditions. Last year the Governments of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia signed Agreement on the regulation of the status and other legal relationship, connected with investments in the Nuklearna Elektrarna Krsko, d.o.o., its exploitation and decommissioning opening possibilities for giving grants to the students and young scientists in the field of nuclear technology from the NE Krsko. Thanks to development and application of new information technologies within INIS information management framework, all Members, including Croatia, improve the collection, production and dissemination of nuclear knowledge and information.

37

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/8

PROBLEMS OF NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT IN CIS

N. M. Grusha, A. A. Mikhalevich National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Belarus

Email address of main author: [email protected]

In the former Soviet Union there was a common information space on the problems of nuclear science and technologies. The books, monographs, manuals for a higher school, popular scientific literature, specialized magazines and etc. were issued by mass circulation. By becoming independent CIS have met with a number of problems in sphere of nuclear knowledge and information management. In CIS there was practically full stopping the publication of specialized literature on nuclear subjects or its issue was by small circulation (mainly in Russia). It makes them low available. Under the condition of information isolation the quality of the published materials is reduced. CIS are poorly informed about the works having been carried out and are being carried out in the neighbouring countries in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy, and their experience and the results of scientific researches are not used by other countries. For example, the complex of preparatory works on assessment of possibility and advisability of nuclear power evolution has been fulfilled in Belarus. In particular, economic advisability of NPP construction has been evaluated, the original technique of feasible NPP siting of has been developed and the basic and reserve sites have been chosen. The type and perspective project of NPP have been selected and the project of the strategy on radioactive management and a number of standard documents have been developed too. The research on possibility of the station siting on the contaminated territory are being carried out, as well as the creation of the system of the monitoring surroundings when NPP siting in pure and contaminated territories. The problems of the long-term controlled radioactive waste, spent fuel or the products of its reprocessing storage on the territory of the republic, the complex of scientific research works of safety of nuclear power development are being carried out in addition too. We believe that our experience and scientific development can be useful not only for CIS, but also for other developing countries. It is necessary to create accessible databases in Russian and English in the field of nuclear technologies, databases on synopsis information of world periodical editions and etc. At present in CIS the works are being carried out in this direction (the cooperation plan is prepared, the information fund is creating. Belarus takes an active part in these works. For fulfil of these works the financial support of the States and public organizations is necessary.

38

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/9

A STRUCTURED APPROACH TO INTRODUCE KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN A NATIONAL NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTION IN MALAYSIA

A. H. Daud Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT), Malaysia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

In 2002, the Government of Malaysia has launched the Knowledge Management Master Plan with the aim to transform Malaysian from a production-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. Seven strategic thrusts were developed [1]. One of which was to dramatically increase capacity for acquisition and application of science and technology in all sectors. Knowledge-based economy strengthen Malaysia capability to innovate; adapt and create indigenous technology; and design, develop and market new products, thereby providing foundation for endogenously driven growth. By 2020, Malaysia expects to become a contributor, rather than a consumer of knowledge and technology. In June 2003, the 2nd National S & T policy was launched. The policy puts in place programmes, institutions and partnerships to enhance Malaysian economic position including the quality of life of the people [2]. Seven strategic thrusts and several specific initiatives for each strategic thrust were developed. Many of the initiatives developed emphasize on the important roles of national research institutions (NRI) in the knowledge-based economy. The Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT) as a national research institution is thus expected to make significant contributions to the knowledge economy. MINT is established in 1972 and its main responsibility is to promote the application of nuclear technology in various socio-economic sectors including industry, agriculture, manufacturing, health, radiation safety and the environment. Its core competency is R & D in nuclear science and technology. Malaysia has always considers the international and regional technical cooperation programs such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) and Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) as one of the important mechanisms for Malaysia to acquire knowledge and technology from more advanced countries. Some specialised technologies are acquired through other mechanism such as bilateral cooperation. Over the years, MINT has been consciously and unconsciously implementing the knowledge management (KM) initiatives. MINT to a certain extent has been successful in knowledge acquisition and exploitation from more advanced countries as well as in knowledge generation and in the knowledge application and diffusion to the socio-economic sectors. Nevertheless, for MINT to sustain the image, the trusts, the credibility and the professionalism that the institution holds, as the promoter of the application of nuclear and related technologies for economic development, MINT recognizes the need to implement knowledge management (KM) practices in a more structured manner [3]. Recently KM practice was initiated in the Planning and External Relation Division in view of its responsibility for the management of technical cooperation program, which involves management of large volume of information both from external and internal sources. The information is of various natures, namely, technology, policy, financial, resolutions, strategies and action plans, projects proposals, meeting reports. There is always a challenge for the division to get the right information to the right people at the right time.

39

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/9

The division has embarked on piloting a project to introduce KM practice within the division. The objective of this project is to implement KM practices as a process for the division to develop right culture to manage information for increased responsiveness or adaptability, innovation, competency and efficiency through collaborative problem solving and participative decision making. The project is to be conducted over 12 months period in 5 phases, namely, preparation, official launching, implementation, sustainability and maturity (a progressive journey). Phase I: Preparation: involves KM familiarisation program. It includes the implementation of activities such as the formation of KM team, formulation of K-policy, identification of issues/problems and key performance indicators (KPI), formation community of practice. Phase II: Official Launching: Phase III- Implementation: involves the implementation of 5 keys focus areas, namely, K- identification, K-acquisition, K-application, K-sharing and K-development. It includes the implementation of activities such as identification of existing initiatives and technology, execution of knowledge need analysis, carry out `learning history’, organisation of KM forum, carry out collaborative problem solving and participative decision-making. Phase IV- Sustainability: involves the implementation of 5 keys focus areas, namely, K- creation, K-preservation and K-Measurement. It includes the implementation of activities such as evaluation of KPI, revising the project, improvement and recycling the project. Phase V – Maturity: is the Progressive Journey. It includes the implementation of activities such as team members motivation, project monitoring and nurturing culture of KM. It expected that at the end of the project, in addition to developing knowledge culture for the division, some best practices and lessons learned can be developed, documented and disseminated to ensure smart decisions are repeated and mistake avoided. Once KM practice is successfully established in the Planning and External Relation Division, the practice can be extended and applied to other divisions with the aim to eventually transform MINT into a knowledge organisation. REFERENCES

[1] KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT MASTER PLAN, Malaysia, September 2002 [2] THE SECOND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY and Plan of Action, Malaysia, June 2003 [3] CERTIFICATE IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT’ JT Frank The Knowledge Management Specialist, Course Materials, Version 12, Malaysia, February 2004.

40

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/10

A CASE STUDY OF A CUBAN GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION

A. L. Nuñez, Orison Arjona Vázquez, Cuba

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The aim of this contribution is to present a case study on the partial implementation of a knowledge management system in an institution. In this case the knowledge management has been directed toward the best performance of the organization. This organization is a non profit one and its functions are the promotion, support and supervision of issues related to science, technology and environment for the economic development of a region. This case study can be implemented at any institution, including institutions of nuclear or radiological profiles. Many nuclear and radiological facilities have as a purpose the promotion, support and supervision of the nuclear applications for the biggest economic development. And this should be oriented to the implementation of best practices. The main author (see 2) designed the methodology employed The attention was centered in the objectives to be achieved for an efficient organization and the competence that should be possessed, were also identified. This study was developed with an expert group. Directive personnel, the total of advisory of institution and some selected workers formed it. 12 members integrated the overall group. They pondered the incidence of each one of the competencies in the functional objectives of the organization. The approach of the beneficiaries to this issue was also considered. In a second place a study was carried out about the competencies possessed by all the workers of the organization, and according to this the convergence-divergence matrix was created. The utility indexes for the necessary competence and for the possessed competence were calculated, as well as the satisfaction ratio between them. This ratio identifies how were the necessary competencies satisfied by the possessed competencies. It was determined in the study that the key competencies of the organization are No. 1, 2, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 58. In general there are no difficulties for a correct functioning of the organization. Only competence No.35 was not satisfied not satisfied and No. 37, 40, 44, 45 and 53 were partially .This allows to observe that only 5% of the key competencies is not satisfied and that 25% of these were acceptably satisfied. From the total of competencies only 8,6% is not satisfied and 20.6% acceptably satisfied, the rest of the competencies is completely satisfied. This situation gives an idea of an organization that can work acceptable form and that it possesses some human resources with wide potentialities to generate new or more capital. In the map of necessary competencies you can see that the competencies are necessary in a strong form and uniformly distributed. Checking it with the map of the existing competencies you can detect that the strength of the competency is fairly not equally distributed within the personnel. For this reason it was decided to carry out a special training. This course was arranged by personal of the organization itself, in order to use the tacit knowledge of the organization (its own culture). The first version of the course was concluded and good results were obtained. At this moment it is being worked on an improved version of the course with the advice of a center of university studies.

41

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/10

Competences maps guided toward to functional objectives

M ap of posed com petence M ap of necessary com petence

REFERENCES

[1] BÜCK, YVES-JEAN: Gestión del conocimiento. AENOR. Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación. Versión en Español 2000. [2] LOPEZ A. El Sistema de Integral Gestión de Conocimientos como parte indispensable para la competitividad Empresarial. INFO 2002 . Abril2002. [3] LOPEZ A. y colectivo de autores Experiencias en la implementación preliminar del Sistema de Integral Gestión de Conocimientos en instituciones Cubanas. Metánica 2003.

42

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/11

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE PRESERVATION IN LITHUANIA

R. Karaliute Ministry of Economy, Lithuania

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Lithuania operates only one Nuclear Power Plant – Ignalina NPP with two latest RBMK – type design reactors with a nominal capacity of 1500 each. Our Parliament has set a decision to close the first unit before the year 2005, taking into consideration long-term substantial financial assistance from countries of European Union, G7 group, other countries and international financial institutions. The second unit will be closed in 2009. During fourteen year of independence Lithuania accumulated a lot of knowledge, prepared specialists in nuclear energy sector. It would be unforgivable to lose all that. In connection with approaching decommissioning of Ignalina NPP Lithuania faces few problems: how to keep Ignalina NPP personnel, how to promote nuclear energy between younger generation and how to preserve nuclear knowledge and expertises. To educate population about processes going on in Ignalina NPP and popularize nuclear power the information centre of Ignalina NPP was founded in 1995. Till 2004, January 1st about 50 thousand people from 20 different countries have visited the centre. Information centre publishes “The Information bulletin” every month, where you can find an information about the plant operational data, reliability and safe operation of Ignalina NPP, radiation situation on the plant site, events on INES, news and events; “The News Sheet”, which contain articles about the most important things and events at the plant and in the nuclear energy; prepares and different booklets, calendars and magazines about Ignalina NPP. One of the ways to store and preserve knowledge is to make database of all information available. So Lithuania joined INIS (International Nuclear Information System) in 1994 and established it’s own INIS national centre. That is the possibility to add information available in Lithuania to INIS database and share it with the rest of INIS users all over the world and to operate information already existing in database for users in Lithuania. Kaunas Technological University in Lithuania is specialized in providing nuclear and nuclear related education in Bachelor (2 years) and Master of Science (1,5 year) courses. Steps for promoting nuclear energy between younger generation are taken. University organizes seminars, conferences and different meetings together with the postgraduates of the secondary schools, publishes articles in the popular journals. Agreement between Kaunas Technological University and Ignalina NPP was made regarding additional scholarships and guarantees of employment for nuclear engineering students. Unfortunately all these actions are condemned to failure because of the early shutdown of the Ignalina NPP. Interest in nuclear energy is decreasing between young people in recent years. The problem of ageing of Ignalina NPP personnel and workforce in nuclear energy sector is arising because young people do not want to choose a specialty without the future in Lithuania.

43

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/12

WAYS OF PRESERVATIONS NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE IN TAJIKISTAN

J. A. Salomov, I. Mirsaidov Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency of the Academy of Sciences, Tajikistan

Email address of main author: [email protected]

It is known that attitude to nuclear knowledge considerably changes in the world. While developed countries, and particularly European Community countries, pay essential attention to fundamental investigations and begin to show the tendency to gradual turning of nuclear power engineering, many of developing countries have contrary and reverse situation. The Republic of Tajikistan is not a nuclear country, but she uses achievements of nuclear science and technology in a number of manufacture branches. That is why the important problems for us are training of staff and preservation of nuclear knowledge. During the Soviet period we did not have such problems as in that time well-educated specialists were trained regularly and by plan. Particularly, Chair of Nuclear Physics of the Tajik State National University (TSNU) was actively engaged in training. Chair of Nuclear Physics of TSNU was established in 1961. Sometimes scientific themes and training directions were changed. The reasons of changes were: • need of national economy in experts of particular speciality (nuclear spectroscopy, physics of cosmic rays, experts on nuclear physical methods of element analysis, geophysics, radiologists, etc); • need for new research managers and new heads of chair. Starting from 70th of the last century the Chair was engaged in training of experts in different fields of nuclear physics jointly and in close cooperation with Laboratory of High Energies, Laboratory of neutron Physics, Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, and Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of the Joint Institute of Nuclear Researches (JINR), Dubna, Moscow. After disintegration of the Soviet Union and rupture of scientific connections with Russia’s scientific centers on the one hand, and low financing and absence of own scientific and technological base on the other hand caused considerable decrease of training quality of nuclear physics specialists. Starting since 2002 we began to re-profile directions of specialists’ training in the Chair of Nuclear Physics of TSNU from fundamental field to applied field. Applied field includes training of medical physicists, radiation ecology, dosimetry, radiation protection physics. Training of these specialists (physicists) is carried out according to classical program of universities, i.e. from 1st to 3rd years they study general subjects, higher mathematics and general physics, and from second semester of 3rd year students chose speciality in different chairs and study special courses. Chair of Nuclear Physics of TSNU presently trains specialists in medical physics, dosimetry, and radiation protection physics. Today our country has urgent need in these specialists as during the Soviet Union these specialists were trained in Center. All of them were visitants and after USSR disintegration they left Tajikistan. Today we train specialists in the Chair of Nuclear Physics of TSNU and train our specialists in the regional and interregional training courses, seminars and scientific visits, organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Only in 2003 more than 30 our oncologists, radiotherapists, radiologists, dosimeters, and etc were trained in training courses, fellowships, and scientific visits.

44

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/12

Many of these specialists train their colleagues in their home establishments. Though training of nuclear physics specialists in the field of radiation protection makes its first steps, but taking into account availability of high qualified teachers (doctors and professors), which were trained during the Soviet period, and IAEA assistance in this direction give us hope that in nearest future we shall train the necessary amount of specialists for different fields of national economy of Tajikistan. Fundamental investigations on nuclear physics are being carried out in Physical Technical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan (AS RT). The INIS Center was established at the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency of AS RT with support and assistance of IAEA. We concluded a number of interstate; inter academic, and interuniversity agreements and treaties with foreign countries, academies and universities in the field of education, science and personnel training. All the above-mentioned allow us to preserve knowledge in Tajikistan, particularly, in the field of nuclear physics, science and technology.

REFERENCES

[1] GENERAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTION GC (46) RES/11B on “Nuclear Knowledge” (2002) and also SEC/NOT 1900(2002) [2] GC (46) RES/11 (Strengthening of the Agency’s Activities Related to Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications), Part B: Nuclear Knowledge (2002) [3] GC (47) RES/10 (Strengthening of the Agency’s Activities Related to Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications), Part B: Nuclear Knowledge (2003)

45

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/13

MANAGING NUCLEAR INFORMATION IN TANZANIA

S. F. Sawe, Y. Y. Sungita National Radiation Commission, United Republic of Tanzania

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Nuclear information management and the applications of nuclear technology in Tanzania are limited to medical, agriculture, research and some industrial applications. It is demanding that the National database for nuclear information be established to keep the track of the information on radiation facilities, manpower development, radiation sources and radioactive waste management. In this paper the current status of nuclear information management in Tanzania is presented. The development, setbacks and future plans for establishment of national database with consequent improvement of nuclear information management are discussed. The National Radiation Commission (NRC) which is an official government body responsible for atomic energy matters in collaboration with other institutions applying nuclear technology, keeps the records and inventory of facilities, manpower development and projects related to the nuclear field. The available information about nuclear application activities has been obtained through possessors’ declaration, monitoring at entry/exit points, periodic reports from the licensees, radiation safety inspections, and the available link with the International Atomic Agency (IAEA). In order to facilitate the dissemination of information, five ICT centers to serve in the fields of research, nuclear instrumentation, human health and agriculture have been established. The inventory of radiation facilities/materials and human resource is being build up as an initial input to the National database. Establishment of INIS center is expected to improve the nuclear information management system in the country. The government and the IAEA are encouraged to support nuclear information management especially by strengthening ICT centers and facilitating the establishment of INIS National center.

46

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/14

IMPLEMENTING KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN BNFL - A CASE STUDY

G. E. Grant British Nuclear Group, United Kingdom

Email address of main author: [email protected]

In November 2002, BNFL Environmental Services’1 executive signed off a two year programme of work to implement knowledge management within the business group. This was driven by the need for the business to be equipped to meet the challenges of the forthcoming commercialisation of the UK civil nuclear sector. From the outset the vision for knowledge management was to develop a framework that was scaleable, repeatable and aligned with the business strategy, ensuring that knowledge management activities would be robust to internal and external changes. It was also decided that knowledge management should be owned by the business, i.e. there would be no centralised knowledge management function. This ensures that the culture change is achieved and that best use is made of the knowledge within the business. The knowledge management framework is based around the good practice that BP developed, documented in "Learning to Fly"2. This approach can be best understood with reference to figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows the knowledge management framework when seen from the "business perspective". Whenever a task is undertaken there is an opportunity to learn before, during and after. This learning can be facilitated through the use of Peer Assists, After Action Reviews and Retrospects. The Knowledge Facilitators are responsible for ensuring that learning is applied to the right project at the right time and for the right reasons.

Busi ness St r at egy Busi ness Benef i t

KM Action Task Learn Before Learn After Plans Facilitator

Learn During Communities

Ret r ospect Peer Assi st

AAR KM Action Plans Co-ordinator The Knowledge Bank

Figure 1

1 BNFL Environmental Services is the waste management and decommissioning business within what used to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNFL). BNFL went through significant reorganisation in 2004 what used to be BNFL Environmental Services is predominantly part of British Nuclear Group Project Services. 2Collison, Parcell, pub. Capstone 2001

47

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/14

Learning can be stored, retrieved and developed within the knowledge bank. One of the key features of the knowledge bank is that every area of it is owned by a Co-ordinator. The Coordinator is responsible for managing the knowledge through the lifecycle illustrated in figure 2. Both the Facilitators and Co-ordinators work to "KM Action Plans" which ensure the knowledge management activities focus on key areas relevant to business strategy.

Cr eat e Apply Activity Discover Capture

Learning Lesson Learnt Personal/Team/Business

Tacit Transfer

Adopt Knowledge Asset Distil Adapt Validat e Transfer Process Change Sh a r e Review and updat e

Figure 2

The knowledge management framework was first implemented around the Nuclear Waste Management capability. It took nine months to implement the framework, the key lessons learnt were: • For business processes that are not well defined or are likely to change don't spend valuable time carrying out knowledge mapping exercises up front. The Nuclear Waste Management capability was not a well-defined business process; each site and each waste stream had slightly different requirements and issues. • Implementation needs to constantly refer to the knowledge lifecycle to ensure that knowledge is captured, developed and reapplied, Figure 2. We initially found that capturing learning was easy; however getting the business to apply it requires enthusiastic people, with clearly defined roles. • Knowledge management is rarely a high priority for individuals and projects, you have to work out ways of implementing by fitting in with the daily work that must be carried out - do not convince yourself that people will be able to find the time if it is obvious that they are too busy • Getting the right support is key - implementing knowledge management within BNFL requires the business to change the way it thinks and works, you need to get people at the highest level to give permission and provide the leadership and drive • Having a robust knowledge management framework based on good practice, and making sure that you continually improve it means you can roll out into other business areas more quickly and easily over time.

48

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/14

Has it been worth it? Over the past 18 months BNFL Environmental Services has gone from a position where knowledge management was at best ad-hoc and ill-defined and at worst non-existent. For Nuclear Waste Management knowledge management is now being pushed as one of the things that every engineer should be aware of, make use of and get involved in. The benefits are starting to be realised. We have learnt many lessons on implementing a business change programme and we have managed to achieve our vision of a scaleable, repeatable framework aligned with business strategy. The challenge now is to optimise ongoing management and driving the organisational and cultural change. This is a significant challenge, but one we are confident we can meet based on our experience to date and the sound foundation we have built.

49

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/15

HISTORICAL SURVEY OF NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION IN ESTONIA

I. Maalmann Estonian Radiation Protection Centre, Estonia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The poster presentation gives an overview about the results of the project initiated in co- operation between the Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate and Estonian Radiation Protection Centre to carry out a historical survey of the nuclear energy activities taken place in the territory of Estonia since the end of World War II. The aim of the project has been to submit the results of the conducted historical survey as a volunteer supplement to the State Declaration according to the Additional Protocol. The historical survey represents the best available information the authors were able to give on the nuclear facilities – Sillamäe Uranium Extraction Factory and the Paldiski Submarine Training Centre. The poster presentation introduces the published survey[1]. The co-operation between different institutions and the information resources used are described. Special attention is given to the archival materials available from the former uranium extraction factory (the AS Silmet archive at present) and have been used in the survey. The archive of AS Silmet may be a valuable source for research work for different specialists (general historians and historians of science; chemists, physicists, technologists, etc.). Beside the materials concerning the Sillamäe factory, one can find there also studies on different uranium production technologies made by various USSR research centres, including those not applied at Sillamäe. The historical survey was inputted to the INIS database and the full text of the report in Estonian and English will be available on INIS Non-Conventional Literature CD-ROM.

REFERENCES

[1] MAREMÄE, E., Tankler, H., Putnik, H., Maalmann, I. Historical Survey of Nuclear Non-Proliferation in Estonia, 1946-1995. 2003 , 56 p.

50

IAEA-CN-123/02/P/16

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS AS MODEL CASE

A. Trabelsi Centre National des Sciences Et Technologies Nucléaires Tunisia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The worldwide High Energy Physics (HEP) community has emerged as one of the major forces in developing new tools and concepts to enhance the overall quality of knowledge management and to support technological innovation in this field. Though joint research and academic activities in HEP represent a more than 50-years old tradition, collaboration in this field has changed over the decades. In coming years, bigger and more distributed than ever before collaborations, with several thousand physicists and engineers, will concentrate on fewer major HEP experiments. They will face unprecedented challenges to accomplish their work at the leading laboratories where large accelerators are being constructed. These challenges arise primarily from the rapidly increasing size and complexity of datasets to be collected and the enormous computational, storage and networking resources to be deployed by global collaborations in order to process, distribute and analyze information. During the last two decades, the Web was HEP community response to the new wave of scientific collaborations. Almost all data networking in the HEP community is today based on the Internet, which has since grown into a global information highway. Currently, HEP community needs to attempt to progress beyond structure information towards automated knowledge management of scientific data which requires extremely capable computing infrastructures supporting several key areas. Together with computer scientists, HEP community recognized as a driving force, is extremely well positioned to continue this successful strategy with respect to the initiative to build "the next generation internet". Facing knowledge sharing, acquisition and organization growing requirement, HEP scientists invented the preprint concept in order to facilitate and speed up access to the ongoing research development and results. Preprint archive has since become a global repository for research particularly in physics, mathematics and computer science. Lessons that will be valuable in establishing guidelines for more efficient knowledge management are drawn from this experience.

51

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/1

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR THE DECOMMISSIONING OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

F. Kirschnick Management Consultant, Germany

S. Engelhardt EON Kernkraft GmbH, Germany

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The current energy policy of the German government requires the gradual decommissioning of nuclear power plants in Germany. E.ON, a major energy corporation operating eight nuclear power plants in Germany, is in the process of decommissioning and dismantling its first two nuclear power plants in Würgassen and Stade, Germany. Both ventures are pilots for the future decommissioning of further plants with corresponding reactor types. To harness the technological challenges, organizational complexity and cultural sensitivities of decommissioning projects, the nuclear power division of E.ON has developed and implemented a knowledge management (KM) concept to effectively capture and transfer critical knowledge, best practice and lessons learned within and between decommissioning projects. More specifically, the concept is targeting three objectives: • To secure technical quality and safety standards during decommissioning projects • To minimize risks related to the duration and budget of decommissioning projects • To allow expeditious training and optimal use of project staff On the basis of a quantitative KM business case, the development of the KM concept was initiated in October 2002. The operative concept was launched in March 2004. Key elements of the concept are: • Communities of experience for eleven most critical knowledge fields • Up-to-date summaries of experiences and standards in each knowledge field • Briefing and debriefing processes integrated in the decommissioning process • Designated knowledge managers supporting KM on-site at working level • An intranet-based KM portal supporting document search and access, a discussion forum, news pages and other media • A KM scorecard supporting quarterly reports of KM costs, performance and results to plant and division management • Policies and activities rooting KM in the corporate culture (example shown in Fig. 1) Insights gathered during KM concept development and during the first months of KM operation in Würgassen and Stade stress the importance of organizational and cultural dimensions of KM beyond the necessary technological infrastructure: • Visible resource and capacity commitment to KM by plant and division management • KM understood as an integral part of the decommissioning project leadership • Frequent reports of KM efforts and results to management to boost KM resilience Further detailed insights and results from ongoing KM activities in Würgassen and Stade are anticipated.

52

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/1

Figure 1: A poster promoting “knowledge pills”, a gimmick to raise awareness for knowledge transfer

53

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/2

ROBUST RECORD PRESERVATION SYSTEM ON GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY

J. Ohuchi, S. Torata, T. Tsuboya Radioactive Waste Management Funding and Research Center (RWMC), Japan

Email address of main author: [email protected]

As the geological disposal of High Level Radioactive Wastes is based on the passive safe concept both of the engineering and natural barrier, human controls such as long term record preservation is not necessary to maintain its long term safety. However how to increase the confidence building is an important issue to progress geological disposal program with the step-wise decisions. Transfer of information relevant to safety of repository to future generations is one of the human controls or institutional controls. As we could not predict the future society, we need to construct the robust and redundant system to transfer information, which should be understood by the future generations. Paper, microfilm and digital recording media are popular and useful, but their long term durability is highly dependant upon the environmental conditions. We've investigated historical, archeological and societal issues and clarified the requirements for strengthening robustness and redundancy and also formulated the adaptable elements to attain the long-term record preservation system with robustness and redundancy. Furthermore we've developed the laser-engraving technology onto silicone carbide plate, which is the most durable artificial material in the world in terms of strength, corrosion resistance and wear due to abrasion. It would be possible to preserve documents without the need for sophisticated preservation environment controls and without the need for human intervention to initiate a duplication program for over 1,000 years. For example, we've demonstrated to convert five hundreds pages of an A4 sized report to 42 square silicon carbide plates, 10cmx10cm and 1mm in thickness. Silicone carbide would be an alternative of paper and also be possible to be an alternative of microfilm utilized as digital recording media.

54

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/3

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE PORTAL TO SUPPORT LICENSING AND CONTROL NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES IN THE BRAZILIAN NUCLEAR ENERGY COMMISSION

M. E. Gomes, M. F. Braga Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN), Brazil

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The Knowledge economy moves the axis of the wealth and the development of the traditional industrial sectors -- abundant in labour, raw material and capital -- to areas whose products, processes and services are rich in technology and Knowledge. Even on research areas as nuclear energy where the goods are based on high technology, the capacity to transform information on Knowledge, and Knowledge on decisions and actions are extremely important. Therefore, the value of the products from these areas depends on the percentage of the innovation, technology and the intelligence attributed incorporated by them. The OECD [1] report observes that back in 2002, more than 60% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the developed nations should be credited to the Knowledge usage. The report highlights the fact that the increasing reduction of the costs and the easy access to information show clearly a growing of the Knowledge participation in generating wealth for the organizations, regions and countries. This means that the management today shall use the organization's existent Knowledge to generate better results. The organizations, private or publics, must be productive, and the main point to determine the technological innovation and the increasing of productivity is knowledge management. Therefore, we cannot feel contented simply by generating new Knowledge, or making the research for the research itself, or, yet, by simply collecting information and saving them. Without innovation capacity, such as to create new products, new process or new services, organizations will not survive in the knowledge society. Many authors have proposed models of Knowledge management, such as Sveiby [2], Stewart [3] and Edvinsson [4], the pioneers of Knowledge Management. For these authors, the value of the enterprises full of in Knowledge is no longer related to its tangible goods, such as buildings and machinery, but is being now quoted by its intangible goods. The models emphasizing the importance of keeping the intellectual capital in the organizations that is to work with the knowledge from the collaborators. In Brazil still have many authors that discusses this concept and we adopt for this paper the definition form Cavalcanti [5] where is the concept "intellectual capital" refers either to the capacity, ability or experience, as well as to the formal education that the collaborators members have and add to the Organization. The "intellectual capital" is an intangible asset, which belongs to the individual himself, thus it might be utilized by the organizations in order to generate value. The development and preservation of this intellectual capital is made through the implementation of forums of discussion, workshops or knowledge portals where the organization's collaborators share their experiences. Nevertheless, to assimilate and to develop the "intellectual capital” does not add value to the organization: It is necessary to keep it. And one way to do so is to create desirable and encouraging work environments, to promote a sharing management and to offer programs of profits sharing. The objective of this paper is to describe how Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission – CNEN has been developing a nuclear knowledge portal, focused in the Radiation and Safety Nuclear area.

55

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/3

The Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) is a federal autarchy created in October 10 of 1956, as a superior agency of planning, guiding, supervision and inspection in nuclear area being also the body entitled to establish standards and regulations on radiological protection, to issue licenses (permissions) and to survey and control the nuclear activities in Brazil. CNEN also develops researches related to the use of nuclear techniques in benefit of the society. The Radiation and Safety Nuclear directorate of CNEN acts, mainly, in the licensing of nuclear and radioactive installations. The people who work at this area recognize the importance of management and sharing the accumulated nuclear knowledge as part of their tasks in order to maintain the ´nuclear safety case´ and to transfer this knowledge for the youngest collaborators. Therefore the Reactors Coordination (CODRE) was chosen for start the Nuclear Knowledge Portal which main goal is to support the directorate on its Nuclear Activities Licensing and Control. From interviews made with select people in CODRE (Reactors Coordination), the necessary knowledge were identified and mapped in order to allow the creation of CODRE knowledge tree that will be available at the Portal. This portal will be a repository of documents and information needed to support the main tasks developed in this area, such as engineering analysis, operational data, maintenance records, regulatory reviews and evaluation of safety analysis reportsthus improving work and, reducing time of searching and making easier the collaborative work. CNEN understands that the decision of develop this tool is crucial to make possible a nuclear knowledge sharing and dissemination to preserve the nuclear scientific and technical competence for the safe operation of existing facilities and applications.

REFERENCES

[1] OECD economic outlook, OECD, Paris, 2002; [2] SVEIBY, K., The new organizational wealth: managing & measuring knowledge – based assets, USA, Berrett – Koehler Pub, ISBN: 1576750140, 1997; [3] STEWART, T., Intellectual Capital: the new wealth of organization, USA, Doubleday, ISBN: 0385482280,1997; [4] EDVINSSON, L. Intellectual Capital: realizing your company’s true value by finding its hidden brainpower, USA, Harperbusiness; ISBN: 0887308414,1997; [5] CAVALCANTI, M., GOMES, E. Enterprise Intelligence: A New Concept of Management for the New Economy”. Managing Information Technology in a Global Economy. IRMA – International Resource Management Association. Toronto – Canada. Maio 2001 p. 477 – 459

56

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/4

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRITICALITY SAFETY BENCHMARK EVALUATION PROJECT

J. B. Briggs Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, U.S.A

A. Nouri OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Paris, France

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) was initiated in October of 1992 by the Department of Energy Defence Programs, now NNSA. The U.S. effort to support and provide leadership for the ICSBEP has been funded by DOE-DP since that time. The project is managed through the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), but involves nationally known criticality safety experts from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Savannah River Technology Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 Plant, Hanford, Argonne National Laboratory, and the Rocky Flat Plant. An International Criticality Safety Data Exchange component was added to the project during 1994. Representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Japan, the Russian Federation, , Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Kazakhstan, Spain, Israel, Brazil, and are now participating on the project and China, South Africa, and the have indicated that they plan to contribute to the project. The ICSBEP is an official activity of the OECD-NEA. The United States is the lead country, providing most of the administrative support. The purpose of the ICSBEP is to: 1. Identify and evaluate a comprehensive set of criticality related benchmark data. 2. Verify the data, to the extent possible, by reviewing original and subsequently revised documentation, logbook data when possible, and by talking with the experimenters or individuals who are familiar with the experimenters or the experimental facility. 3. Compile the data into a standardized format. 4. Perform calculations of each experiment with standard criticality safety codes. 5. Formally document the work into a single source of verified and internationally peer reviewed benchmark critical data. Each experiment evaluation undergoes a thorough internal review by someone within the evaluator's organization. The internal reviewers verifies: 1. The accuracy and completeness of the descriptive information given in the evaluation by comparison with original documentation (published and unpublished). 2. The benchmark specification can be derived from the descriptive information given in the evaluation. 3. The completeness of the benchmark specification. 4. The results and conclusions. 5. Adherence to format.

57

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/4

In addition, each evaluation has undergoes an independent peer review by another working group member at a different facility. Starting with the evaluator's submittal in the appropriate format, the independent peer reviewers verifies: 1. That the benchmark specification can be derived from the descriptive information given in the evaluation. 2. The completeness of the benchmark specification. 3. The results and conclusions. 4. Adherence to format. A third review by the Working Group verifies that the benchmark specification and the conclusions are adequately supported. The work of the ICSBEP is documented as an International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments. Over 250 scientists from around the world have combined their efforts to produce this handbook, which currently spans over 30,000 pages and contains benchmark specifications for over 3350 critical configurations. The handbook is intended for use by criticality safety analysts to perform necessary validations of their calculation techniques and is expected to be a valuable tool for decades to come. The handbook is currently in use in 58 different countries.

58

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/5

TREND OF R&D PUBLICATIONS IN PRESSURISED HEAVY WATER REACTORS: A STUDY USING INIS AND OTHER DATABASES

V. Kumar, V. L. Kalyane, E. R. Prakasan Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Digital databases INIS, INSPEC, ISMEC, Chemical Abstracts, Science Citation Index, Web of science, Chemistry Citation Index, BIOSIS, Medline and Analytical Abstracts were used for comprehensive retrieval of bibliographic details of publications on Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) research. Keyword search mechanism adopted for searches in title or descriptors resulted in 5863 records. Taking INIS as base the duplicate records within INIS and between INIS and other databases were identified and removed. Remaining 4851 records were considered for further study. A manual examination of Abstracts of randomly selected 500 records among 4851 showed that about 3 % records were not directly related to PHWR research but only remotely related. It is assumed that this would not adversely affect the result of this study. A detailed analysis of 4851 records was carried out to examine country wise publications, contributing authors, interdomainary interactions, preferred media for publication etc. Out of the 4851 records, 196 distinct records of publications could not be found in INIS but in other scientific databases, mainly in INSPEC (117 records) and Chemical Abstract (63 records). Fig.1 depicts year-wise growth of R&D publications related to PHWR since year 1966. The curve gives some indications of Ideal logistic growth model[1] which states that logistic growth in any field of knowledge ideally takes an extended S-shape. Also continued escalation in growth after expected maturation implies emergence of new directions in research, new discoveries and the new opportunities. Among the 46 countries contributing to PHWR research, India with 1737 publications is the forerunner followed by Canada (1492), (508) and Argentina (334). The total literature output on PHWR research from top 6 countries amounted to about 90%. A graphical representation of the history of ten top contributing countries is given in Fig. 2. With respect to the international collaboration Canada is at the top with 75 publications followed by USA (28), Romania (26) and Germany (25). Very low collaboration coefficient indicated some degree of self-reliance in this area of research as witnessed in case of India among the prominent contributors. The PHWR records from all the databases show that 5837 distinct authors have contributed to this field of research. Among the researchers contributing prominently in this field, the first 15 are from India. Top three contributors are H.S. Kushwaha (106), Anil Kakodkar (100) and V. Venkat Raj (76). Also out of the 111 authors contributing more than 10 papers, 83 are Indians with 17 of them occupying the first 14 rank positions. Content analysis of all the records utilising INIS subject category classification[2] schemes showed that the prominent interdomainary interactions in PHWR sub fields are :

59

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/5

Specific nuclear reactors and associated plants with General Studies of nuclear reactors (481) followed by Environmental Sciences (185) and Material Sciences (154). INIS guide to bibliographic description [3] was used to group the records according to their publication media. Out of 4851 records about 25% papers are published as journal articles and remaining are found in Non-conventional literature (NCL) which includes conference/ symposia papers, technical reports, theses etc. Also it is found that 292 distinct journal were used to publish 1128 publications out of the 4851 publications. Of late the journals preferred by researchers are 80 in numbers. By the year 2002, the journal Radiation Protection and Environment (continued from Bulletin of Radiation Protection since 1997) contained maximum number (115 papers) of publications on PHWR followed by Nuclear Engineering International UK (84 papers) and Transactions of the American Nuclear Society USA (68 papers).

Fig.1: Frequency and cumulative number Fig. 2: Year-wise cumulative number of of R&D publications related to PHWR publications by top 10 countries in PHWR related research

REFERENCES [1] SHARMA, P., GUPTA, B.M., KUMAR, S., Application of Growth Models to Science and Technology Literature in Research Specialties, DESIDOC Bulletin of Information Technology, (2002) 22 (2), 17-25. [2] IAEA (INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY) INIS: Subject categories and scope description, Vienna, IAEA (1997) [3] BARREIRO, S.C., HARDIN, N.E. (eds.) INIS: Guide to bibliographic description (IAEA-INIS-1 Rev. 8) Vienna, IAEA (1992).

60

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/6

eDOC : A COLLABORATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO MANAGE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ON NUCLEAR PROJECTS AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

JM. Van Craeynest, F. Jacquemet, D. Chermette, S. Bonneau Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, France

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Knowledge management issues One of EU's strategic goals was launched at Lisbon 2000 European summit: becoming the most competitive knowledge economy by 2010. In the field of nuclear technologies, we know that capitalizing knowledge and acquired experience is vital to preserve nuclear equipments' safe use in the future. Knowledge Management encompasses various domains of business practices, relating to human resources management, information, information technologies, strategy, and accounting. Facing such complex issues, especially in R&D organizations producing knowledge and innovations, knowledge management cannot only stand on a few organizational or technical solutions. All functions must be involved to achieve those strategic objectives: management must find realistic incentives and inscribe Knowledge Management as a core management objective (just as Quality Insurance has been). Human Resources departments and education institutes can benefit from new technologies to improve training methods. Research units have to launch knowledge capitalization projects to retrieve, save and transfer critical knowledge, technical skills and know-how. Scientific comities have to improve publication and evaluation processes.

Those tactical objectives cannot be achieved Intelligence Decide Knowledge Management Decision helping Learning without an efficient, usable and robust (Uses and activation) Information Engineering Capitalization corporate information system. An a-posteriori Inform Valorization knowledge saving “fireman-type” action must (Value added contextual information) Data mining Content management Linguistic Organize Templates be done in the case of major events (for (Non structured information) example decision made to stop nuclear Workflow Spatial Infrastructure Databases Share Virtual spaces weapons experiments), but we must promote (Containers, Warehouse) Archives an on-going capitalization effort as well and Communication Infrastructure Protocols Collaborate Messaging embed KM into projects and activities (Networks, data flow) Visio

Production Infrastructure Desktop management methods. This effort during the Product Peripherals project and afterwards is implemented through (Computers, Office tools) Authoring a perennial information system. This information system should provide a wide range of services for scientific publications and patents management, corporate or local knowledge bases and document repositories, project management and collaboration, rich media authoring, etc. Implementing virtual workspaces with eDOC Research and engineering activities are more and more cross-organizations funded and net- like organized. However, communication and collaboration within and across groups stay “ad hoc” and mostly person-to-person using almost exclusively electronic messaging. There are not enough opportunities for teams to produce and share documents easily, keep track of their progress and record design decisions or publish a common repository. Furthermore, it is very difficult for project managers to deal with security constraints as they must share but protect knowledge as well.

61

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/6

Before sharing information, teams have to share a common information management platform. But managing a large project is very difficult; so, obtaining and deploying such a platform should not be another problem to solve but a simple and quickly useful solution. In addition, costs and charges have to be compatible with a wide range of project management context and variability (in terms of finances, staff, security, language, etc.). Facing those challenges, we have decided to launch the eDOC project. eDOC is the name of an application that aims to provide a large catalog of web-based tools to create and manage communication and collaboration portals for communities of practices. An eDOC workspace a web (customizable) portal look. This portal gives access to a first hierarchy of workspaces and subspaces only visible by users that have adequate rights. In those spaces, various natures of information may be uploaded for sharing or for co-authoring. Many workflows are available to send, review, annotate, submit for validation or publication. eDOC also provides a second hierarchy of publication headings used to enlarge the publication circle of certain kind of information or documents (project news, results, reporting charts, etc.). eDOC includes a set of plug-in tools to create and manage newsletters, mailing lists, animate discussion forums, schedule tasks, facilitate reporting to the European Commission, track issues or bugs, share an agenda, etc. One of the core functionality is the members directory. It is very useful for large communities to know each others and may initiate a competencies or skills map. We have begun this project by a large evaluation campaign. As we preferred an “on-the-shelf” solution, we have started with market leaders and challengers. The conclusions of the study were very interesting: first, it became obvious that the market and solutions were not consolidated and that it was very risky to bet on a particular product. Second: as we needed a large scale deployment at once to get per user reasonable licensing fees, global solutions were too expensive. Third, it was very difficult to collect upfront capital for two major reasons: 1/ top management is reluctant because of return on investment calculation impossibility and 2/ potential users can’t or don’t want to invest for others. So we had to find a low cost solution to be able to fund initial costs on our own budget! At this point, open-source seemed to be the only way. After a study of various solutions and frameworks, we chose Zope Collaborative Portal Server open-source released by French company Nuxeo. This solution has very good fitness for purpose and appears to be easy to configure as long as we accept slicing data into more manageable but smaller project-centered units. After some hours of co-configuration and training, it’s possible to delegate most functional administration to project managers. We also provide documentation (both paper and multimedia) and assistance to users. After a few months dedicated to build pilots and a sizable secured software and hardware setup, we are now in production phase. Some are using eDOC to constitute documentary repositories on the Intranet, some others to launch teams or research units portals (to replace more classical but much more difficult to maintain websites). But the most critical use-case is made by European cross-organizations collaborative research projects. eDOC platform is actually efficient to achieve knowledge management and knowledge dissemination objectives as assigned to project teams by the EC. But the success of eDOC is partly due to the dynamism of some project managers and early adopters who have spent time to improve the solution. We want to address thanks to them!

62

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/7

WEB-BASED NETWORKING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ANENT

K.W. Han, E. J. Lee, Y. T. Kim, Y. M. Nam Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Korea

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Recognizing the importance of nuclear knowledge management, KAERI has been actively involved in the establishment of the IAEA Asian Network for Higher Education in Nuclear Technology (ANENT). The institute, on behalf of the Korean government, initiated discussions with the IAEA on the concept of ANENT and hosted an IAEA Consultant Meeting in July 2003, which was intended to prepare a draft report for the establishment of ANENT. From the preparatory stage, the institute volunteered to establish a website to support the ANENT activities. This led the ANENT Coordination Committee, at its first meeting in April 2004, to designate KAERI as the coordinating organization for a work package on the “Web-based Exchange of Information and Material for Nuclear Education and Training”. The committee also identified four more work packages and the respective coordinators at the same meeting [1, 2]. To implement the task of the web-based exchange, a website (www.anent-tepm.org) was designed with three functional objectives. The first function was to provide the ANENT member websites with a comprehensive connection with each other as well as to other sites relevant to nuclear education and training. The second one was to provide the collected information and materials. The last one was to provide a systematic and sustainable means to add, revise, and share the information and materials of high quality. As a result, the web site has been structured to deal with the overall information about ANENT, group activities (e.g. Coordination Committee meetings and work packages), inter-organization (or network) link, thematic information/materials database (or link), and the management of human resources (Fig. 1). The ANENT website has been temporarily operated and is being revised to fulfil the objectives and reach a consensus among the ANENT members. In parallel, a set of information about education and training courses and teaching materials available from the network members is being collected, which will be loaded onto the website in the form of a database. Also, other input from different group activities will be provided on the website. Other efforts being made by KAERI are the coordination for the establishment of a Korean network of nuclear education and training, and a cyber education system. The Korean network will facilitate a national level integration of nuclear education and training institutions and their systematic link with a regional level network, i.e. ANENT. Concerning the cyber education and training system, materials in the form of multimedia text and VOD (video on demand) are being produced and loaded onto the KAERI website, which is linked with the ANENT website. This paper will discuss the details of the progress and major outcomes of the web-based exchange activity, in particular in terms of the ANENT web design, information collection, and cyber education and training.

63

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/7

Fig. 1. Proposed structure of the ANENT website

REFERENCES

[1] K.W. HAN AND E.J. LEE, “Korean Efforts for Education and Training in Nuclear Technology”, Report of The First IAEA ANENT Coordination Meeting, Feb. 2004, Malaysia, IAEA (2004). [2] K.W. HAN, “Asian Network of Higher Education in Nuclear Technology”, Nuclear Industry, Vol. 24, No. 3, March 2004, Korean Nuclear Industrial Forum (2004)

64

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/8

KNK-II KNOWLEDGE PRESERVATION AND RELATED ACTIVITIES IN GERMANY

J. Knebel Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany

U. Wehmann Consultant, Germany

A. Stanculescu International Atomic Energy Agency

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Many of the scenarios describing possible energy futures, e.g., the World Energy Council and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) [1], foresee a role for nuclear power in meeting a growing world energy demand through 2050. While some scenarios explore the impact of a nuclear phase out, others envision a major growth in nuclear technology’s share of the world energy mix. Given the forecasted growth in world population and in economic development, the environmental advantages of nuclear power, and concerns over climate change and the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, it is not unreasonable to expect an increased interest in nuclear power in the coming decades. Loss of nuclear knowledge is a serious concern, in particular with regard to areas where, for various reasons, technology development and innovation has been slowed down. In particular, loss of the fast reactor1 knowledge base should be taken seriously. In response to expressed needs from Member States, the IAEA is implementing an initiative on fast reactor data retrieval and knowledge preservation. This initiative aims at supporting and coordinating data retrieval and interpretation efforts by the experts in the Member States. Most urgently, data must be saved from destruction, retrieved, its importance assessed, and the preservation of the valuable data initiated. Knowledge can be preserved by archival techniques and by passing it on to new generations. In the case of the Federal Republic of Germany, in spite of the lack of funding and political support, both avenues are followed. Archiving efforts are presently concentrated on the experimental reactor KNK-II, now under decommissioning. Apart from the physical disappearance of the reactor building and the adjacent offices, the situation at KNK-II is aggravated by the fact that almost all experts involved in its design, operation, and the various experimental programs have already retired. Data retrieval and preservation by archiving activities for the German experimental fast reactor KNK-II were undertaken within the framework of IAEA’s initiative on Fast Reactor Knowledge Preservation [2].

1 It is reasonable to assume that meeting sustainability goals vis-à-vis natural resources and long-lived radioactive waste management will require systems involving several innovative reactor types and fuel cycles operating in symbiosis. Apart from cost effectiveness, simplification, and safety considerations, a basic requirement to these reactor types and fuel cycles will be flexibility to accommodate changing objectives and boundary conditions. This flexibility can only be assured with the deployment of the fast neutron spectrum reactor technology, as was also recently recognized by the U.S. DOE led Generation IV International Forum initiative

65

IAEA-CN-123/03/O/8

The paper will shortly introduce the IAEA initiative (scope, objectives, status, and outlook). The general approach to nuclear knowledge preservation in Germany will be presented, and the concrete archiving activities undertaken for KNK-II will be summarized.

REFERENCES

[1] WORLD ENERGY COUNCIL (2000) ‘Global energy perspectives’ and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), March 2000 Special Report on Emission Scenarios. [2] STANCULESCU, A. ‘The IAEA initiative on fast reactor data retrieval and knowledge preservation’, Int. J. Nuclear Knowledge Management (in press).

66

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/1

FORMER STUDENTS, PRESENT TEACHERS - ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DESK

A. R. Budu, M. C. Dumitrescu University “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest, Romania

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Both authors are currently assistant professors at the “Politehnica” University of Bucharest – Power Engineering Faculty - Nuclear Power Plant Department. They share the experience of more than 17 years of school from which 5 years in the nuclear power plants department, with the experience they gain in the position of assistant professor. Using the competence given by the new position, they accumulate the expertise necessary to excel in the nuclear power plants domain. They try a harmonized approach for education on nuclear engineering bridging the gap between students and teachers.

67

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/2

METHODS FOR SHARING TACIT NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE

L. Hyttinen, N. Rintala Helsinki University of Technology, Finland

Email address of main author: [email protected]

There is a growing concern about the preservation of nuclear knowledge due to many concurrent development trends: the ageing of workforce, the lack of training programs and recruits, and the decline in R&D activities [1]. Internal training through enterprise universities, tutorage of young scientists by seniors, international mobility of workers [1], teamwork, meetings, on-the-job training, site visits, cross-training, shift changes and peer-to- peer communication [2] have been seen as potential solutions for preserving nuclear knowledge. Especially it has been viewed that “hard” knowledge can be captured relatively easily but challenges lie in “tacit learning” deeply embodied in the life-long experience of employees [3]. For example, it has been found that to share tacit “lessons learned”, the context in which lessons are learned must also be shared [4]. Knowledge management systems may not store sufficient context for a novice to understand and use the stored knowledge [5]. This paper presents results of a qualitative case study in the context of Finnish nuclear power plants. Based on 17 thematic interviews and group discussions the role of tacit knowledge and the challenges in transferring it [6] as well as methods for sharing it were examined. This paper presents preliminary results of seven interviews in terms of the methods for sharing tacit knowledge and expertise. Overall, six methods were identified. Three methods were connected to sharing tacit knowledge in a tacit form. (1) Mentoring had been used to systematically socialize a novice worker to the work culture of the organization. New recruits had been assigned a mentor, who assisted in problematic situations. In order to share the expertise of employees about to retire, (2) apprenticeship was utilized. New employees had been recruited and given responsibility whilst the experts were still available to give guidance and answer to evoking questions. Moreover, if a more complex or rare procedure was to be carried out in the plant, (3) team meetings could be arranged. In such a meeting, the procedure was gone through step by step and the tacit expertise of one member of the team could be shared with the others. In addition to methods by which tacit knowledge was shared in tacit form, there were also methods for sharing tacit knowledge by explicating it. (4) Situation reports were made in deviant work situations. In the reports, an employee described and explained the causes for the situation, thus explicating also the tacit knowledge that was embodied in the situation. Also, (5) the writing of memos was used. The employees about to retire wrote a memo, in which they gathered the most relevant and critical knowledge in terms of their work. Finally, (6) training materials had been produced in co-operation between an expert and a novice, with the expert knowing the content and the novice posing questions and ideas. In compiling the material, causal relationships in work had been examined and the tacit knowledge of the expert had been shared with the novice and explicated in the training material. Furthermore, two managerial tools were used to manage the expertise of individuals and the transfer of tacit knowledge. TAITO was a database into which the current skills, the desired skills and the methods for acquiring these skills were updated. Also an Excel-based tool was used for defining the responsibilities and the critical skills and expertise within a department

68

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/2 in order to ensure that these skills were preserved despite of the retirement and employee turnover.

REFERENCES

[1] GARDERET, P. (2002). Managing Nuclear Knowledge and Expertise – An Industry Perspective. In IAEA (Ed.) (2002) Meeting of Senior Officials in Managing Nuclear Knowledge, 17-19 June 2002, Vienna, Austria, pp. VI. [2] JACKSON, M. (1998). Study Says Workers Learn More By Chatting than Formal Training. Journal Record, 7 Jan, 1-2. [3] STUMPF, W. (2002). The Management of Nuclear Knowledge and Expertise for Sustainable Development. In IAEA (Ed.) (2002) Meeting of Senior Officials in Managing Nuclear Knowledge, 17-19 June 2002, Vienna, Austria, pp. VII. [4] CARNES, W.E. & BRESLAU, B. (2002). Lessons Learned: Improving Performance Through Organizational Learning. Human Factors and Power Plants, 2002. Proceedings of the IEEE 7th Conference, 15-19 Sept., pp. 2-23 – 2-27. [5] JENNEX, M.E. & OLFMAN, L. (2002). Organizational Memory/Knowledge Effects on Productivity, a Longitudinal Study. Proceedings of the 35th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. [6] HYTTINEN, L. & HELMINEN, N. (2004). The Role of Tacit Knowledge and the Challenges in Transferring it in the Nuclear Power Plant Context. Proceedings of the International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management: Strategies, Information Management and Human Resource Development, 7-10 September 2004, Saclay, France. [7] TEECE, D.J. (1998). Capturing Value from Knowledge Assets: The New Economy, Markets for Know-How and Intangible Markets. California Management Review, 40 (3), 55-79.

69

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/3

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES OF THE REGIONAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT (RCA) UNDERTAKEN BY THE ELECTRONIC NETWORKING AND OUTREACH (ENO) PROJECT

A. Musa, A. H. Daud and M. S. Sulaiman The Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research, Malaysia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) is one of the cooperative agreements under the aegis of the IAEA and currently consists of 17 Member States. Most of the RCA Member States belongs to the Asia Pacific region. Since the region covered by the RCA is undergoing a rapid expansion in nuclear power development many activities have been carried out under the RCA. The Electronic Networking and Outreach (ENO) Project under the RCA was initiated in 1998 as a vehicle for the RCA programme for the dissemination of valuable information to end- users[1]. Some of the achievements of the ENO Project are to maintain and develop the RCA Members only website and the national RCA website, to develop a Regional Resource Unit (RRU) database, document repository and to introduce collaborative tools to support the planning, management and implementation of the RCA programme. Malaysia as the Sectoral Lead Country Coordinator for the ENO Project is hosting the RCA Members only website. Previous minutes of the RCA National Representatives meeting, the RCA General Conference meeting, the RCA annual reports, the Sectoral Lead Country Coordinators meeting and reference documents on the RCA are published on this website as a central source of reference for Member states[2]. The Regional Resource Unit concept, introduced in the RCA several years ago, constitutes the backbone of the RCA [3]. The ENO project had initiated the design, development and implementation of an RRU database system. It was developed with the main aim of supporting the maintenance of information on nuclear capabilities of the RCA member states. Activities undertaken by the ENO project, such as facilitating and conducting the RCA National Representatives meeting in a paperless and electronic environment will also be highlighted. A trial run on the utilisation of a collaborative site for the preparation of the 2005-2006 ENO project proposal and its potential use in the planning, monitoring and implementation of RCA programmes in future, will also be reported. This paper will further describe the initiatives undertaken by the ENO Project to initially establish an information and knowledge-sharing environment, as an initiative towards a nuclear knowledge management system within the RCA community. It will also discuss the challenges and issues peculiar to the region that have been encountered during the project cycle. It will also try to offer a conceptual framework of a knowledge management system for the RCA region.

REFERENCES

[1] UNDP/RCA/IAEA Project (RAS/97/030/a/01/18), Better Management of the Environment, Natural Resources and Industrial Growth through Isotopes and Radiation Technology. Sub-project: Electronic Networking and Outreach Project Formulation Meeting Report, 1998.

70

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/3

[2] A. M. ABDUL RAHMAN, A. Musa, C. A Krishnan et all, Electronic Networking and Outreach to Strengthen Regional and Institutional Nuclear Information Exchange within RCA Member States, Proceeding MINT R&D Seminar, 2000. [3] A. DJALOEIS, RCA in the 21st. Century:Enterprising, Meeting Challenges and Capturing Opportunities, Document Prepared in commemoration of the 30th. Anniversary of the Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA), Seoul, Korea, 21st. March 2002.

71

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/4

DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION SERVICE AT TURKISH ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY: PRESENT STATE AND FUTURE TRENDS

O. Seckin Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, Turkey

Email address of main author: [email protected]

With about 800 persons (512 engineers and researchers) of Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEA) is the unique center for research in and development of the nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes in Turkey. TAEA has four research and training centers. Three of them are located in Ankara and one is in Istanbul.Each center has their own library. In addition to them, there is the INIS Section at the head office of TAEA. It has been founded in 2002 for the purposes of handling scientific and technical information needs for researchers. INIS Section provides most of the world’s scientific and technical literature to the end users in Turkey and collects and process national documents for the preparation of input from Turkey and submits them to the INIS Data Base. Turkish Atomic Energy Authority is a governmental organization. Authority has served as a driving force for all institutions enhancing and broadening the fields of interest thereby fostering nuclear oriented activities in many spheres. More than 500 engineers and researches work in four research and training centers and specialized departments at the head office. The Ankara Nuclear Research and Training Center (ANAEM) is specialized in nuclear and nuclear related measurement techniques, atomic, nuclear and material research studies, etc. The Ankara Nuclear Research Center for Agriculture and Animal Science (ANTHAM) is specialized in application of nuclear techniques in agriculture and animal sciences. Cekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center (CNAEM) is in Istanbul and specialized in nuclear applications such as research reactor, nuclear engineering, nuclear fuel technology and fuel analysis codes, nuclear material, NDT, nuclear electronics, accelerator, radiation safety, radiobiology, cytogenetics (biodosimetry), radioecology, marine radioactivity, dosimetry, radioactive waste managements, calibration of nuclear instruments (SSDL), environmental monitoring and tissue grafts. By the end of the1999, a new Nuclear Research and Training Center (TUDNAEM) was founded in Ankara for co-operation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy among countries of the Eurosian region. The INIS Section has a well equipped scientific and technological library with presently 1000 hard copies and more than 2000 different periodicals currently subscribed to by electronic media, 3500 books, 500 reports and 300 CDs. The staffs of the Section consist of one physical engineer, one statistician and one librarian. The duties of International Nuclear Information Section are, 1) Literature searches upon request, 2) Literature supply inter country and/or from other countries, 3) To collect and select literature for submitting as an input to the INIS Data Base in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, 4) Scientific Documents.

72

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/4

INIS Section has primary responsible to meet the information needs of scientists and engineers of the TAEA as fully and speedily as possible. Furthermore, to extend its services to the research and training centers so far as their information needs in nuclear science and technology are concerned. Finally, to extend its services to other institutions, organizations and universities in the country so far their requirements in nuclear science and technology are concerned. It should meet the information needs of TAEA’s scientific and technical staffs and universities in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. To achieve these goals, the equipment and facilities of the section is continuously improved.

73

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/5

CASE STUDIES: MANAGING NUCLEAR INFORMATION IN COLOMBIA

L. G. Oviedo INGEOMINAS, Colombia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The advances in the managing of nuclear information in Colombia are presented, this has allowed recapturing the activities starting from 1999 contributing the INIS with the results of the investigations related with the OIEA mission, for benefit of the international scientific community. In Colombia, the nuclear documental handling were first performed by the Institute of Nuclear Affairs (IAN) and then by the Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Alternative Energy (INEA). Later on in 1998 these functions were assigned to INGEOMINAS; in such a way that INGEOMINAS has been playing this role. At the present time INGEOMINAS has the nuclear information and the documentation that in accordance with its nature as geological service includes (geology, mining, underground waters, geotechnics, and geophysics among other), however; until two years ago two libraries were established, specialized in nuclear topics, both with headquarters in Bogotá. Once the documentation was organized in the two documental centers (Library and Technical Documents) some contracts have been made in order to scanning the Technical Reports (texts and maps) stored in the Center of Technical Documents; in such a way that today we have approximately 80% of the technical documents in digital format. The technical reports are indexed in the documental database; called SERMIN (Metadata service) which can be seen through Internet (www.ingeominas.gov.co). The books, congress memories, thesis, magazines and other materials related to nuclear topics located in the library, are not yet indexed in the documental database. For this year we plan to hire a company to compile the metadata in order to become available through the Internet. Starting 1999 INGEOMINAS reactivated the activities and compromises with the International Atomic Energy Agency-IAEA; a new INIS - Liaison Officer was named and Colombia restarted activities as realization, indexation and sending of records to the INIS System in Vienna; as well as promotion and spreading of its activities. These and other activities are carried out by INGEOMINAS from then on. The next figure shows the number of records sent to the INIS by Colombia from 1998 up to December 2003

YEAR 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 RECORDS 0 11 175 213 294 388 The Regional Net of Information of the Nuclear Area in Latin America and the Caribbean- RRIAN, has allowed us to ensure the cooperation between the Information Units and their continuation in the time, as well as their strengthening providing technical information to our Scientists, professionals and students. Colombia as well as the other countries has been strengthened, optimizing its management with training, equipment and of software. RELATION OF ARTICLES SENT AND RECEIVED DURING YEARS 2000 - 2003

YEAR 2000 2001 2002 2003 SENT 4 14 8 11 RECEIVED 13 22 55 85

74

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/5

The support of INGEOMINAS steering staff has been fundamental, to fulfill the acquired commitments with the IAEA through the INIS, facilitating the training and including the INIS and RRIAN activities in the annual plan of activities. A second factor is the exchange of publications that we have performed with institutions that carry out projects and researches in inherent topics to the IAEA mission, which has allowed us to have access to its publications. Finally, the spreading of the INIS activities through the pamphlets and posters received from Vienna and the exchange of documents in the RRIAN, have been the key in promoting the use among researches and users, mainly using the INIS database and the downloading of scientific articles

75

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/7

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE APPLICATIONS OF NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES IN ETHIOPIA: CASE STUDY

Z. Belete Ethiopian Science & Technology Commission, Ethiopia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Ethiopia is benefiting from applications of nuclear related technologies in agriculture, livestock, water and energy resource assessment, etc. Nuclear techniques are playing a major role in the health sector in terms of diagnosis and therapeutic applications. Cancer is a major cause of death in industrialized countries, and the number of cases in developing countries like Ethiopia is also growing rapidly. Ethiopia according to WHO estimates had over 52,000 patients newly diagnosed with cancer in the year 2000. In the year 2015, this number is projected to increase to over 83,000. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), through its technical cooperation program supported the establishment of Radiation Therapy Centre at the premises of Black Lion Hospital. The Centre stated work in 1977 with one medical Physicist, three therapy radiographers, and one radiation oncologist. Currently the Radiotherapy Centre is facing a number of constraints among which shortage of trained staff is the major one. The Centre has a capacity to give inpatient services for 20 patients. However, it is giving only outpatient service (limited to 700 patients per annum) due to shortage of trained manpower in the field. Moreover, brachytherapy, the treatment planning, and the mould room equipment are not utilized at all, while the teletherapy and other equipment are under utilised. Cancer patients awaiting treatment services are increasing from time to time (40,000 – 50,000). Occurrence of death due to lack of access to medication is therefore becoming high. Noting this, the Agency provided fellowships and training courses on applications of nuclear techniques for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the treatment of cancer to limited staff members of the Radiotherapy Centre. In spite of the effort made by the Agency to train personnel in therapeutic applications of nuclear techniques, the number of trained staff remains low. This in turn affects the sustainable application of nuclear techniques in tertiary health care services, which currently is manifested by decline of the number of cancer patients accepted for treatment at the Centre. The Agency is providing support in human resources development in order to build national capacity required for the applications of nuclear techniques. However, sustainable applications of nuclear techniques require effective knowledge management, which triggers in-house training of personnel. Currently, little effort is being made by trained staff members of the Radiotherapy center to share the knowledge they acquired through the limited Agency supported fellowship/trainings. Moreover, efforts made at the center towards preserving and sharing knowledge are minimal. The paper therefore attempts to i) indicate the importance of systematic intervention in the area of knowledge management for upgrading the services given by the Centre and, ii) Point out the initiatives that should be taken in order to sustain applications of nuclear techniques at the Centre and other beneficiary institutions in the country.

76

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/8

OPTIMISATION OF INFORMATION INFLUENCES ON PROBLEMS OF CONSEQUENCES OF CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT AND QUANTITATIVE CRITERIA FOR ESTIMATION OF INFORMATION ACTIONS

A Sobaleu Minsk, Republic of Belarus

Email address of main author: [email protected]

77

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/9

IMPACT OF INFORMATION ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OF NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS IN GHANA

E. A. Agyeman, S.E. Timpo Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Ghana

C. Kisiedu, M. Boye University of Ghana, Ghana

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The study sought to investigate the impact of information use by Ghanaian nuclear scientists in their research and development activities. The rationale for assessing the impact of nuclear information arises from the need to provide management, policy makers and other stakeholders with empirical evidence of the role of information in the work of nuclear scientists. Such evidence would provide justification for continued and adequate funding of library and information services in this era of dwindling resources. The study would also enable information professionals to better meet the information needs of nuclear scientists. A national survey of nuclear scientists was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire, resulting in a response rate of 92 percent. The analytical framework proposed by the International Development Research Centre served as an appropriate guide for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to examine the personal characteristics of the nuclear scientists. Personal characteristics that were dealt with in this study included age, sex, organisational affiliation, experience, qualification, specialisation and sector of activity. The study also examined the extent of use of library and information services. Variables such as frequency of library use, reasons for non-use of library facilities, preferred document type, awareness of existing library/information services and problems encountered in accessing information were analysed. For a situation specific analysis, the study also employed the critical incident technique to show a relationship between information use and productivity and achievement indicators of the nuclear scientists. Productivity was measured quantitatively in terms of work or research output such as the number of publications and formal, oral presentations. Achievement was also measured in terms of promotions earned, awards, committees served and high-level projects. The study results confirm the importance of information to nuclear research and development activities. The short-term benefits of information use to nuclear scientists are timeliness in the execution of work, effective implementation of work, avoidance of unnecessary duplication of research, and savings in time and resources. In the long term, information use leads to discernable increase in volume and quality of user work output as well as achievements by way of their contribution to the work of their organizations. Though nuclear scientists value information, as the results of this study have demonstrated, it is significant to note that, the frequency with which they use library and other local information services is not very satisfactory. This is due to inadequate coverage of relevant subjects by most libraries, lack of awareness of some library services by respondents and lack of access to up-to-date literature, particularly scientific journals, which they regard as essential to their work. To improve information delivery to nuclear scientists, the study recommends the need to strengthen electronic information infrastructure and networks among nuclear scientists for effective resource sharing. In view of the importance of the International Nuclear Information System (INIS) Database to nuclear scientists, there is the need to conduct further research into

78

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/9 the reasons for low use or non-use of the INIS Database. There is also the need to compile a list of nuclear scientists in Ghana and elsewhere to serve as a source of reference for future research involving nuclear scientists.

79

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/10

KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS CARTOGRAPHY OF THE RADIOPHARMACY CENTER OF IPEN - A CASE STUDY

R. I. Ricciardi, A. C. O. Barroso Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN), Brazil

J. L. Emine Telecommunication National Institute (INT), Brazil

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Management of resources is effective only when the object is known in terms of their relevance, demand, availability, repositories and other pertinent characteristics that can influence its administration (1). Knowledge Management is not different and, in this case, knowledge mapping identifies resources, characterizes their attributes and repositories. An evaluation of this knowledge is also necessary in order to have a coherent Knowledge Management strategy that guarantees the continuity and the development of this resource according to the objectives and goals of the organization in terms of its vision of future. Evaluation allows measuring the critical character of the knowledge sources, facilitating the identification of those likely to add value and those that present risks the organization survival. This kind of diagnostic makes clear the Knowledge Management objectives and, consequently, unveil solutions that correspond to the organization's needs (capitalization and preservation; sharing, appropriation and knowledge creation). There are several ways to organize and to represent the knowledge resources of an organization. The approach here is a conceptual classification, that organizes the knowledge in a Cartography according to subjects, themes or purposes of common knowledge and it shows the decomposition of the activities of an organization under the point of view of knowledge domains. This model was used by Ermine (2). A Knowledge Management Project was applied in the Radiopharmacy Center (CR) of the Nuclear and Energetic Research Institute (IPEN), organ of the Nuclear Energy National Commission (CNEN) according to methodology following described. 1. CR was studied under the logic of its processes and its interfaces, considered as a Strategic Business Unit inside of the possible limits of a unit of IPEN. The macro processes of CR were identified from the analyze of the Quality Management documentation (Integrated Management Norms, Operational Procedures, Work Instructions and other documentation) and they were decomposed in its respective processes and activities. From this analysis, the knowledge that enables such processes were identified and characterized. Tables from the processes and its activities were elaborated associating knowledge–activities–processes. 2. The identified knowledge was represented in a model based on domains, themes and axes, providing Knowledge Domains Cartography. 3. It was elaborate “criticity criteria", based on (3), for an evaluation of the critical knowledge domains through questionnaires and interviews with the professionals of CR, whose evaluators were selected throughout criteria of representatively and proficiency. 4. Based on the results that this analysis phase provided, it was possible to point out and suggest a series of Knowledge Management actions (processes), seeking to leverage the more critical domains.

80

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/10

The Critical Knowledge Domains Cartography of the CR is represented in this work using eight diagrams: the first one gives a general vision of all the knowledge axes of CR (the main or strategic axes: Planning, Production Technology, Research and Development, Quality Control, Radiation Protection and Special Processes and one axis of support actions: Norms and Regulations) with its respective themes. The next seven are used to detail each one of the main axes. Each axis is developed in different knowledge domains that are characteristics of the know-how developed in the CR. The considered critical knowledge are marked with red points on the Cartography. A more detailed description of the Critical Knowledge Domains Cartography representation was published by Peil (4). Planning

Norms& Special Regulations Processes

Production Radiopharma Technology cy Center

Research & Radiation Protection Quality Control Development

REFERENCES

[1] BARROSO, A., C., O., GOMES, E. B. P. Tentando Entender a Gestão do Conhecimento. RAP - Revista de Administração Pública, v. 33, n º 02, p. 147-170, March/April, 1999. [2] ERMINE, J.-L. La Gestion des Connaissances. Paris: Lavoisier et Hermes Science, 2003. [3] CLUB GESTION DES CONNAISSANCES, J-L Ermine, H. Laude: A Knowledge Maturity Model, Actes du Workshop “Knowledge Management ; Theory and Practice” (J-L Ermine ed.), in PKDD’2000 (Principles of Knowledge Discovery from Data), 12 septembre 2000, Lyon, pp 13-18. [4] PEIL, O., AUBERTIN, G., ERMINE, J.-L., MATTA, N. La Cartographie des Connaissances Critiques, um Outil de Gestion Stratégique des Connaissances. Actes du Colloque CITE'2001 - Coopération, Innovation, Technologie; 29-30 November, 2001, 237-308, Troyes, France.

81

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/11

ASSURING FUTURE COMPETENCE IN NUCLEAR SAFETY IN FINLAND

K. Koskinen Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Finalnd

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Background Within last few years we have been faced the fact that ageing of experts in nuclear safety field cannot be ignored in Finland. A great number of all experts /specialists with special competences on nuclear safety studied at early 70’ and had their first permanent jobs in the ‘golden era’ of nuclear power. These experts are going to retire within next ten years. Therefore both the regulatory body and licensees in Finland have the situation where the age distribution of staff member has become distorted. Also the amount of students in universities which have nuclear technology as their major subject has diminished remarkably until the decision of the new nuclear power plant unit in Finland was made in May 2001. After that the amount of students has risen. Assuring competences within the regulatory body STUK adopted the systematic approach to training in early 90’s, this method is widely presented in IAEA TECDOC 1254 (2001). However, the very low turnover of staff led to decrease of training needs and therefore also the systematic training efforts decreased. In 2001 a need to restart the systematic approach to assuring competences was identified. To improve competence management at the regulatory body a competence analysis was carried out and a human resource plan for nuclear safety area for the near future was made. Competence analysis is a method which is quite commonly used on public sector and governmental organisations in Finland. STUK studied carefully the models used in other public sector organisations and adjusted the method to its own purposes. The model used has four competence categories: substance related, management skills, common working skills and STUK related working skills. Substance related competences were defined and described at working unit level. Descriptions for the rest three categories were made at STUK level and those were common for all departments. Substance related competencies common to all working at the department were also defined. In STUK’s case more than 80 competences related to nuclear safety were identified and 7 of those were common for all experts. The process itself included four stages: • Competences needed in the future were determined on the basis of strategy; also the statistics of personnel such as age distribution was used. Competences were described and target values were defined. • Analysis of competencies was carried out. Current competencies were assessed first by self-assessment made by each staff member and then managers assessed all their subordinates. • The gap between target values and current situation was made visible and a common consensus of the situation was established. • Development plans were produced on the basis of analysis. Competence areas, which needed to be strengthened, or assured were identified and preliminary time schedule for improving effort was drafted. • Action plans for assuring and improving competences were produced. These action plans include systematic training, recruiting and partnerships management.

82

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/11

Results Results of competence analysis were encouraging. Most competence areas were covered at proper level, some will need to be improved but none was totally missing. For the future challenges we need to pay extra attention to knowledge management, how we assure that the knowledge we have at the moment will not vanish with retirement of experienced specialists. Two separate plans were made on the basis of these results: plan for training regulatory personnel and HR-plan (at the first stage recruiting plan for next five years). In STUK’s training plan there are three focus areas. Plant knowledge needs to be strengthened, both knowledge on operating plants as well as the new plant type. First training courses have already been organised with TVO, the licensee building the new EPR-unit in Olkiluoto. Plant knowledge related to operating units will be organised in late fall this year or in the beginning of next year. It is possible that also this training will be organised with licensees. Another focus area in STUK’s training program is quality management and especially QM and QA related to manufacturing and contractors. For achieving better competence on this area STUK has decided to train inspectors as Lead Auditors on external training courses. Independently from STUK’s competence analysis a six-week basic professional training course on nuclear safety was organised by STUK with two technical universities (Helsinki and Lappeenranta), Ministry of Trade and Industry, VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland) and licensees. This was a remarkable investment on nuclear safety competence. A recruitment plan was also produced. Already 9 new experts have been recruited. Individual programs for familiarization and training have been produced. New experts have been recruited for example for reactor physics, stress analysis, software reliability, construction, fire safety, lay-out and electrical engineering. For some expertise areas it is difficult to recruit new specialists and therefore STUK has made partnership agreements or consultant contracts with other organisations such as VTT and foreign regulators. For example automation is one of these areas. Until now our experiences have been mainly encouraging. Lessons learned It is STUK’s experience that the competence analysis is worth the trouble. It gives the organisation and employees a common conception on its competences and on future needs. It also makes it easier to motivate all staff members to use their working hours on training and capability building. On the other hand it must be admitted that it takes resources and all employees have not been very anxious to do this. The results of competence analysis should lead to some improvement projects. The progress of improvement actions should be followed-up on regularly basis. It is important not to forget to communicate the results to employees.

83

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/12

NEEDS FOR RESTORATION OF NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN SERBIA

M. Pesic, D. Nikolic Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINCA, The Frmr. Yug. Rep. of Macedonia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The former Yugoslavia had extensive nuclear programs in period from 1958 to 1988. Three research reactors and one nuclear power plant were constructed with the major participation of domestic experts, who successfully operated these facilities without any unwanted events. These nuclear programs had been supported by comprehensive R&D, appropriate educational programs at the Universities, as well as pertinent training at nuclear facilities in country and abroad. During that time significant knowledge and operating experience have been gained, and high nuclear and radiation safety standards achieved. The most important results were accomplished in R&D within the research institutes. R&D also provided valuable courses for postgraduate studies. As a result, sufficient number and diversity of experts were available for various assignments in nuclear technology and related fields. Since 1989. and especially during the past decade the nuclear expertise has been deteriorated significantly in Serbia due to several peculiar reasons: a) adoption of the ordinance of ban for nuclear power plants construction and related activities; b) isolation of the country due to the UN sanctions ; c) weak economical situation in the country. For these reasons many R&D programs were cancelled, nuclear courses at the University revoked and many professionals left the country. Consequently, the loss of nuclear knowledge and expertise was inevitable. During last two years three significant nuclear projects have been launched with the support of the IAEA. They emphasized the need for nuclear expertise and the lack of nuclear professionals in the country to carry out these projects. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to establish as soon as possible appropriate engineering education and training and prevent further loss of nuclear expertise. For that purpose it is necessary to commence several coordinated activities: • preparation of educational programs and concepts of networking academic/university and the R&D institutions where the nuclear experts have remained; • promotion of nuclear technologies through the existing professional association (Yugoslav Nuclear Society), with the special accent on the role of nuclear in sustainable development; • promotion of environmental responsibility of nuclear technologies in the frame of Kyoto protocol principles; • enhancement of public understanding and acceptance of nuclear technology.

84

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/13

KNOWLEDGE DEGRADATION WITHIN ROUTINE OPERATION PRACTICES IN TRR – LESSONS LEARNED

M. Gharib Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Iran

Email address of main author: [email protected]

During shift operation of Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) in June 2001, a series of malfunctions and abnormalities occurred which led to a complete stop of reactor for full investigation of why and how and other pertaining questions. Although the initiating event is believed to be a stuck rod problem which is investigated elsewhere [1], but in the course of investigation, as it was found by fact finding committee, human behaviour and degradation of knowledge of operating personnel found to be of a major role in propagation of errors. In this paper, only human factors and its role creating this event would be discussed. Among all human factors two main categories are distinguished in this study. One category is comprised of those which have a general nature and has to do with peculiarities of cultural aspects of the society and may equally contribute to other problems of different natures as well. The other one is comprised of factors specific to the TRR and conditions pertaining to this system. Both categories are discussed and analyzed in this paper in detail. Some of them which are discussed in this paper are enumerated as the following: I. General factors 1. economic incentives 2. carelessness 3. lack of curiosity 4. lack of questioning 5. burden of administrative rule over scientific views II. Factors specific to TRR system & environment 1. lack of independent supervision 2. poor systematic training 3. misinterpretation of checklists 4. lack of access to all necessary documents 5. persisting to continue a shift while there is a malfunction 6. poor bookkeeping 7. lack of clarity on job descriptions 8. lack of proper maintenance 9. lack of incentive to attract professionals In short, we believe emphasizing on human aspects and promoting a sound environment is as equally important as mere academic training and well-established programs.

REFERENCES

[1] M.Gharib et al, Risk analysis of stuck-rod accident in Tehran Research Reactor, NRC internal technical report, October 2001

85

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/14

OECD/NEA DATA BANK INTEGRAL EXPERIMENTS DATABASES IN SUPPORT OF KNOWLEDGE PRESERVATION AND TRANSFER

E. Sartori, I. Kodeli OECD/NEA

J.B. Briggs Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory United States of America

J. Gadó KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute, Hungary

A. Hasegawa Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Tokai-mura, Japan

P. Dhondt SCK-CEN, Belgium

W. Wiesenack OECD/IFE Halden Reactor Project, Norway

A. Zaetta CEA Cadarache, France

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The OECD/Nuclear Energy Data Bank was established by its member countries as an institution for the collection, verification, validation, dissemination and enrichment through user experience and feedback of the basic tools used today for nuclear energy system design and the simulation of their functioning under different operating conditions. These tools comprise standardized databases with microscopic basic nuclear and chemical- thermodynamic data, computer programs for a wide range of applications, and integral experiments on fissile material systems, reactor or radiation shielding mock ups and on in- core fuel behaviour. The OECD/NEA Nuclear Science Committee (NSC) has identified the need to establish international integral experiments databases containing all the important experiments that are available for sharing among the specialists. Specific activities to achieve this have been set up with the aim of preserving them in an agreed standard format in computer accessible form, to use them for international activities involving validation of current and new calculational schemes comprising computer codes and nuclear data libraries, for assessing uncertainties, confidence bounds and safety margins, and to record measurement methods and techniques. The databases so far established cover the following areas related to physics issues: • IRPhE - International Reactor Physics Experimental Benchmarks Evaluation Project. • SINBAD - a radiation shielding experiments database encompassing reactor shielding, fusion blanket neutronics, and accelerator shielding; In the area of fuel behaviour, the IFPE – International Fuel Performance Benchmark Experiments Database was established.

86

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/14

The proposed paper will concentrate on knowledge preservation aspects related to integral experiments and will include: • The scope and comprehensiveness of the different databases • The methods used in standardizing their compilations, and for the following peer review process • A brief summary describing for each of them the data so far acquired, evaluated and reviewed. • The organisational structure, the computational environment required and methodology established in storing, updating, and in providing user access to the data. • Benchmark activities for recording and disseminating user expertise its integration in computer codes and computational procedures. . • Examples of use made and respective benefit • Importance for preserving measurement technology and techniques and the ensuing data evaluation process. • The role this activity has in assessing, justifying and quantifying the benefit of new experiments. • Their role as a tool for knowledge and competence assessment of newcomers in the field. • The essential documentation it represents on which computational methods and analyses in use today are based. Finally, the programme of future activities will be described.

87

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/15

MANAGEMENT OF NUCLEAR INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE IN CUBAN INSTITUTIONS

A. G. García, C. F. Rondón, C. L. Aldama, L. A. Aruca, C. Labrada CUBAENERGIA, Cuba

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The peaceful use and application of nuclear energy demands a wide domain of the capabilities and an inherent knowledge for technicians employee and a part of the personnel linked to the nuclear specialties, the application of the generated and accumulated information in databases and the organization in an integral culture that allows the socialization of the generated and acquired knowledge, supported on a solid infrastructure based on the use of the information and communication technologies. The Nuclear Ramal Program in Cuba (NRP) recognizes as a main priority the establishment of the knowledge management system, which offer possibilities of participation for all institutions belonging to the Agency of Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technologies (AEN&TA). In this rank an important role belongs to the Energy Development and Information Management Centre (CUBAENERGIA) as a coordinating entity, on which are executed projects focused: • To develop the web site of the AEN&TA connected to web sites of other institutions of the proper Agency; • To develop the executive web site (Intranet of the AEN&TA), which manages the corporate information, as a support to the process of taking decisions. Here also participate all the institutions belonging to agency; • Networking education system for human resources of these institutions and others that belong to the energy sector in Cuba; • Application and implementation of data warehousing process for all institutions on corporate levels; • Approaches and concepts for managing nuclear information supported on a collective catalogue of scientific and technical publications of nuclear profile; • Application of technology watching system for all the scientific and technical activities linked to the use and application of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, based on the information and knowledge contained in the databases of INIS, WIPO and RRIAN; • To promote and disclose the peaceful, efficient and safety use of nuclear energy, to evaluate a perception on Cuban population about the use of nuclear energy; • To develop a methodology to evaluate the impact of applied projects of Nuclear Ramal Program; • To develop National Information System on Energy in Cuba. The annual celebration of events like the National Workshop of Knowledge Management in Energy and the National Seminar of Information on Energy, with an important and a decisive support of the OIEA, allow to create spaces for discussion on these topics and to share the experiences of the institutions in the implementation of processes of information and knowledge management, starting from the design and implementation of own strategies The most relevant results are presented in this paper, obtained after the execution of these projects that allow the acquisition, development, generalization and application of information and nuclear knowledge generated in Cuba and abroad.

88

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/16

COMPUTER SCIENCE - A BRIDGE BETWEEN NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE

A. O. Pavelescu, E. N. Ghizdeanu University “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest, Romania

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The paper analies the horizon of the new information technologies, in a way that regards both parties involved in the education process: trainers and trainees. The case study refers to the Nuclear Power Plant Department within Power Engineering Faculty at University “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest in Romania. The study took into account the feedback information from the students, as well as the international framework (recommendation from IAEA) in order to postulate what can be changed or improved in order to create a better learning environment. The work revealed the fact that students have a relatively poor education related to computer programming, although there are some applications currently being studied, such as ACSL (Advanced Continuous Simulation Language). There is a need for better utilization of other general technical use programs such as Mathcad, Matlab, and specialized programs such as MMS (Module Modeling System) designed to simulate, in an attractive and “user friendly” mode, the comportment of a Nuclear Power Plant. This would increase the degree of understanding of the extremely complex processes that take place in such an installation. Also the electric, non-electric and radioactive measurements could be performed through a modern computerized system (MicroShield, Fispact, InteRass - International Radiological Assessment System) that allows much better data acquisition, calibration, accuracy, representation, storage, interpretation and transmission of the digital information. The students may be encouraged to exercise their basic programming skills for solving common technical problems occurred in their study projects which require simple linear iterations or more complex algorithms. If these applications are already created, the students must be permitted to use them, even thou their work become simplified. Access to information and speciality courses is increasingly easier due to the new communications facilities, especially if the data could be found in an electronically format. A more practical approach is imperative in order to capture the interest of the students. Because this is not always possible, the importance of computer-simulated processes is emphasized.

89

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/17

THE RADIATION SAFETY INFORMATION COMPUTATIONAL CENTER (RSICC) – FORTY YEARS OF NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

B. L. Kirk, H. T. Hunter Oak Ridge National Laboratory, United States of America

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Established in 1962, RSICC has seen 40 years of research and growth in the areas of radiation transport, radiation shielding, and radiation safety. During this period, the use of computers was initiated and RSICC has been innovative in the knowledge management of the products (software and data) developed within the user community. The legacy of the international research community in the fields of radiation transport and safety is priceless. What price can be assigned to a line of computer code or data packages, especially when it has been shared and continues to be shared by many? The importance of nuclear knowledge management cannot be underestimated. Information analysis centers (IAC), like RSICC, are a key component to the research infrastructure. RSICC technology base includes about 1400 computer codes and about 300 data packages, representing the legacy of many scientists, both living and dead. Over the years, more than 5000 scientists have used the center at one time or another. Today, the number of registered users is close to 5000. Through software and data dissemination, RSICC has served as the focal point for this network of researchers, and promoted the exchange and enhancement of technology. RSICC disseminates about 1300 copies of software/data collection each year. Historical Background and Mission The Radiation Shielding Information Center (RSIC) was founded in 1962 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as an information analysis center in the specialized area of radiation transport and safety. In the words of Edward L. Brady, Chairman of the Committee on Scientific and Technical Information (COSATI) Panel 6: "An information analysis center is a formally structured organizational unit specifically (but not necessarily exclusively) established for the purpose of acquiring, selecting, storing, retrieving, evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing a body of information in a clearly defined specialized field or pertaining to a specified mission with the intent of compiling, digesting, repackaging, or otherwise organizing and presenting pertinent information in a form most authoritative, timely, and useful to a society of peers and management".1 In 1994, RSIC was changed to Radiation Safety Information Computational Center (RSICC), a change that was dictated by wider application of RSICC's software collection and rapidly moving Internet technology. RSICC's mission is to provide in-depth coverage of the radiation transport field to meet the needs of the international shielding community. RSICC collects, organizes, evaluates and disseminates technical information involving shielding and protection from the radiation associated with fission and fusion reactors, outer space, accelerators, weapons, medical facilities, and nuclear waste management. The Center provides in-depth coverage of radiation transport topics: • Radiation production and sources • Criticality safety • Radiation protection and shielding • Radiation detectors and measurements • Shielding materials properties • Radiation waste management

90

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/17

• Shields and shipping cask design • Radiation safety and assessment • Atmospheric dispersion and environmental dose • The physics of the interaction of radiation with matter In support of a number of government-sponsored programs, RSICC • Collects, maintains, analyzes, and distributes technical computing software in the areas of shielding and transport • Provides technical assistance to the user • Publishes and distributes a monthly Newsletter to announce corrections, updates, or new packages as well as to notify the shielding community of items of interest • Conducts seminar-workshops on computing methods and codes systems of particular interest to the user community • Participates in the "Agreement Between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency For Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Data and Computer Programs" through international software exchange • Works closely with the DOE Energy Science and Technology Software Center to avoid overlap and duplication of effort in software development and distribution • Maintains computerized databases of abstracted shielding information selected for inclusion by technical analysts • Exchanges visits and guests assignments with shielding installations throughout the world to collect and share shielding technology for mutual benefit • Maintains a web server to keep users informed of changing software technology Nuclear Knowledge Management of Software and Cross Sections RSICC maintains very close relations with the end user community and by doing so, keeps abreast of software and data technology that need to be included in its collection. In addition to processing requests for software, RSICC staff members provide technical consultations with requesters to resolve discrepancies, assist in installation, and answer technical inquires on radiation transport matters. Software added to the RSICC collection undergoes a quality assurance process: 1. The software is tested for completeness - source code, sample input, sample output, abstract and documentation 2. The software is tested on one or more computers - making sure that the software compiles, links and runs correctly. 3. Once tested, the software is packaged and is announced in the RSICC Newsletter and the RSICC web page as available for distribution. Since its inception, RSICC has obtained a wealth of experience in archiving data and maintaining numerous distributed databases in order to preserve the research legacy. RSICC computer codes have seen dramatic changes in computer hardware, operating systems and storage media. The web server acts as the interface and source of information to RSICC's user community. Various web-based technologies are implemented. Electronic notebooks are integrated into the web server. Through these notebooks, users are able to document important questions and experiences with specific RSICC-distributed software. RSICC serves as a computational center, where a registered user can login and use RSICC's computers to run specific software in its collection. This can be done through "telnet" or through the Internet via a web browser.

91

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/17

RSICC also sponsors several training workshops a year. These workshops concentrate on a specific computer code. In the last two years, RSICC sponsored about twenty workshops on DORT/TORT (or package DOORS), MCNP, SCALE, MCNPVISED and others. Users learn how to use and apply these codes after attending the workshops and enhance their knowledge of the codes. Conclusion Knowledge management of software and data should continue to be a national priority. Government agencies like the Department of Energy recognize this, and through sponsorship of centers like RSICC, these agencies will uphold and "preserve" nuclear know-how. The burden does not only lie with government, but the technical community as well. As Dr. Alvin Weinberg stated: " The information transfer network is held together by an array of switching devices that connect the user with the information … he needs. As the amount of information grows, more ingenuity will be needed to find effective switching mechanisms…The technical community must courageously explore new modes for information processing and retrieval.” 2 REFERENCES

[1] "THE INFORMATION ANALYSIS CENTER: SEVEN BACKGROUND PAPERS", Reprinted by Panel #6, COSATI 69-6, October 1969. [2] "SCIENCE, GOVERNMENT AND INFORMATION, A report of the President's Advisory Committee, Panel on Science Information, A. Weinberg, Chairman, January 10, 1963.

92

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/18

EXPECTATIONS OF JAERI ON INIS FROM A VIEWPOINT OF SOCIO- ECONOMIC EVALUATION

K. Yanagisawa, S. Takahashi, O. Narita, M. Yonezawa Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), Japan

Email address of main author: [email protected]

To understand a socio-economic effect of basic research in JAERI, the stimulation and promotion of social interrelations through a formation of networking was studied quantitatively. As an analytical tool, top {100} keywords selected from the research papers written by the Material Science (MS) in JAERI were used as inputs of INIS. Reasons for selection of INIS instead of INSPEC in the present study areas follows: (a) The density of nuclear data in INIS was rather high than that in INSPEC; the former is more suitable for the present analysis due to having more nuclear data, (b) INSPEC may rather be suitable for study of international networking because of a worldwide large database. Our study is, however, focused to rather domestic or Japanese networking matters, therefore the high rate logging of Japanese data in INIS is more preferable. With respect to one-to-one correspondence between author’s affiliation and his belonging, INSPEC had the top author’s affiliation alone but INIS had all author’s affiliation. This is very significantly helpful for studying the formation of networking. Obtained typical results are: (1) Worldwide trend of MS was studied by INIS by means of top {100} keywords as input. Research activity of MS in JAERI represented by top {100} keywords is not much different from that of other nuclear advanced countries participated to INIS. (2) Emphasized basic research fields (EBRF) of MS in JAERI can be clarified by selected keywords of “ ion irradiation “ and “ actinides ”, those have a strong relation to nuclear. As shown in Fig.1, “ actinides “ was included in 7,237 papers in INIS, where the share of JAERI over 25 years was 25%, while 52% by public sectors (PS) and 17% by private organizations (PO) in Japan. The growth rate of networking between JAERI and PS was of order of 3-4% per 25 years and 8% per recent 5 years. The rate of networking formation is markedly increased recently.

93

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/18

7,237 Actinides ①→③ 38 ③→① 29 (0.5%) (0.4%) papers per 25 years

③PO (1,198) (16.6%) ① ③→② 71 (1.0%) ①②③TR ②→③ 46 (0.6%) 19 JAERI (0.3%) (1,773) ②PS (3,751)

(24.5%) (51.8%)

①→② 126 ②→① 186 (1.7%) (2.6%) FIG.1. Networking of “ actinides ” over 25 years research activities in Japan

(3) Between JAERI and the other 5 selected research bodies, only 7 out of over 110 keywords such as “ neutron “ and “ accelerators “ were overlapped. In the overlapped region the two compensated and uplifted the national standard level each other. For “ neutron “ (2,988 papers), the networking between JAERI and PS was grown to the magnitude of 16% per recent 5 years; meaning that the socio-economic effect becomes large under the influence of research activity made by JAERI.

94

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/19

PRESERVATION AND RE-USE OF NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE IN THE UK NUCLEAR INDUSTRY

R. Workman British Nuclear Fuels plc, United Kingdom

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The Nuclear Sciences and Technology Services group within British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) has been developing a programme of work since 2001 aimed at preserving knowledge for current and future use within the UK nuclear industry. The initial focus was on the key technologies for which knowledge needed to be preserved for current use and in order to keep the nuclear option open. The programme has been extended to incorporate operational knowledge of nuclear plants. The main company knowledge base – Corporate Memory – is utilized to capture explicit knowledge and underpins the knowledge preservation process. Corporate Memory is a knowledge base containing 240,000 scientific and technical reports written over the last 60 years. These reports, written mainly by BNFL staff, cover company plants and projects. The knowledge base is being developed to encompass the UK nuclear industry, and includes reports from organisations such as UKAEA and AEAT that have worked in partnership with BNFL. Corporate Memory also preserves material published by BNFL in the public domain, typically conference papers and journal articles, which often present state-of-the-art descriptions of plants, processes and technologies. The knowledge preservation process commences with the strategic identification of key specialists within each technology or nuclear plant. This is followed by an interview with the nominated individuals, who typically have 20-30 years experience within the UK nuclear industry. Each individual is asked during the course of a 1 hour interview to identify, from within their written output, those documents which contain knowledge regarded as being key for the future of the industry. By adding their specialist knowledge to the key documents, a permanent marker is inserted within database entries, which will assist future generations to identify important work undertaken by their predecessors. Specialist knowledge sets the context within which the work was carried out, along with the particular significance of the findings described. Company reports represent one facet of knowledge. Knowledge of other sources of printed material, such as books, journals and external reports, are also elicited during the interview. Links may also be made to information systems that contain valuable additional sources of knowledge. The people issue can prove critical. Often it is those individuals within a specialist field, who can be relied upon to provide expert advice or consultation, that are most valued in terms of their own tacit knowledge. They may still work within the organisation itself, but are just as likely to have retired or to be employed by other organisations in the field. As well as adding their names to the list of staff to be interviewed, a link may also be provided to their own – or their organisations – web site. All the knowledge extracted via the interview process is linked together within a knowledge package covering a particular technology – which may be further sub-divided – or nuclear plant. A knowledge package is a simple information system containing links to the sources of knowledge that have been identified during the knowledge preservation interview. It is possible to customise the knowledge package template to provide the most effective working system for each subject.

95

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/19

Compiling knowledge packages from all those sources provides a comprehensive collection of knowledge on particular subjects, which can be utilised within the learning organisation. This knowledge can be re-packaged into modules for study, as BNFL seeks to broaden its knowledge base and to attract high calibre scientific and technical staff. Then the concept of a Virtual University starts to take shape, potentially encompassing staff at all levels within the organisation. There are external beneficiaries from the knowledge preservation process. As BNFL concentrates its university contacts in key areas such as radiochemistry, particle technology, waste immobilisation and materials, an opportunity arises to extend involvement in the process through the development of e-rooms. Knowledge packages are shared with those academics that have joined with BNFL to populate its University Research Alliances (URA). The universities are encouraged to contribute their own published material, along with lecture notes and associated reading lists. Events, such as technology conferences, are captured on video. This generates a permanent record of the event and the knowledge shared during presentations and poster sessions, which can be linked into the appropriate knowledge package. Over the 3 years that this programme of work has been undertaken some 230 interviews have been conducted, resulting in the identification of 1,700 key documents and the creation of 45 knowledge packages.

96

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/20

PRESENTATION OF INGENIUM™, SOFTWARE TOOL FOR MANAGE AND SHARE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE, AND SOME APPLICATIONS IN NUCLEAR DOMAIN, WITH THE CEA

P. Sei CEA, France

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Principles New technology allows the communication, exchange and sharing of many information. Search engine fit the profile of users more and more providing relevant document. But it’s not enough to create a real collective thrust where everyone can express it’s own point of view, to confront it with the others, to enrich it while laying out the evolution of the argument. Furthermore, we realize the over-abundance of information, the difficulty to operate it and the increasing enrichment of the immaterial capital, which is made of knowledge, and know-how of the firm’s staff. It’s a very concrete and daily problem, in a lot of domain, everywhere we need information to act. The quality and relevance of founded solution contribute to the success of the firm or of the concerned group : how not to lose information, not to make again what is already done, not to waste time to find what exist, to share, to think with other, to lay out this thought and decision which ensue ? In face of the several dimension of knowledge management procedural (organizational) , cognitive (power is in the capability to operate the information) and instrumental (software tool, linguistic search engine and network), we offer multiple answer : methological coaching and set a tool going, fitting best to requirement, individual and collective. Like AI, KM focus thought management, but unlike AI, instead of trying to formalize a problem’s resolution by the automation of a reasoning, we now look for providing to the operator the information he need to resolve himself the problem, individually or collectively. We so make the bet, determinedly, of the user’s intelligence, relying on its own cognitive capacity to operate at best the provided information. Ingenium™ software Its on the above ideas that was build the Ingenium™ software, trying to answer to underlined requirement, ensuring employment easiness, share, subjectivity and relevance. Its inside Jean Michel Penalva’s laboratory (CEA) that several prototype were processed , relying on internal project teams. Once the prototype and ideas validated, we decide to industrialize this approach, from which become Ingenium™ software and associated coaching. The Ingenium™ software is an intranet environment, real service integrated to the team work, which offer: Collecting and storage of document and laying out thought process by subjective and individual contribution, designed as “knowledge element”. The knowledge base doesn’t force neither hierarchy, nor key words, nor specific interrogating language. Access is distributed and scratched by Internet or Intranet with a usual browser and a standard viewer (Acrobat Reader™). The idea is to find without classify! The access control to the information and their protection, ensured by login and password (even encryption), structured by group and level. Three principles hold up the software’s realization: the maximal learn ability for user, the relevance of answer, and the ability to give a personal and subjective advice.

97

IAEA-CN-123/03/P/20

Two use case Nuclear: capitalization and sharing of knowledge. The CEA team of Saclay responsible of missions concerning some nuclear installations has decided to equip itself with Ingenium™. Composed of ten people, the team feed the base with documents and expert advice, making up an information base more and more complete. This base hold at one and the same time qualified document and enrichment associated to expertise and know-how of the contributors. Nnon-nuclear: Assistance to Installation. The CEA CSN of Cadarache has decided also to equip itself with Ingenium™, for optimizing the management of information and knowledge required. Two items have got priority, shared with the installation team: • The follow-up of the events constitutive of the installation life: incident, control or inspection visit, modification demand, and so on. • Putting communally the statutory directive: map of « statutory alert » allowing an easy access to the new decree, to the technical prescription and to the experience of every one. Made up of more than ten people, for the moment, the team feed the base with documents and advices, dedicated to following up the regulation and its application for the installation, as well as to following up the events and their treatment by the responsible people. Conclusion In terms of results, the experiences are a little bit to much recent to give definitive conclusion. Nevertheless, we can already say : • KM requires a managerial will and the users acceptance of this evolution of the collective behaviour mode. • More we use Ingenium more obvious are the benefits. • Unlike usual electronic document management software, the query doesn’t claim specific competence, except knowledge on the concerned topic Several level of using are allowed : • from the most vanilla : no effort for classifying, no qualification to be associated to the documents, and so intuitive query because of natural language (search engine Spirit™ of Technologies SA) : we find without classifying ! • To the most sophisticated, operating specific and manual maps as dashboard or global knowledge repository, focusing a subtopic or specific finality. • Through medium using, based on documents enriched by remarks and comments, or linked to other documents, composing graphs which allow to understand a collective reasoning, for instance. This approach is now going out of nuclear world, for instance to aeronautics, by EADS and Eurocopter, as well as by Onera, by Saint Gobain Research, and so on. That show the quality and the interest of the CEA research works. Because, from a CEA’s prototype transferred to Nautitia SA, we have now as industrial software tool.

98

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/1

NUCLEAR EDUCATION IN RUSSIA: STATUS, PECULIARITIES, PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES

B. N. Onykii, E. F. Kryuchkov Moscow Institute (State University), Russia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

For longer than 50-year period of nuclear industry development in the USSR, the specialists training system has been created to meet completely the industrial branch’s demands for the specialists of all possible qualifications for research, engineering and production activities. This educational system does exist in Russia till now. In the presentation the following items will be addressed: • Nuclear Engineering education in Russia: status and peculiarities. • Demands of nuclear enterprises for the alumni. Role of the Universities in these problems solution. • Nuclear engineering education problems in Russia. • Master of science education in nuclear aria. • Perspectives of nuclear education in Russia. • Integration of nuclear education in Europe: perspectives and problems. The educational system in nuclear engineering, like an educational system in any other knowledge area in Russia, includes the training activities limited by Russian legislation only: • academic training of the specialists with award of the State certificates (higher education, re-training, qualification upgrade); • qualification upgrade of the specialists without award of the State certificates. The system of education represents a multi-level structure oriented at any possible needs of industrial branches. At present, more than 20 Russian higher education institutions train the specialists in nuclear engineering. The specialists training in nuclear engineering is being conducted in all these universities in full accordance with common educational curricula and standards which define some peculiarities of the specialists training in this area: • Combination of fundamental knowledge in physics and mathematics with profound engineering skills, • Large share of laboratory works. • Participation at the research work starting from the 4th year student. • Long education time (5-6 years) and period for thesis preparation ( ½ year – pre- diploma internship and ½ year of thesis preparation). • High level requirements to the students professional culture, including non- proliferation issue. The demand of R&D Institutes for nuclear engineers is increased during the last 5 years. Now we have more requests from R&D Institutes than can satisfy annually. It can be explained by the reasons related with the difficulties encountered by nuclear enterprises. These difficulties became particularly sharp for the last time when inflow of young specialists into nuclear area drastically decreased. The main problem of nuclear enterprises is the personal aging. During the last 15 years the number of people with the age between 25 and 30 decreased more than twice. At the same period the number of people with the age more than 60 years is increased more than twice. The average age of Doctor of Science is 64, of Philosophy Doctors are 56.

99

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/1

Annual graduation of the specialists in nuclear engineering from the leading Russian universities is quite below the level, which is required by nuclear industry. Today, these negative tendencies are far from being overcome. Why ? Answer to the question is hidden in analysis of the difficulties which exist now in Russian nuclear education system itself. Thorough analysis of these difficulties allows me to separate the basic ones: • Unpopular character of education in Nuclear Engineering area for young people. • Absence of influx of young instructors (professors) in to the technical universities. • Aging of equipment and lack of finances for the equipment updating. • Insufficient financial support from the State bodies for the specialist training. • Absent of new training textbooks and manuals. We are sure that some of the problems are our common ones and we need to unite our efforts for its solution. It is quite obvious that even today the European Union countries have no an available common, generally accepted system for education in nuclear engineering area. It’s one aspect of the problem. Another aspect is as follows. In general, very similar problems and difficulties stand before nuclear engineering education in different countries. So, evidently, only unification of nuclear engineering educational systems will make it possible to overcome the difficulties and resolve the problems. But before beginning of all-European integration in the field of nuclear education we need to create the generally accepted system for this education and clarify clearly the steps we need to go through. Today in Russia: Master of Science is equal of Engineer degree level of education. So, we have a rather convenient for us one level continues system of nuclear education in Russia now, we know anything about the engineer, something about the Masters (we have some experience of their education and job placement) but we know nothing about Bachelors (we can train their but the possible place of work and possible positions are not determined for the bachelors).

100

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/2

NUCLEAR ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES: THE FIRST 50 YEARS

G. Brown University of Massachusetts Lowell, United States of America

J. Gutteridge Department of Energy, United States of America

Email address of main author: [email protected]

This paper will discuss recent trends in the nuclear engineering education infrastructure in the United States. In the last several years political, economic and technical issues have been addressed and nuclear technology appears poised to resume growing again. It is in this new environment that there has been a confluence of industry, government and academic interests to see that nuclear engineering education retains its vitality and ability to provide technological leadership and a well-educated workforce. In order to understand the current situation it is important to give a brief historical perspective covering the six decades since the inception of “Atoms for Peace” in 1953. The passage of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 established the Atomic Energy Commission and the declassification of much nuclear technology and scientific material. There was an understandable optimistic outlook as to the potential for nuclear technology in the areas of power, medicine and other industrial and scientific applications. There were commercial concepts for using nuclear energy to power ships, planes, rockets, and cars. But the must successful application, by far was in the area of electric power production. In only a few years demonstration nuclear power plants were built and the infamous quote – “two cheap to meter” was reported. In the following decade much progress was made and commercial plant orders increased substantially in number and in size. There were going to light water reactors, gas cooled reactors, liquid metal fast reactors, reprocessing, waste buried in salt mines. There was going to be “a 1000 reactors in the year 2000”. This was the picture in the United States in the 50’s and 60’s. And it was in this environment that nuclear engineering education was birthed and grew. The first nuclear engineering academic programs and university research reactors were established in the 1950’s at such places as North Carolina State, MIT, Penn State and others. Academic expertise was primarily in the areas of physics and in mechanical and . The government supported these university programs and established nuclear training schools to spread the discipline around the country. The American Nuclear Society was established as the professional society for the dissemination of scholarly work. The discipline of Nuclear Engineering became established in the engineering accreditation community. Students flocked to this new “high tech” field and pretty soon there were programs and research reactors around the country. However, this picture changed dramatically in the 1970’s and in the following decades. Most significantly, the oil crises of the 1970’s sent the country into a deep recession and the rate of growth of electricity was suddenly and dramatically cut from 7% per year to the more sustainable 2% per year that we see even today. There was high inflation. All this led to a tremendous over supply of planned power plants and resulted in delays, cancellations, and attendant cost increases. The technological issues unveiled by the Three Mile Island accident compounded these political and economic issues.

101

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/2

It is in this environment that nuclear engineering education, which had been growing to meet the planned needs of industry and government was also shocked into a retrenchment. Students stopped selecting nuclear as a major field of study. Universities started investing resources in other new high tech areas such as computer science and engineering, and more recently bio, nano and info technology. Nuclear programs and research reactors were being closed. From a high of 70 reactors, there are now only 23, and from over 50 nuclear academic programs there remain only about 24. Undergraduate enrollments, which once peaked at nearly 2000, fell to only a few hundred. This paper will provide statistical information quantifying the aforementioned trends. It will highlight the work of various organizations including the Nuclear Engineering Department Heads Organization, NEDHO, which was formed in the early 1980’s as a “forum for discussion, coordination, and collaboration on issues facing academic programs emphasizing nuclear and radiological engineering. In particular it will reference an important document that was produced by NEDHO in the early 1990’s, which helped to bring the dire situation on campuses to light and set out a definition of the discipline of Nuclear Engineering. It will summarize the various efforts of the Department of Energy, the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations, the American Nuclear Society and others. Specific examples of successful programs and partnerships between universities and industry and government will be cited. In a 2000 document produced for a study being conducted by the Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD), Nuclear Education and Training: Cause for Concern, it was stated that “nuclear engineering education in the United States has shown a marked decline in the past decade.” It was noted that “the number of university programs, student enrolments, degrees granted and university research reactors have all declined sharply. There is evidence of an aging faculty demographic and few junior faculty being hired. The ability to maintain the educational infrastructure capable of supplying well educated nuclear engineers for the existing and future nuclear industry is in peril if the current trends continue.” Today, the overall picture for nuclear energy in the U.S. has improved in comparison to the preceding period, although issues are still present that either have not been addressed yet or will require additional time to resolve. In particular, the educational infrastructure in the U.S. has undergone a metamorphosis even before 2001 when the U.S. Government issued the National Energy Policy that calls for an expanded role for nuclear energy in the U.S. to help meet the projected increase in the need for new base load generating capacity. In response to this Nuclear Energy Policy, the Department established the Nuclear Power 2010 program to assist the industry in overcoming barriers to deployment of new nuclear plants. This program is a joint government/industry cost-shared effort to identify sites for new nuclear plants, develop advanced nuclear plant technologies, and demonstrate new regulatory processes leading to private sector deployment of new nuclear plants in the near- term. Under the Generation IV program, development of the next-generation nuclear systems for deployment by 2030 is underway. These initiatives, coupled with the approval in July 2002 that Yucca Mountain be considered for development as the United States’ first nuclear waste repository, signal a changed commitment to a nuclear generating future for the U.S. To meet already existing needs and these new goals for nuclear power, the necessary manpower must be available. A survey taken of universities in the late 1990’s found that students were reluctant to choose a nuclear curriculum because of the perception of a weak job market and because the longer term outlook for nuclear engineers was not promising. Since 2000, students appear to be attracted to a nuclear career due to a robust nuclear job market and one of the highest starting salaries in the engineering field. Conversely, the problem now appears to be one of a shortage of educated nuclear engineers to fill the many

102

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/2 positions being created through retirements and increased public and private investment in nuclear research and operations. Manpower recruitment and retention is critical to the future health of the nuclear industry. A Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) study concluded that, without Herculean measures, manpower shortfalls would be a threat to the continued operation and growth of the industry. The NEI report indicates that approximately 90,000 entry-level workers are estimated to be needed in the U.S. to fill vacancies in thirteen job classifications simply to support existing operations by 2010. These work classifications range from nuclear engineers to health physicists to welders. So despite the positive trend of increased enrolments in nuclear engineering education at U.S. universities, the Nation finds itself on a nuclear manpower precipice even without the additional manpower needs that will result if new nuclear plants are built. And while undergraduate enrolments in nuclear engineering reached a nadir of about 480 students in 1998, the number of undergraduates as of 2003-04 exceeds 1300. What has fed this mini-revival of nuclear engineering interest in the U.S.? Over the past six years, but primarily the past three, the DOE has begun programs such as a teacher’s workshop for high school science teachers. This is a pre-college effort designed to educate secondary and middle school science teachers in the fundamentals of nuclear science and engineering who in turn will enlighten their colleagues and, subsequently, their students so that this career choice is known to them. To attract minorities to nuclear engineering, in 2000 the University Partnership program began the development of partnerships between nuclear engineering schools and minority universities so that a degree could be earned in nuclear engineering/science while still completing their other course work at their home institution. This has lead to partnerships among five nuclear engineering schools and six minority universities. Other efforts include a specialized program to promote radio-chemistry through fellowships, faculty support and curriculum support, and a significant new effort to support university research and training reactors and the overall infrastructure of nuclear engineering education at U.S. universities. Approximately, $9.0 million (for fiscal year 2004) has been made available for this activity entitled “Innovative Nuclear Infrastructure and Education (INIE)” program. INIE encourages universities to make new investments in both their research reactors and nuclear engineering academic programs while establishing strategic partnerships with national laboratories and the nuclear industry. To date, six regional INIE’s have been established encompassing 27 universities, numerous national laboratories and many private partners including utilities. Overall, the DOE is involved in support of nuclear engineering education at all levels; pre- college, undergraduate, graduate, post graduate, and faculty and research support. While DOE is not alone in its effort to rebuild the nuclear infrastructure in the U.S., it has been the policy and financial catalyst in initiating the programs that have had a positive impact on the Nation’s nuclear engineering education infrastructure.

103

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/3

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION FOR NUCLEAR COMPETENCE BUILDING

T. Haapalehto OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

P. D. Storey Health and Safety Executive, Nuclear Safety Directorate United Kingdom

Email address of main author: [email protected]

This report is a summary of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) study “International Collaboration for Nuclear Competence Building; Developments and Good Practice.” The summary report will be published soon. In many countries, government funding has been dramatically reduced or has disappeared altogether and at the same time the profit margins of generators have been severely squeezed. All of which has led to a reduction in technical innovation and a danger of loss of technical competences and skills. However, because different countries are at different stages of the nuclear technology life cycle, these losses are not common to all countries, either in their nature or their extent; a competence that may have declined or be lost in one country may be strong in another. And therein lies one solution to the problems the sector faces – international collaboration. Facing the danger of declining level of competence, the reaction of governments, academia, and industry has been varied. Some have launched, or supported, a variety of initiatives, often based on national studies of nuclear education and manpower requirements. Others have not undertaken any initiatives at all. However, there is some evidence that the actions launched have had a positive effect and at least slowed the declining tendency. Many NEA Member countries have undertaken studies to define the extent of the problem of possible demographic downturns in their nuclear industries. In spite of the myriad initiatives underway in the area of nuclear education and training, these national surveys show that in many countries more engineers and scientists having nuclear knowledge are required than are graduating. Though, recently some countries have reported significant increase of student’s interest to study nuclear related topics. As it has reached maturity, the nuclear industry has developed areas of expertise that are transferable to other industries. There has thus been a flow of personnel from the nuclear sector into other sectors. This was convenient when the industry was consolidating and wished to reduce staff numbers. Now that it cannot afford any further reduction in existing competence and needs to develop new ones in the areas of decommissioning and clean up, attracting young blood, retaining staff and attracting experts from other sectors in the face of competition from industries perceived as more attractive is proving problematic in many countries. Many of the aforementioned problems can be countered through diverse and vibrant R&D programmes. Within companies R&D is as important for technical advancement as for training staff. Where industry collaborates with universities and research institutes it is also an important source of recruits. In addition, such collaborations provide a reservoir of qualified and experienced personnel, which can service both the industry and the regulatory bodies on an ad hoc basis. Further, R&D performed in universities revitalises the education system by paving the way for new courses, providing topics for theses, and encouraging academics to become positively engaged with the industry.

104

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/3

Nuclear research has never been a purely national endeavour. Collaboration, information exchange and even exchange of personnel have always been an integral part of the development of nuclear power – inasmuch as political constraints have allowed. That nuclear power has become a reliable energy source, accounting for a significant proportion of the electricity produced in many nations today, within a single generation is largely due to international co-operation. The decline in recent years of many nationally funded nuclear research programmes and the associated loss of facilities and expertise, has forced countries to seek international collaboration. Although bilateral arrangements continue, increasingly multi-lateral programmes between many countries and research institutes are favoured in order to maximise the use of facilities and expertise as well as to share costs. Agencies such as the NEA, EC and IAEA play an important role in both promoting and co-ordinating this type of collaboration and, moreover, ensuring that collaboration is open to as diverse range of participants as possible. The NEA has adopted a strategy aimed at maintaining essential types of research facility through these collaborative arrangements. While nuclear research centres can look back over a long history of international collaboration, the same is not true for universities. It is only recently that some regional collaborative networks have been created in both Europe and Asia. The same principles apply to maintaining teaching expertise on nuclear related topics as to maintaining research capabilities, especially in those countries where such expertise may be in short supply. In this area more can be done at the national level to develop co-operation between universities; at the international level the recognised agencies have a key role in promoting and co-ordinating co-operation between countries. Naturally, collaboration between industrial companies is limited by commercial interests. Some companies have merged and their internal activities are, as result, no longer restricted to national boundaries. However, overall, it is necessary to recognise that industrial collaboration will always be subject to limitations.

105

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/4

THE BIG BANG - XML EXPANDING THE INFORMATION UNIVERSE

S. Rutt, M Chamberlain, G Buckley STATS-NNC Limited, United Kingdom

Email address of main author: [email protected]

• XML is the biggest advance in Information and Documentation Management in years! • XML is a revolutionary technology that enables incompatible systems to interoperate. • How: via the creation of applications that cross software and system boundaries. • Most information is produced directly in the formatted output, which effectively locks it in. It is then filed in a content repository or file system. • What if instead: • You could simultaneously create structured information and data; • That had complete traceabilty and auditabilty; • Maintained the file or document structures you need; • Could be used like a database to update, version etc; • Reused for applications as diverse as engineering design, technical documentation, bids/tenders, training material, and marketing information; • Output and share in any format or style; • Was future proofed against bespoke file formats? • Examine case studies of how it has been done in the nuclear and other hi-tech regulated industries. • Come and explore with us how: • Users can create structured, styled and consistent documents/content as they simultaneously create shareable XML data. • The tool sets available to make XML adaptable to your enterprise environment alongside your existing word processing packages • How to turbo charge your content management system • Begin the journey to an electronic safety case with a verifiable single source repository. • Increase efficiency in your workforce Come and talk to the enterprise content management experts on the STATS-NNC stand on XML’s applications and ask for details on our stairway to Added Value. Find out how to save time and money and make your information work for you! Live demonstrations of our five information solutions (iLine) will be running throughout the exhibition. Whatever the size of your business one of our products will be suitable for you: • iMPACS -The ultimate enterprise publishing and content management system and shared data environment. A single source for all information about all projects in a company or a business • iNFORM - The complete content management system and shared data environment with full business process management capability. • iNSPIRE - A fully interactive dynamic enterprise publishing suite • iNHANCE - An intermediate web based authoring, publishing and content generation package • iNGAGE - A start-up package for structured authoring, publishing and content generation.

106

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/5

NUCLEAR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN LITHUANIA IN THE CONTEXT OF EU ACCESSION

S. Ziedelis, J. Gylys Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania

V. Gediminskas Ignalina NPP, Lithuania

D. Brandisauskas State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI), Lithuania

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Lithuania is a relatively small country with the population of 3,5 mln, disproportionately powerful energy industry and low energy consumption. Installed electricity generating capacities are more than 6 GW, but total power demand is less than 2 GW. Lithuania with average electricity consumption about 2900 kWh per person occupies one of the last places in Europe. Nuclear is the main source of electric energy in Lithuania: it covers 60 - 86% of total electricity production. Two RBMK-1500 type reactors are operating at Ignalina NPP - the most advanced version of the former Soviet Union channel type reactor design series. The designed electrical power of RBMK-1500 reactor (1500 MW) is the biggest in the world for the single unit. The first unit of INPP was put into operation by the end of 1983 and the second unit – in 1987. After Chernobyl accident the maximal allowed electrical power of each reactor at INPP was reduced to 1350 MW. The initial RBMK-1500 design at Ignalina NPP at the present time has been substantially improved. More than 200 million US dollars of western countries support have been spent, and numerous additional safety features were implemented. Nowadays both Lithuanian and foreign experts agree that the safety level of Ignalina NPP is very similar to the western type NPP’s of the same age. Among other factors, the successful exploitation of Ignalina NPP during 20 years was conditioned by well-organized system of personnel training and education. Preparation of national highly qualified specialists for nuclear industry started in 1978 in the Department of Thermal and Nuclear Energy of Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). At the beginning, the same study programs and curriculum of other higher schools of the former Soviet Union were used. After a pause beginning in 1986 the education process of nuclear energy specialists was restarted at KTU in 1991 and has been continuing successfully in close collaboration with Ignalina NPP, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Obninsk University of Atomic Energy and several organizations of western countries. At present, a modern, western type system of studies has been implemented at KTU. It consists of 4 levels: Bachelor level (undergraduate studies), Master of Engineering level (professional studies), Master of Science level (graduate studies) and PhD level (post – graduate studies). Duration of studies depends on the chosen level and can continue from 4 to 10 years. Structure and changes of studies’ programs, dynamics of numbers of graduates and changes of popularity of nuclear subjects are analyzed in the paper. Another main source of qualified specialists of nuclear energy is the training system, implemented at INPP and presented in the paper. The training system of INPP is based on the

107

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/5 following sequence of well coordinated and planned activities: selection of candidates – initial check of knowledge – initial individual theoretical and practical training – certification for the position – working in double – additional specific training – authorization for independent work – continuous in-service or refresher training – periodic certification. The effectiveness of training of operational personnel was strongly increased after the full-scale simulator was installed at plant’s training centre in 1998. Due to continuous improvement, at present the training system of INPP complies with all requirements of western standards. During accession process, one of the main EU requirements to energy sector of Lithuania was to shut down both reactors of Ignalina NPP, which were decided to be unsafe in principle. Despite all efforts of Lithuanian specialists and negotiators shutdown of the 1st and the 2nd reactors of INPP is foreseen at the end of 2004 and 2009 respectively. Closure of Ignalina NPP will cause a shortage of power generating capacity as early as in 2010 and also a complex of serious economic, ecological, and social problems. Along with that, a risk occurs of complete demolition of Lithuania’s nuclear engineering education and research system. Some compensative measures to adapt the existing nuclear education and training system to the forthcoming new realities are overviewed in the paper. It is shown that the best solution for the foreseen problems arising due to premature closure of Ignalina NPP could be to continue using nuclear energy in Lithuania. This can be realized by means of: • Construction of a new nuclear power plant or unit; • Replacement of present RBMK-1500 reactors by modern and safe western type reactors (e.g., BWR or PWR), using existing turbines and infrastructure; • Extension of use of the 2nd unit of Ignalina NPP until designed technical resources of equipment durability are depleted. Selection of one particular option will depend on situation in energy market, sum of investments available and political decision of Lithuanian government. However, essential condition for future maintenance and development of nuclear knowledge in Lithuania is the survival of Lithuania as a nuclear state.

108

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/6

PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS INDONESIA’S PLAN TO OPERATE FIRST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT BY 2016

M. S. Ardisasmita National Nuclear Energy Agency, Jakarta

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Nuclear power is needed to sustain economic development in the world's fourth most populous country. More than half of Indonesia's 220 million people live on the island of Java. The problem is not that Indonesia lacks resources, but that they are far from Java - much of the coal, oil, natural gas and other assets are hundreds of miles away in the northern part of the island of Sumatra. Indonesia will need a nuclear power plant (NPP) to overcome the lack of power supply due to increasing consumption of electricity while the traditional power supply, including crude oil, has been decreasing. The National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) has advocated the introduction of nuclear power in Indonesia as a part of a long-term national energy system. According to the landmark of Batan, the first Indonesian nuclear power plant construction would start by 2010 and the plant would be operational by 2016. Since the decision to build nuclear power plant, according to the law number 10 year 1997, has to be consulted to the Parliament, it is indeed necessary to have always excellent communication with members of Parliament, to be understood by them and has to be supported by the society at large. In the past, efforts to launch nuclear power programs based mainly on economic justification have failed for various reasons; ones of the most important reasons were due to the lack of public support. Indonesia is pushing ahead with nuclear power at a time when the commercial use of nuclear power is in decline after 40 years of expansion. It is being rejected because of escalating costs, faulty technology and continuing public concern about accidents and radioactive waste disposal. Again this mean strong, effective and credible public information, public education and public relation organization have to be established to win the heart and the mind of the public. The problem is the majority of the people in Indonesia is low educated that makes them easy to be manipulated by the non-governmental organizations that have their own agenda. Therefore the public information has to be intensified in line with the dissemination of proven nuclear technology application activities already carried out for couple years in various provinces together with various research and development institutes and local governments, universities, private companies, and non-governmental organizations. The Batan nuclear workforce is aging - that is, more and more nuclear workers are approaching retirement age, without a corresponding influx of appropriately qualified younger personnel to replace them. This situation happens due to zero growth policy in government employment or more precisely negative growth policy on Batan employment. Between years 2000 and 2004, from 3704 batan employees there are 280 retired or quitting Batan, but only 108 recruitments of newer employees have been accepted. The statistic shows a significant brain-drain flow from government research institutes to the private sectors and industrial countries. The establishment and maintenance of a formal human resources policy and nuclear knowledge management strategies are important to ensure that an organization maintains adequate numbers of competent and motivated personnel, and the availability of essential technical information (explicit knowledge) in the form of scientific research, engineering analysis, design documentation, operational data, maintenance records, regulatory reviews, and other documents and data to achieve the organization's mission.

109

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/6

Human resources development for the design, construction, installation and safe operation of the NPP’s should be inseparable from the package in the procurement of the NPP’s. Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology, as an educational institute under Batan, was inaugurated in August 2001. The main objective of the institute is to provide education and training facilities to support human resource development program in nuclear science and technology. A center of Batan namely the Education and Training Center (ETC) has the responsibility of conducting education and training of nuclear science and technology in Indonesia. The ETC has been cooperation with some Universities and colleges (such as University of Indonesia, Gajah Mada University, Bandung Institute of Technology, etc.) for education and training on nuclear science and technology. In this day and age of the Internet, the quantity and quality of explicit knowledge that can be accumulated have expanded exponentially. Batan need to make better use of advanced information technology, software capabilities, and computerized management systems to accumulate, store and disseminate nuclear knowledge throughout the organization.

REFERENCE

[1] NATIONAL Nuclear Energy Agency Strategic Planning 2020. [2] SOENTONO S., Nuclear Power Development in Indonesia, Proc. of Energy Future and Nuclear Fuel Cycle in the Asia/Pasific Region, Barceley, California 1997. [3] IYOS M.R., SOENTONO S., ADIWARDOYO, LASMAN A.N., Strategy on Integration of Small and Medium Reactors in Indonesia’s Electricity Grid, Proc. 6th International Symposium on Energy Future in The Asia/Pacific Region, Sepong, Indonesia, 2001. [4] HIROTAKA T, IKUJIRO N, “Hitotsubashi on Knowledge Management”, John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd, Singapore 2004.

110

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/7

ASSURING NUCLEAR SAFETY EDUCATION INTO THE 21ST CENTURY IN SWEDEN

G. Löwenhielm Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate, Sweden

T. Lefvert Swedish Nuclear Technology Centre, Sweden

Email address of main author: [email protected]

In many countries in the Western world there has been a concern for the future competence in nuclear safety in particular and nuclear technology in general. There have been many reasons for this concern, i.e. nuclear power has been debated in many countries, declining research in nuclear safety- and technology area, retiring professors are not replaced and in the case of Sweden the parliament has decided to phase out nuclear power (which resulted in that Barsebäck 1 reactor was shut down in 1999). Since the beginning of the 1990’s the Swedish Centre for Nuclear Technology (SKC) was established and financed by SKI, ABB-Atom (later Westinghouse) and the Swedish utilities. The purpose was to support PhD students with full PhD grants in topics related to nuclear technology, see also ref. [1]. The budget was in the year 2001 about 10 MSEK/year. In Sweden the Government’s appropriations directive to SKI for 2001 (and the following years) states that ”SKI shall take action to ensure that the competence required for the safety and non-proliferation work is maintained and developed within SKI as well as at the licensees and elsewhere in the country”. From an educational point of view the year 2001 was a crucial year since undergraduate and postgraduate education at universities and institutes of technology wound up in the risk zone when several professors in nuclear subjects retired. In this situation the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) announced that financial support was needed in order to fill some of these positions. This applied to the professorships in Nuclear Chemistry and Reactor Technology at KTH. KTH also needed support for the professorship in Reactor Physics. Chalmers University in Technology (Chalmers), on the other hand, had decided to appoint a replacement for the professorship in Nuclear Chemistry. This situation was resolved for the professorship in Nuclear Chemistry at KTH as the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company decided to support this professorship. At this point in time the SKC decided to take an overall view of the situation at the main technical universities in Sweden to assure future education in Sweden. The financial partners decided to increase SKC’s budget from 10 MSEK/year to 16 MSEK/year to also include support to professorships, alternatively lectorships. This support was given to the main education centres, KTH, Chalmers and University of Uppsala (UU). These agreements between the financial partners and the three education centres are valid for six years from January 1st, 2002. SKI finds it highly gratifying that SKI, together with the nuclear power industry, has secured future undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at KTH, Chalmers and UU. According to a study in Sweden the annual need for university-educated staff is about 50 persons/year. The same study also indicates that it may be sufficient to maintain the educational level that exists today. The measures adopted by SKC and SKB to support undergraduate and postgraduate education can therefore be regarded as adequate at the present time. With these agreements, SKI has, together with the power industry, clearly demonstrated its intention to ensure that competence is maintained and developed. It is, however, important to

111

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/7 follow up how well the institutes of technology and universities are able to attract engineering students in nuclear power related courses and also the postgraduate students. The experience from the first two years seems to be promising.

REFERENCE

[1] TIRÉN, L.I., ”Nuclear Technology Centre – Preserving and developing competence and resources”, Proc. of an Int. Conf. on the Nuclear Power, IAEA, Vienna, 5-8 Sept. 1994.

112

IAEA-CN-123/04/O/8

ADDRESSING AGEING OF THE WORKFORCE ISSUES BY ENABLING KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WITH SOCIAL NETWORKS ANALYSIS CAPABILITIES

I. Perisic Entopia, Inc, United States of America

Email address of main author: [email protected]

A method of addressing ageing of the workforce and knowledge transfer issues, especially in the area of potential loss of knowledge, is presented through the integration of social networks analysis capabilities within knowledge management systems. In the context of the ageing of the workforce, a key component is the identification of not only the individuals that are about to retire, but also the knowledge and the knowledge transfer capabilities that they will take with them they do so. This loss impacts decisions made about human resources “supply side” programs such as education, but also programs for building “communities of practices” within the IAEA community to foster development and research across regions and countries. Within this context, an integrated social network analysis component provides the ability to map out the network of knowledge on any specific topic. The stability of the network itself is a measure of the robustness of the knowledge within the selected IAEA community. Further, the network, by identifying “brokers” and “bridges”, pinpoints key weaknesses that have to be addressed. In the case of ageing of the workforce, balancing, stabilizing and building redundancies within this social network is key to maintaining a safe nuclear policy. The core of the method relies on a system that has a holistic view of the body of knowledge accumulated within the IAEA community. For scalability issues, this system cannot replicate the plethora of potential sources of information, but rather has to harvest from each of them a set of metadata which in turn enables the knowledge management system. This metadata is defined and stored in a way to allow the rendering of a complete picture stored within the sub- systems. A key component used by the social network analysis component is, of course, the name of all individuals tied to any knowledge object within the database, but also their affiliation, country, seniority or “age to retirement” (when allowed by relevant government human resources guidelines). Social network analysis can initially be performed on the broad collection of valuable databases within the IAEA, such as the rich INIS database and the IAEA Web Resources. The subsequent social networks provide a view of the occuring knowledge transfer within the IAEA community through collaboration networks and affiliation networks. The techniques have already been shown in [1,2,3] to provide an effective overlook of the current state of affairs. We extend the approach in [1] to 1) render it more precise within a topic area, 2) allow it to consider disparate sources of information and 3) integrate it within a knowledge management system and/or a portal. For example, integrating this information within the “Find-an-Expert Facility” embedded within the INIS database, would not only provide the names of the experts but also the communities of experts. In this regard the ACM Portal, through its Digital Library, has already taken the first step.

113

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/1

THE NUCLEAR DEPARTMENT, ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL OF MARINE ENGINEERING – PROVISION OF NUCLEAR EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO THE NAVAL NUCLEAR PROPULSION PROGRAMME AND BEYOND

K. R. Trethewey, P. A. Beeley, R. S. Lockwood, I Harrop Royal Naval School of Marine Engineering, United Kingdom

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The Nuclear Department (ND) of the Royal Naval School of Marine Engineering was formed within HMS SULTAN on 1 April 2001, following the integration of SULTAN’s existing Nuclear Training Group and the Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, relocated from the (old) Royal Naval College Greenwich, London in October 1998. Both groups have a distinguished history with officers courses established at Greenwich in 1959 and ratings training established at HMS SULTAN in 1963. This collocation of nuclear systems’ training, academics, and research placed, for the first time, the majority of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme (NNPP) shore based education and training on the one site. As systems training and education in nuclear reactor technology are integral to most courses offered by the Department, the integration enhanced aspirations to establish a centre of excellence in nuclear engineering within the Royal Navy School of Marine Engineering, which is part of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency. The ND is also an Associated Institution of the University of Surrey with which it has had an alliance for almost 20 years. The Department’s primary purpose is to provide education and training for all naval and civilian personnel appointed to the NNPP and its secondary purpose is to provide research, consultancy and expert advice in support of the Programme. With over 40 years proven experience in the provision of high quality nuclear education and systems training the ND presently offers over 45 scheduled courses in all key disciplines, from ‘cradle to grave’, to a broad group of key customers. Five academic courses attract post-graduate qualifications, that are validated by the University of Surrey, whilst the majority of ND’s NNPP systems training courses are necessary prerequisites for both officers and ratings in order to qualify as nuclear submarine reactor and propulsion plant watch-keepers. The ND has a number of facilities and equipments that support education and training. These include high-fidelity (full scope) reactor plant simulators covering all in-service nuclear submarine propulsion plants, modern well-equipped radiation science/protection laboratories, extensive materials and chemistry laboratories, high pressure steam facilities, a bespoke irradiation facility, various maintainer training aids and an educational basic principles simulator (Telewall), capable of mathematically modeling and graphically displaying the load following and self regulating characteristics of a Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) and its associated systems. In addition to the traditional and often mandated naval operator and civilian educational courses outlined above, ND offers a range of bespoke on site and peripatetic educational and training courses to both the NNPP and the wider UK nuclear industry. These commercial courses are normally delivered by ND staff and are subject to formal contract, which is administered by Flagship Training Ltd (FTL), the commercial partner of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA). FTL was formed in December 1995 through a joint venture, the present main partners being BAE Systems and Vosper Thorneycroft (UK). The Nuclear Department of the RNSME is considered to be a ‘one-stop’ facility, capable of providing a very wide range of nuclear academic, training, research and consultancy services to the NNPP and, increasingly to some parts of the UK’s nuclear industry. The Department aspires to excellence in education and training in nuclear power disciplines and in so doing, it

114

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/1 contributes to the inculcation of the necessary safety culture required to responsibly design, build, operate, maintain, refit and finally decommission the nuclear fleet. In providing this vital support to the NNPP the ND augments its delivery of education and training with external lecturers from Service and civilian organizations working at the ‘coal face’, thus balancing academics with practical engineering challenges. The educated and trained strength is therefore totally fit for purpose for the Fleet and organizations that support the NNPP.

115

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/2

REPLACING NUCLEAR STAFF: THE PROACTIVELY WORK AT IPEN/CNEN-SP

M. O. Pupak, J. R. Rogero Energy and Nuclear Research Institute – IPEN/CNEN-SP, Brazil

Email address of main author: [email protected]

In Brazil, young people do not learn nuclear science, nuclear engineering and related fields at College or Universities, because Brazilian Universities offers such specialized courses only as extension classes to normal curriculum. Another important aspect to be considered is that there are eigth Brazilian Universities or Research Institute that offers MSc and PhD degree offered on only four State/Region of Brazil, e.g.: in the State of São Paulo/SP, Region Southest of Brazil, there is only one programme, at Energy and Nuclear Research Institute - IPEN, in association with the University of São Paulo - USP; in the State of Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Region Southest of Brazil, there are four programmes: the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, the Army Engineering Institute – IME, the Institute of Nuclear Engeneering – IEN, the Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry – IRD; in the State of Minas Gerais, Region Southest of Brazil, there are the Center of Nuclear Technology Development – CDTN and the Federal University of Minas Gerais – UFMG; in the State of Pernambuco, Region Northest of Brazil, there is Federal University of Pernambuco – UFPE. Those four institutes: IPEN, IEN, IRD and CDTN are institutes belonging to the National Nuclear Energy Commission – CNEN[1]. Table 1 present’s the situation of those nuclear programmes (mentioned above), their level of post graduation and the grade attributed by Capes - the Higher Education Coordinating Office of the Federal Ministry of Education, done three-annually on all Brazilian Courses, undergraduate and postgraduate. This evaluation vary on a scale from 1 to 5, universities are allowed to conduct their programme only with grade up to 3, if not the course is disregarded. The acquirement of evaluation up to 5, i.e. 6 and 7 is given only to programme that has high academic level recognized internationally for expertise [2]. TABLE 1 - POST GRADUATION ON NUCLEAR FIELD IN BRAZIL (DATA 2003) INSTITUTIONS CITY/STATE/REGION PROGRAMME LEVEL EVALUATION IN BRAZIL OF CAPES IPEN/USP São Paulo/SP/ Southeast MSc ; PhD 6 Nuclear Technology IEN Rio de Janeiro/RJ/Southeast Nuclear Engineering Professional 3 Master Rio de Janeiro/RJ/Southest Radiation Protection IRD MSc 3 and Dosimetry Rio de Janeiro/RJ/Southeast IME Nuclear Engineering MSc 3

Rio de Janeiro/RJ/Southeast UFRJ/COPPE Nuclear Engineering MSc ; PhD 6

CDTN Belo Horizonte/MG/Southeast Radiation MSc Technology Science 3

UFMG Belo Horizonte/MG/Southeast Science and Nuclear MSc Techniques 4

UFPE Recife/PE/Northeast Nuclear Engineering MSc ; PhD 5 on Technology

116

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/2

IPEN it is a traditional research and educational institution, recognized internationally for the high level of education provided. To give an idea of the importance and size of the Post Graduation Programme at IPEN, in 2003, the staff, students, disciplines and other numbers were officially registered as following [3]: • 498 students for the MSc and PhD degrees; • 166 thesis advisor’s; • 44 disciplines offered; • 65 thesis and dissertation concluded; • 147 scholarship given by the Brazilian Federal and State Governments for undergraduate and post graduate students; • 400 students took entrance selection exams (about 50% were approved); • Approximately 500 internship were provided and, • Approximately 150 thesis advisors were invited to participate in the examining boards. The Post Graduation Programme of IPEN in association with the University of São Paulo – USP (the largest institution of higher education and research in Brazil, and the third in size in Latin America) is organized in three areas of concentration: • TNA- Nuclear Technology and its Applications; • TNM- Nuclear Technology on Materials; • TNR- Nuclear Technology for Reactors. The replacement of nuclear personnel is shrinking is a fact and the problem requires immediate attention of the entire nuclear community (academia, government and industry). Aware to find ways to solve this problem, IPEN started to work more proactively by dealing closely with universities, industries, government and other relevant organizations. As result of this work, on 2001, IPEN in accordance with USP, started to offer graduation optional disciplines to all students at USP interested on nuclear field. This initiative was very successful. On 2003, IPEN started the most important project in association with Physics Institute of USP, this project so called: Programme of Graduation Course on Nuclear Science is willing to graduate Human Resources for the Nuclear Sector. Our proposal with this Programme is that the IAEA and also Brazilian Government Agency could allocate money for Brazilian fellowship in order to capture human resources for nuclear sector. With this action we believe that would produce a sizeable impact in the international nuclear scientific community.

REFERENCE

[1] COMISSÃO NACIONAL DE ENERGIA NUCLEAR-CNEN. Units consulted: IPEN, IEN, IRD e CDTN. Available on: Acessed on: 03/29/2004. [2] COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR-CAPES. Evaluation Criterium, period of 2001-2003, Engineering II. Available on: Acessed on: 03/29/2004. [3] ANNUAL REPORT TO: COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR-CAPES, YEAR 2003. From Nuclear Technology Programmme IPEN/USP. Data base of indicators.

117

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/3

DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM FOR ACADEMIC TRAINING OF PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN NUCLEAR MATERIAL PROTECTION, CONTROL AND ACCOUNTING IN RUSSIA

E. F. Kryuchkov Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (State University), Russia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

National safeguards on nuclear materials (NM) non-proliferation in any country are provided by a system of special measures on NM management (legal regulation, organizing, scientific and technical measures and tools) as well as by a professional culture of people working with NM (non-proliferation culture). The fundamental attribute of any culture, and the non- proliferation culture also, is an availability of a system for reproduction of the specialists - carriers of this culture. Saying about national safeguards systems, one of the key components for existence and development of such a system in Russia is a creation and advancement of the system for specialists training in areas of NM non-proliferation and NM safe management. Unfortunately, when developing and improving the special measures of national safeguards, the specialists reproduction system is often forgotten. A lack of well-skilled specialists is retarding development of national safeguards now. Under today’s conditions in Russia, this lack of specialists can become a serious obstacle for resolving the non-proliferation problem in the nearest future. Establishing the fact is a necessary and important step towards definition of long-term strategy for development of nuclear power industry in Russia. The specialists reproduction is a complex multi-level problem. Solution of the problem as applied to nuclear non-proliferation safeguards can be found through creating the academic system of training, re-training and qualification upgrade of appropriate specialists basing upon the training principles, traditions and approaches established in our country. Today we have only the first successful results in resolving aforementioned problems. The present paper is devoted to discussion of general problems for MPC&A specialists training in Russia as well as to discussion on development of the MPC&A Engineering Degree Program at MEPhI. Main attention in the present paper is focused at discussing the educational problems in area of nuclear materials physical protection, control and accountability (MPC&A) in Russia. General scheme of Russian educational system is considered with main emphasis on the directions under implementation now, namely academic training system, re-training system and specialists qualification upgrade system in MPC&A area. Russian academic training system consists of the educational programs at various levels: Bachelor of Sciences, Master of Sciences, Specialist (also referred to as an Engineer Degree), and professional re-training of the personnel already working in the nuclear field. Currently, only the Master of Sciences Graduate Program is completely developed for the students training. This is taking place at Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (State University, MEPhI), where the fourth generation of Masters has graduated from in May 2003. The graduates are now working at nuclear- related governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and nuclear facilities. Development of the system to produce academically trained Russian MPC&A personnel is therefore well underway. MEPhI’s MPC&A Engineering Degree Program which currently under development is considered in the paper. Analysis of MPC&A needs at Russian nuclear facilities has demonstrated the Engineering Degree Program is the best way to satisfy these needs and the resulting demands for MPC&A specialists at Russian nuclear enterprises.

118

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/3

This paper discusses specific features of the Engineering Degree training required by Russian education legislation and the Russian system of quality control as applied to the training process. The paper summarizes the main joint actions undertaken during the past three years by MEPhI in collaboration with the US Department of Energy and US national laboratories to develop the MPC&A Engineering Degree Program in Russia. These actions include opening a new Engineering Degree specialty, Safeguards and Nonproliferation of Nuclear Materials, in the Russian register of specialties; licensing two Russian universities for academic training in the new specialty; developing the curricula for the specialty, including tracks for physical protection and material control and accounting; and recruiting the first student group in 2002. It is proposed based on MEPhI Master of Scince Programm “Nuclear Material Physical Protection, Control and Accounting” which is realized at MEPhI since 1997 to create the new International Master of Science Program “Technical Aspects of Nuclear Material Safeguards and Non-proliferation” for training the specialists not only for Russia but for CIS and others countries. During this activity it is possible to use the MEPhI expirience in this field (methodology, students manuals, laboratory student manuals and et.al.) and laboratory created at the MEPhI during the last 6 years. This new educational program have to satisfy to international standart for Master os Science level of education.

119

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/4

STUDENTS EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR SLOVAK NPP

J. Lipka, V. Slugen, J. Hascik, M. Miglierini Slovak University of Technology, Slovakia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Preparation of operating staff for nuclear industry is and also has to be one of the most serious education processes mainly in the Central-European countries where about 40-50 % of electricity is produced in nuclear power plants. In the central-European Region exists a very extensive and also effective international collaboration in nuclear industry and education. Similarly good situation is also on the level of universities and technical high schools in this area. Slovak university of technology Bratislava established contacts with many universities in abroad in utilization of research and training reactors. Slovak University of Technology is the largest and also oldest technological university in Slovakia. Surely more than 50% of high-educated technicians who work nowadays in nuclear industry graduated from this university. Its importance increased in the last few years because after political changes there is a small interest in study at Russian and Czech universities, where traditionally a lot of technicians graduated in the past. In every specialisation there are fixed number of compulsory subjects. Also each of 17 Departments offers a group of optional subjects, from which every student can choose a subgroup of courses that interest them most and relate to their future specialisation. Some optional subjects can be studied at another university or university abroad. Excellent students from all specialisations can surely find jobs in nuclear industry, but for the operating staff it is recommended to study Power Plant Engineering and Power electronics. There is a possibility (beside the obligatory subjects) to choose a batch of 12 optional subjects focused on peaceful use of nuclear energy. Individual works of students (annual projects, diploma theses) in which they consult the independently earned knowledge with supervisors and experts from practice is very important [1]. An extension of total study-length to 5,5 years created space for more precise elaboration of diploma thesis. In addition to regular academic education we perform post-gradual courses: “Safety aspects of NPP operation”. The main goal is to increase safety culture of NPP operation and target groups are operation staff of NPP, NRA officers, nuclear safety specialists – all graduated from technical universities with at least two years practice in nuclear industry. On international level we organised the 4 weeks “IAEA Regional Training Course on Safety, Management and Utilization of Research Reactors” which was held in Bratislava (Slovakia) and Vienna (Austria) during March 05-30th 2001. IAEA in co-operation with the Department of Nuclear Physics and Technology of the Slovak University of Technology and the Atominstitut of Austrian Universities Vienna prepared and realized this training course with the aim to train junior staff from research reactors in various aspects of safety, management and utilization of research reactors. All participants had to have at least 4 years experiences in operation, management, utilization or regulation of research reactors. Lectures covered the topics in nuclear design and operation, neutron physics, reactor physics, health physics, dosimetry, reactor instrumentation, fuel management decontamination procedures, preparation of experiments at research reactors and others. Beside theoretical part of the course, the practical exercises at TRIGA II reactor in Vienna constituted an important part of training. The course was held in English for participants from 6 countries (Slovakia, Russia, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Turkey) and

120

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/4 thank support of IAEA was fully provided with textbooks and laboratory guides. This year we take part via students and 2 professors the second run of the Eugene Wiegner course establishing in frame of ENEN project. According to international experiences obtained during the last 3 years, we created The Slovak Nuclear Education Network (SNEN) which is supervised at our Department. Coordination of nuclear education is essentially important on the regional level. Several specific features characterize education system in nuclear power engineering in Slovakia. Many of them were caused due to previous development in this field. Nevertheless, this system achieved certain level of quality, which has been confirmed not only through IAEA missions, but also in technical activities of organizations functioning in nuclear area. Slovak University of Technology is ready and would like to contribute to this system also in the future and hopefully on the international level [2].

REFERENCE

[1] SLUGEN, V., KUCHTA, L., DUGOVIC, M., URBAN, F., Preparation of operating staff for the nuclear power plant, EE - Odborný èasopis pre elektrotechniku a energetiku, 4 5 (1998) 52 (in Slovak). [2] SLUGEN, V., LIPKA, J., HASCIK, J., STU Education Program in Nuclear Physics Focused for Nuclear Industry Needs. Physics Education, 17 (2000) 13.

121

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/5

DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR EDUCATION AND SPECIALISTS TRAINING IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

K. Namazkulova Kazakhstan Center of Nuclear Technology Safety, Republic of Kazakhstan

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The problem of nuclear education and personnel training for the Kazakhstan nuclear- industrial complex is a very important issue. Earlier the nuclear physicists and engineers for Kazakhstan were generally qualifying in the leading institutes of the Russian Federation. After the USSR collapse in the independent Republic of Kazakhstan a number of new nuclear subdivisions at the existing institutes and appropriate laboratories in the different regions of the country were implemented. For instant, for nuclear engineers training the new curricula – Nuclear Reactors and Power Facilities - was created by the Shakarim Semipalatinsk State University. On the base of the L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University the Astana Branch of the Institute of Nuclear Physics was organized. The purpose of this affiliate is conducting of fundamental and applied studies on solid state physics, nuclear physics, radiation environmental problems and knowledge-intensive technologies. As well as the proposal before of the Government of Kazakhstan about implementation the specialized faculty for professional training of specialists for nuclear industry by the K. Satpaev Kazakh National Technical University was initiated. Besides the two sub-divisions of the Institute of Nuclear Physics are creating in the two intensively developing areas of the Republic - West-and East-Kazakhstan regions. As well as the two laboratories of this institute were opened in the places where the nuclear weapon tests were conducted - former Semipalatinsk test site and the Azgir test site- that will be used for personnel training. Republic possesses of a number nuclear facility (One nuclear power reactor - BN-350 (now under decommissioning), four research reactors and a few accelerating units) that widely using in nuclear science development as a whole and high-qualified researchers training in particular. For many years these facilities playing a role of the integrating factor between science, education and nuclear technology. One of the examples of integration of science with education in Kazakhstan is implementation of the Inter-disciplinary Research Complex at the L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University. The core facility of the complex will be the DC-60 cyclotron of heavy ions. It is suggested that the facility will be used for development of nuclear technologies, science and knowledge- intensive business and for training of students and postgraduates. Design of the DC-60 cyclotron is fulfilled in co-operation of Kazakhstani and Russian scientists and it will be put into operation in 2006..

122

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/6

PROPOSITIONS OF NUCLEAR ISSUE EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

J. Turlo, K. Przegietka, K. Sluzewski, Z. Turlo Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Besides renewable energy forms, the nuclear energy seems to be of the greatest importance now. Recently the nuclear technology has developed almost in all domains of human activity. Unfortunately, common knowledge about physical processes involved in the nuclear energetics and furthermore, about the specific, nuclear radiation effects on the living tissues, is still very poor among the secondary and university students. We can find proofs for this statement in everyday situations and in the literature [1,2,3]. Thus, we should take every opportunity to speak about the complex nuclear problems, and that much more of the school time should be spend on teaching radioactivity phenomenon. We should acquaint students both with benefits and risks of the nuclear energy applications. Knowledge is certainly the cheapest way to prevent any nuclear danger! Taking this into account we designed the proposition of projects aimed at increase of nuclear issue knowledge and awareness among teachers and students: • Project RADONET. • Computer aided investigations of radioactivity with the use of GM detector. • Competition “Radioactive World”. • Distance lecture on “Radioactivity Around Us”. The main objective of project RADONET (RADON + NET) was concentrated on answering the question: Radon in our homes - is the risk acceptable? It was based on the concentration of radon investigations in indoor air, ground and drinking water and in the vicinity of TV and computer screens, made by the science teachers from Torun. In our opinion, the knowledge about radon and its health risk should be implemented to the interdisciplinary science education as early as possible. Thus, inspiring by English and Hungarian researchers [4,5] we propose the method of environmental education related to the radon issue. In collaboration with 35 science teachers from different regions of Poland educational research project RADONET for students was performed [6,7]. The concentration of radon was measured by the use of passive method (TASTRAK detectors). For communication of researchers, teachers and students as well for discussion of the obtained results e-mail, WWW pages, etc. were used. As the result we created the preliminary map of radon concentration in Poland made by students and we got the evidence that the increasing number of teacher and pupils wish to take a part in this kind of educational investigations. Since the phenomenon of radioactivity was discovered by Henry Becquerel, Marie Curie- Sklodowska and Pierre Curie we know, that the “ionizing radiation” is around us. It can be the stream of particles of the distinct kind – alpha, beta, protons, ions, neutrons and stream of high energy - X or gamma rays. But, naturally some problems arise: where does this radiation come from, how long does it live, is it dangerous to the human body, can we measure its amount and behaviour? In this paper we report our attempt to answer mainly the last question. For this purpose we designed and constructed computer controlled Geiger-Mueller counter with the dedicated software to measure ionising radiation intensity. The menu of the software contains the following options: characteristic of detector, intensity of the ionising radiation

123

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/6 and its dependence on distance and type of absorbing material as well as statistical distribution of ionising radiation [8]. Last year, tribute to the 100th anniversary of Maria Curie-Sklodowska Nobel Prize, we organised the competition for educational projects under the general title Radioactive World. The competition was addressed to Polish teachers and their pupils. The Award Committee received 44 projects from upper and lower secondary schools. Knowledge and methodical level of all projects was very high. Most of them engaged not only the science subjects teachers but also specialists of literature, history and art. The committee awarded 15 projects which were the most original and their results were presented to the wide local community by press, radio and TV. The results of the best projects: original lessons plans, posters, WWW pages, computer animations were presented at the conferences and workshops addressed to science teachers and will be published in the methodical resource page of Education of Physics Laboratory. The use of distance teaching and learning is increasing dramatically in all sections of educations and training all over the world. We would also like to explore its potential for teaching radioactivity issue. For the exemplary lecture we selected the topic “Radioactivity Around Us”. First of all we prepared scenario of this lecture and elaborated all necessary educational materials with the use of ICT methods and tools. For presenting the lecture to the science teacher trainers from EU countries we used LearnLinc 6.02 software obtained due to the STEDE (Science Teacher Education Development in Europe) project, within the group 10a, synchronous distance education. By the interaction and discussion with our session participants we got experience sufficient to create the wider database of resources, which we are planning to make for the network of science teachers learning on distance from our University. REFERENCES

[1] NACHTIGALL D., Kernenergie in der Schule, Dortmund, 1986. [2] CONFORTO A., Giova A., Signorini C., The nuclear issue and school, Phys. Educ., 24, 1989. [3] PAZMANDI T., et al, The Hungarian youth’s opinion about the nuclear energy, Proc. of Int. Symp. on Radiation Education, ed. Ujvari S., Universidad Bolivar, 2003. [4] CAMPLIN G., Henshaw D., Lock S. and Simmons Z., Phys. Educ., 23, 1988, 212. [5] TOTH E., Radon monitoring in schools, Energy and risk, ed. Marx G., 1989. 175. [6] TURLO J., et al, RADONET - Proc. of Information Technology in School Conf., Lublin, 1996, 412. [7] TURLO J., et al, Ionising radiation in electric and electromagnetic fields, Proc. of Int. Symp. on Radiation Education, ed. Ujvari S., Universidad Bolivar, 2003.

124

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/7

ABOUT OPPORTUNITY AND ADVANTAGES OF ADAPTATION THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION OF EXPERTS ON ATOMIC ENGINEERING SPECIALTY IN ODESSA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY TO THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

A. Mazurenko Odessa national polytechnic university, Ukraine

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Education of experts on atomic engineering specialty in Odessa national polytechnic university proceeds almost thirty years and differs by stable traditions. On one hand there is wide set of specialties which covers practically all personnel updating needs of Nuclear power stations. There is experts on operation equipment of Nuclear power station – first of all for reactors, turbines, steam generators; physics and ecologists; experts on water and fuel technologists, automation of the Nuclear power station. On other hand the education on these specialties was carried out according to the curricula, which differed, by reasonableness, logical structure and sequence of studying disciplines. Theoretical preparation combined with practical training on operating Nuclear power stations allowed to get experts education level of which was adequate the requirement of major industrial branch of the country. High level of a professional training at university proves to be true because the majority of executives of Nuclear power stations, Department of Atomic power engineering and industry of Ukraine, and executives of many Nuclear power stations of Russia are graduates of this school. Rapprochement of systems of education of experts of Ukraine and Europe, including for nuclear branch, in the modern integrated world is inevitably. And thus it is necessary to take into account possessed experience of advanced European and World countries and Countries of the East Europe - Russia, Ukraine. Because of affords of Ukraine to join Bologna process in sphere of education and preparation of experts it’s necessary to create working group with the attraction of foreign experts from different countries in order develop general conception of professional training for such important branch of energetic as nuclear which would allow not only to use achievements and experience of these countries but also to increase them.

125

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/8

YOUNG GENERATION IN ROMANIAN NUCLEAR SYSTEM – ROMANIAN NUCLEAR ORGANIZATIONS IMPLICATION IN NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AT UNIVERSITY “POLITEHNICA” OF BUCHAREST: RESULTS AND EXPECTATIONS

E. N. Ghizdeanu, M. C. Dumitrescu, A. R. Budu, A. O. Pavelescu

University “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest, Power Engineering Faculty ,Nuclear Power Plant Department, Romania

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The knowledge management should be assumed by the major players within the nuclear community: government, industry and university. Starting from these problems this article gives an overview about Romanian nuclear knowledge management and the Young Generation implications. In Romania there are many government and non-government nuclear institutions such: CNCAN (Romanian Regulatory Body), ROMATOM (Romanian Atomic Forum), AREN (Romanian "Nuclear Energy" Association), and companies: SNN (“Nuclearelectrica” SA National Company), CITON (Centre of Technology and Engineering for Nuclear Projects), SCN (Institute for Nuclear Research ), ROMAG - PROD ( Romanian Heavy Water Plant). All these institutes and companies are sustaining the national nuclear program and promoting the new technologies in the nuclear industry according with CNCAN and ROMATOM regulations. University “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest - Power Engineering Faculty – through Nuclear Power Plant Department is the promoter of nuclear knowledge management. It is implied in assuring and maintaining a high – quality training for young staff. Young Generation is implicated in nuclear knowledge management through University “Politehnica” of Bucharest - Power Engineering Faculty – Nuclear Power Plant Department and AREN (Romanian "Nuclear Energy" Association). Young Generation Department has special educational programs for attracting and supporting students. It provides adequate information and interacts with potential students. Moreover the article gives results about Romanian nuclear engineers since 1970 till now. An analysis of these data is done. Also it is discussed how University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, the Romanian Government and the Industry work together to co-ordinate more effectively their efforts to encourage the young generation.

126

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/9

BUILDING AN INTEGRATED NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND NUCLEAR SCIENCE HUMAN RESOURCES PIPELINE AT THE IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY

A. Sneed, B. Sikorski Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) United States of America

M. Lineberry Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (INSE) and Argonne National Laboratory United States of America

J. Jolly Idaho State University (ISU), United States of America

Email address of main author: [email protected]

In 2002, the US Department of Energy (US DOE) transferred sponsorship of the INEEL and ANL-W to the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology and designated the INEEL and ANL-W as the nation’s lead laboratories for nuclear reactor and nuclear fuel cycle research and development. This transfer acknowledged the laboratories’ history, infrastructure, expertise and commitment to collaborate broadly in order to fulfill its assigned role as the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development. Key to this role is the availability of well-educated and trained nuclear engineers, professionals from other disciplines of engineering, nuclear scientists, and others with advanced degrees in supporting disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and math. In 2005 the INEEL and ANL-W will be combined into the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). One of US DOE’s objectives for the INL will be for it to take a strong role in the revitalization of nuclear engineering and nuclear science education in the US. Responding to this objective for the INL and the national need to rejuvenate nuclear engineering and nuclear science research and education, ISU, University of Idaho (UI), Boise State University, the INEEL, and ANL-W are all supporting a new Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (INSE), initially proposed by and to be administered by ISU. The Institute will rely on the resources of both universities and the INL to create a US center for reactor and fuel cycle research to development and attract outstanding faculty and students to Idaho and to the INL. The Institute and other university based education development efforts represent only one component of a viable Human Resources Pipeline from university to leading edge laboratory researcher. Another critical component is the successful integration of new graduates into the laboratory research environment, the transfer of knowledge from senior researchers, and the development of these individuals into world-class engineers and scientists. The INEEL Education Initiatives Department, housed in the Human Resources (HR) Directorate believes a highly integrated systematic approach from university to laboratory is necessary to the effectiveness of the pipeline. Currently, a refocusing of INEEL educational programs including scholarships, fellowships, internships, faculty exchange, and educational outreach programs is being conducted under the direction of the Education Director and a executive level Education Advisory Council. Additionally a mentoring program is under development to facilitate the integration and transfer of knowledge from senior researchers to incoming graduates.

127

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/9

While internal alignment efforts are underway, external alignment efforts must now be planned and developed. Anxious to learn from the experiences of others, INEEL’s HR Directorate, the INSE, ANL-W, UI, and ISU will conduct a review of national and international best practices and case studies found in academic and industry literature to identify programs and approaches that might be applied to the INL and the subsequent opportunities and issues that they might represent. It is proposed that the results of this collaborative study be shared with the IAEA in paper and presentation format at the International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management: Strategies, Information Management and Human Resource Development. A brief outline of the proposed paper and presentation follows: I. Introduction a. Brief discussion of the historical role of the US DOE and national laboratory role in nuclear energy research and education. b. Brief discussion of the current state of US nuclear energy education. c. Explanation of the expected role of the INL in revitalizing nuclear engineering and nuclear science education in the US. II. Current collaborative efforts to build components of an HR pipeline from education through full integration into the research environment and transfer on knowledge from senior researchers. a. Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering and other university/laboratory education collaborations. b. Laboratory based educational and mentoring programs refocus and alignment activities. c. Laboratory mentoring program as a knowledge transfer mechanism. III Identification of practices, programs, and strategies found in a review of national and international best practices and case studies found in academic and industry lititure that may assist the INL with the revitalization of nuclear engineering and nuclear science education in the US. IV. Discussion of the opportunities and challenges these practices will represent from both the laboratory and university perspectives. V. Presentation of recommended strategies and practices that could guide the INL as it seeks to integrate and facilities its partnerships with the INSEA and other universities. The work upon which this proposed paper is based will be completed by early July 2004. The paper will be prepared and ready to present by the September IAEA conference, should it be accepted.

128

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/10

THE QUEST FOR NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY AND THE CHALLENGES OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

A. Mundu, A. M. Umar Energy Commission of Nigeria, Nigeria

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The setting up of the Federal Radiation panel in early sixties signified the awareness in Nigeria of the application and dangers of nuclear radiation. This initiative was further reinforced with the establishment of the Federal Radiation Protection Service in 1964, that same year Nigeria joined the IAEA thus opening a window for technical assistance in nuclear application for national development. The enactment of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission Act in 1976, the launching of National Nuclear Programme and the designation of Obafemi Awolowo University and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria as centers of excellence in nuclear research in 1977 marked the beginning of a systematic development of manpower and physical infrastructure for the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology in Nigeria. Within the first ten years, the centers trained over 60 Nigerians up to PhD level in different areas of nuclear science and engineering in institutions in Europe and America. Now the pioneering scientists train Doctorate and masters degree students locally at the centres. Currently, research, training and application of nuclear science and technology are carried out in 36 Federal and State Universities in departments such as physics, chemistry, geology and agriculture. In 2003, the center at ABU produced 8 MSc, 6 PhD thesis and published 15 research papers. We also have 27 specialized research institutes in areas of agriculture, health, water resources, petroleum and environment, a number of health institutions where some form of ionizing radiation are used; with thousands of diagnostic X-ray units and five radiotheraphy centres in operation. The progress made so far in the last 40 years is quite modest, nuclear science and technology are now widely used in research, development and practical application for national development. It is worthy of note here that IAEA has been involved and played significant role in our quest for nuclear technology. A major challenge arising from this development, is the collection, harvest and disseminating of the widest possible information and knowledge accumulated over the years. The resolution on nuclear knowledge by the IAEA General Conference in 2002 and 2003 and the recommendations and new guidelines by an INIS external evaluation panel, has given us the impetus to evaluate our activities and reposition the INIS center toward responding to this challenge and the emerging trend in knowledge management. In doing so we refocus our mind on two key areas of INIS operation in our Centre; Collection of relevant material and preparation of input; Our membership obliged us to make contribution commensurate with the level of activities within our borders. INIS has developed over the years as the World’s leading information system in nuclear science and technology through the coordination of IAEA and the cooperation of member states. Promotional Activities are fashioned out to facilitate the attainment of the goals set for nuclear energy in the national energy policy within the framework of our National Development Objectives, through the establishment of an information resource capable of meetings the needs of our scientists and engineers. A necessary step toward this end is to build a network

129

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/10 of universities and research institutes in nuclear science, that will be use to pool, analyze and share national nuclear knowledge and experience, address preservation and promotion of knowledge, maintain competence and avoid duplication wherever necessary. Target sets for 2004 on the two key areas are; • Contribute 0.5-1.0% of the total input to INIS as against 0.0159% in 2003 • Reach out to 5000 potentials users. • Digitization of Environmental Impact Assessment Report on Energy Project (1995– 2003) Steps taken so far; • Assignment of 4 staff, 3 workstations and a scanner with OCR capability for the INIS center • Capacity building for input preparation using available resources from INIS secretariat such as INIS CBT • A survey covering larger percentage of academic departments especially physics has been instituted to bring the staff and students into INIS fold. In addition information flyers on INIS incorporating a survey instrument were developed for distribution to participants at seminars, workshop and conferences with some relevance to the subject scope of INIS. • Avenues to cover renewable energy activities in the country are under consideration through the development and publication of a Newsletter, focussing on the objectives of INIS. Funding is required in all of our activities options we are considering include; • development of products and services that can attract funding from such institutions as Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Education Tax Fund • development and sales of INIS marketable products. • the support of IAEA in areas such as expert mission, scientific visit, and fellowship.

130

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/11

NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA

A. A. Gevorgyan Department of Atomic Energy, Armenia

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The need in nuclear knowledge in Armenia arose in late 60-s of the last century when the decision was made to start the construction of the first nuclear power plant in our republic, which would be also the first in the whole Trans-Caucasian region. Although all the basic design, construction and mounting activities were performed by several All-Union organizations, Armenia was in need of its own specialists to be involved into the works of construction and putting the power unit in operation. That is why the Armenian specialists were being sent to various scientific centers of former USSR for obtaining the appropriate nuclear knowledge by training and staging at nuclear power plants with the same type of reactor. In 1973, in Yerevan Polytechnic Institute, a new specialty was established at the Department of Energy. More than 10 people from Armenia were sent to Moscow and other cities of former Soviet Union to study as post-graduates in the field of nuclear energy with the further getting their PhD degrees. It was to provide Armenia with domestic teachers - trained personnel experienced in this area of knowledge. The same year, based on one of departments of the Science-Research Institute of Energy, the “Nuclear Energy Science-Research Department” was created, which further became a branch of All-Union “Science-Research Institute for NPPs Operation” of Moscow. Now its name is “Armatom”. In 1983, the “Atomseismoproject” institute was established, and in 1987 – the “Atomservice” facility, both had a very important task to provide servicing and be in adhesion with the new built Armenian NPP. The above mentioned institutions were established in Armenia because at that time it was planned to build nuclear power plants in Georgia and Azerbaijan too. After the Armenian NPP was shut down in 1989, the need for nuclear power specialists in Armenia decreased, and the specialty “Nuclear Power Plants and Installations ” was cancelled in the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute. After the collapse of the USSR, the scope of works that were performing by Armenian nuclear organizations on an All-Union scale, was reduced, and the nuclear knowledge had become unclaimed. The year 1993 might be considered the year of rebirth for nuclear knowledge in Armenia, because the decision to restart Unit 2 of the Armenian NPP was made in that very year. The specialty “Nuclear Power Plants and Installations” was resumed, and the Polytechnic Institute has nowadays its annual output of 12 -15 graduates with the diplomas of “ NPPs specialists”. Moreover, the new specialty was also established for studies at the Yerevan State University – the “Physics of Nuclear Reactors”, with the annual graduation of 4 -5 specialists. The ANPP support functions of “Armatom”, “Atomservice” and “Atomseismoproject” were restored. Those and some other institutions were involved into the large-scale activities related with the ANPP restart. “Atomseismoproject” re-evaluated the seismic conditions of the ANPP site. Now the institution is providing the services also for the nuclear power plants of Russian Federation. The “Atomservice” participated in works on elaboration of inspection and testing programs for the plants. “Armatom” elaborated and implemented a compact training simulator, multifunctional training simulator, as well as participated in works on Probabilistic and Deterministic Safety Analysis development for Unit 2 of Armenian NPP.

131

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/11

In 2000, the “Nuclear and Radiation Safety Research-Technical Center “, intended to enforce the process of licensing, was established at the ANRA. It can be said, that the nuclear knowledge in Armenia is on a rather high level nowadays.

132

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/12

THE NEED FOR NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN THE NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY IN A LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY: THE HAITI CASE

A. Belfort Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Haiti

Email address of main author: [email protected]

As All specialist recognizes it knowledge management refers to issues related to organizational adaptation, survival and competence in the context of a discontinuous environmental change.. It concerns also organizational process seeking synergistic combination of data and information processing capacity of the technologies of information with the capacity of human beings. Knowledge management in this sense implies not only organizational and technology processes but involves also human resources development. Our intervention in the context of this forum will focus around a planned INIS project that has been submitted to the Agency for the cycle 2005-2006 and the synergistic ties it can develop with a nuclear knowledge management policy for Haiti. Haiti is the sole least developed country of Latin America and the main challenge it faces is that of reducing poverty. The population of Haiti is around 7.900.000 inhabitants; In terms of annual per capita income the estimated indigency line for 1996 was $160 per year and the poverty line was around $ 220; 2/3 of the rural households fell under the indigency line and 20% only of the population exceeded the poverty line. Main causes of this situation are: land erosion, water scarcity, degradation of the environment, lack of the competitiveness of the economy, lack of electricity etc In all these areas the nuclear techniques can contribute to solve the problem of poverty in Haiti by fulfilling the need to sustain the valuable human resources under the dire circumstances of the local economic conditions. By taking account of the recent efforts of the Government to enhance the manpower capabilities there is a real need now to manage the scarce resources so that they can be retained, expanded and eventually multiplied. Under this perspective the Haitian Government is applying a strategy seeking to involve all the sectors concerned by the peaceful applications of nuclear techniques. After 3 years of diffusion of information, there’s a growing interest now for nuclear issues in Haiti. But Haiti need to go further than that. It means by example establishing a true national policy for nuclear issues. In this perspective some requirements are needed: a strong and sustainable human base in nuclear area by example. In this context the Government of Haiti has presented a project to the Agency related to the installation of an INIS National Center database. This project will contribute in depth to the implementation of a national nuclear knowledge management programme. The general purpose of this project is:” to interest young people in Haiti to studying nuclear science”. That means introducing nuclear sciences in the universities in Haiti in order to create a “critical mass” that will allow Haiti to take off from here to 15 years in the nuclear sciences. Such a consideration means that the Government will have to apply a very strong and clear knowledge management policy. Will it be fruitful to begin such a strategy with the installation of an INIS data base center? We don’t know yet. But the implementation of the INIS national data center project will give a clear idea about the success of a NKM policy in Haiti .Future is not a well given fact; it has

133

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/12 to be constructed. This is the meaning of the hope Haiti’s Government has placed in this planned project that will serve as a platform to launch a national long term nuclear knowledge management policy and programme. As an LDC searching his way toward sustainable development, Haiti needs more than ever a nuclear knowledge management policy and a well definite strategy to implement it. This policy will take in consideration the broad based view articulated in his report by the IAEA June 2001 special mission. His short term outcome will be to securing a material and human base in order to spread nuclear sciences and technologies at the level of the university. In this sense the universities will be at the core of this knowledge management policy because that will allow young generations in Haiti to access and benefit of a high level teaching in nuclear techniques and sciences. The definition and implementation of a nuclear knowledge management policy in Haiti will allow also the sustainability of the results of the cooperation between Haitian Government and the IAEA. .Cooperation in general concern mainly transfer of technology and this transfer should be embodied strongly in the mind of the scientists, technicians and decisions makers. This is why a clear and sound information management policy will be implemented all along with a nuclear knowledge management policy and that synergy will begin on the field straight after the installation of a national INIS Data Center at the end of the year 2004.

134

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/13

ISCTN: CUBAN STRATEGY FOR REPRODUCING, PRESERVING AND DEVELOPING THE NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE

L. L. Elías Hardy, F. G. Martínez, O.E. Rodríguez Hoyos., A. L. Núñez Higher Institute of Technologies and Applied Sciences, Cuba

Email address of main author: [email protected],[email protected]

Actually, one of the problems in the changing world is the preservation of the knowledge for the next human generation, because the information grows and grows up very rapidly. In the case of nuclear activities, the accumulated scientific and technological experiences, not only thinking on nuclear power plant, are to be preserved taking into account the challenges of the present century, in which, one is witness of new applications in different areas of society. The aim of this contribution is to present the Cuban approach for reproducing, preserving, developing and capturing the nuclear knowledge through a higher education center. This is the case of Higher Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Technologies, one of the Cuban universities. The second goal is to show the role-play by the national network in the preparation of the Manpower and in the continuity of the studies demonstrating how is possible to increase the qualification of personnel when different kinds of centers participate and collaborate with the releasing of the nuclear culture to other fields. The necessity of nuclear professionals to assume the Cuban Nuclear Program was the principal reason for the government to begin the preparation of personnel on nuclear topics. Since the decade of 1960, a small group of physic and engineering students was prepared in Cuba and in the Soviet Union. Later, in 1981, the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (FCTN), in Havana University, was created with the mission of reproducing the Cuban nuclear system. At the beginning the Faculty was devoted to prepare the manpower for the future nuclear power plant; later, the Institute moved to other tasks related, mainly, with the preparation of personnel for nuclear applications. The nuclear application in Cuban economy was growing. In 1987, the FCTN was separated from Havana University and it became Higher Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (ISCTN). Its mission is the preparation of nuclear professionals with high qualification, able to respond to Cuban Nuclear Program. In 1992, the situation in the world changes and it was necessary to stop the construction of nuclear power plant, in Cienfuegos. The Cuban government decided to continue the preparation of nuclear professionals. At that moment, it was analyzed the key areas of nuclear sciences and technologies: basic sciences, safety culture, management, quality assurance and environmental protection. And it was decided to extend these key areas to other industries and sciences. For that, different Cathedras were created. They began to promote the qualification of working personnel in different industries and centers, including health institutions. In 1994, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) was created by government decision and ISCTN became in the University of CITMA. This institute forms part of the Cuban Nuclear Agency, a network of centers (one production center, two research centers, one center of information and one center of management of radiological wastes). Professionals of all this centers contribute to the reproduction, preservation and development of the nuclear knowledge participating as associate professors or guiding the students in their research works, graduate activities, as well as in Master ship and Ph.D. programs. Other form of reproduction, preservation and development of nuclear knowledge is the collaboration of all these institutions, working together in different kinds of projects in relation to diverse

135

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/13 topics. In order to fulfil the mission, the Institute of Mathematical and Physical Research was incorporated to the Cuban Nuclear Agency. The access of students to the ISCTN is through a rigorous process based on special requirements. With this base, the students are forming as Nuclear Engineer (Energetic and Nuclear Engineering), Nuclear Physics and Radiochemistry. Recently, Meteorology was incorporated to the set of bachelor program [1]. Different kinds of academic program are in the ISCTN: bachelors (5 years), mastery (2 years) and doctorate (3-4 years). In July 2003, the ISCTN changes the name by Higher Institute of Technologies and Applied Sciences (InSTEC) as a result of the development of the center [2]. Conclusion • National networking including Higher Education, Research and Production Centers is a powerful way for capturing, preservation, reproduction and development of nuclear knowledge. • Vertical formation (at graduate level) of Manpower is still valid if one look for a broad profile of output. • The Cuban strategy is a way to increase student enrolment in nuclear activities. Because if the student has a wide profile, he is able to insert himself in the job market, more rapidly and easy to adapt and reorients in the changing world conditions. In this way it is also possible to increase the motivation of the students for nuclear activities. • The nuclear culture is good basis for preparation on Manpower in a comprehensive way.

REFERENCES

[1] GUZMÁN MARTÍNEZ F., ELÍAS HARDY L.L. Y RODRÍGUEZ HOYOS O.E., ISCTN: Nueva etapa de formación de profesionales nucleares de perfil ancho, NUCLEUS No. 30, La Habana (2001) 53-54. [2] BASES PARA LA AMPLIACIÓN DEL INSTITUTO SUPERIOR DE CIENCIAS Y TECNOLOGÍAS NUCLEARES COMO UNIVERSIDAD DEL CITMA, Inf. Int. Dirección del Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, La Habana (1999), 40.

136

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/14

UKRAINE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

I. Kadenko Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine

Email address of main author: [email protected]

After the USSR break down Ukraine had faced with the problem to manage nuclear issues itself without Russia’s support available during the previous times. This caused very difficult time and, as a consequence, decision about Moratorium to commissioning (02.08.1990) new NPP units. Similar situation took place in nuclear science and training of young generation for nuclear field and technology. Many people working in nuclear field both scientific and industrial left Ukraine for other places and better salary. Beginning late 90-th situation was getting improved due to growth of Ukraine economy and when nuclear industry started to work more stable, fuel issues for NPPs were resolved and interest of nuclear facilities to young people started to grow. One of the very active participants working for nuclear science and industry of Ukraine is the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv in general, and the Department of Nuclear Physics and Engineering (DNPE), in particular. Many people graduated after the DNPE in the former times do work now successfully at all Ukrainian NPPs, Novo-Voronezh and Balakovo NPPs in Russia, at ENERGOATOM headquarters, State Nuclear Regulatory Committee of Ukraine, in CERN, in BNL, GSI (Darmstadt) Utrecht University (Holland) and other research centers in Ukraine and all over the world. Being established late 40-th last century mainly for military purposes and neutron interaction constant measurements now the DNPE is working in four major directions: 1. Research and training of student in nuclear safety of NPPs; 2. Research and training of students in high energy physics; 3. Research and training of student in neutron physics; 4. Research, training and re-training of staff working in radiation safety. Taking into account [1] the activities at DNPE are mainly covering elements 1&2 of Nuclear Knowledge Management. Since mid of 1990-th till year 2000 there was no even enough young people after secondary school to enter the DNPE, another concept was generated, discussed and approved, according to which the following has been done: • active communication with young people of secondary schools and search for endowed young people; • looking for funding available from other sources since State budget of Ukraine has no specially allocated financing for corresponding support; • development of motivation for students and PhDs to acquire knowledge, to keep this knowledge and to have this knowledge available in Ukraine; • involvement into international projects both at the level of students and professors as well as other researches. As a result of four last years activities work to make the nuclear higher education and research more attractive and self-sustainable the staff of DNPE developed and implemented numerous steps which resulted in enhances level of training and research in nuclear field.

137

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/14

The paper describes the work done and the support of State Nuclear Regulatory Committee of Ukraine and Ukraine Utility ENERGOATOM to develop and manage Nuclear Knowledge in Ukraine at the high level comparable with other countries.

REFERENCES

[1] MANAGING NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE. IAEA Activities and International Co- ordination, October 2003, 24 p.

138

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/15

TOWARDS BUILDING NUCLEAR COMPETENCE OF RADIATION PROTECTION SPECIALISTS

A. Timoshchenko International Sakharov Environmental University, Belarus

Email address of main author: [email protected]

During few last years a giant pool of training materials related to numerous training courses in radiation protection and safe use of radiation sources was produced by IAEA. Almost each of them contains quotations from the nuclear science to provide trainees by the core nuclear physics knowledge sufficient for clear understanding as origination of ionizing radiations as well as its impact on substance. The main tendency of this training material is the utmost simplification of the knowledge using very rough and even not valid models of an atom and a nucleus, origination of radioactivity like Rutherford-Bohr model, equality of proton and neutron masses, etc. In some of training packages the neutrino in beta-decay reactions is omitted. Even taking into account that this material is designated mostly to practitioners who will not develop conceptual matters of the subject and there is a lack of time within the course schedule to deliver more concise knowledge, it is very important, however, to provide trainees by conceptually closed material. It is important because radiation protection specialists should understand clearly why beta spectra are broad, why the half life time of radioactive substance is constant for each kind of a nucleus, etc. to avoid rough expert mistakes when estimating some projects. For instance, several years ago there were some projects towards fast remediation of radioactively contaminated areas in Belarus using chemical reactions to influence on radioactive decay. And, unfortunately, these projects were under serious consideration for some time in radiation protection authorities. To build more competence among non-physicists involved in radiation protection and radiation use structures the non-traditional curriculum for teaching basics in nuclear physics is developed in International Sakharov Environmental University (Minsk, Belarus) for students of university and IAEA PGEC course. The course is started from fundamental structure of matter containing qualitative description of quarks and leptons, fundamental interactions (special attention to the action radius of various forces is paid). The role of conservation laws and basics of quantum field concepts are also essential. After that building a nucleus, its static properties and nuclear reactions are considered within several widespread models. The special attention is focused on fundamental explanation of constancy of half-life time of radioactive elements, on conduction of attenuation law for ionizing radiation beams in matter, etc. Trainees are taught to use simple formulas for quantitative estimations of different effects to make them even orally. It provides to save rigorous approach to explanation of nuclear phenomena and to give trainees the instrument of deep understanding the practical use of ionizing radiations, action of their various sources. The quantum philosophy: “All what is not forbidden can be happened but with proper probability” and understanding the principally random character of radioactive decay are introduced in minds of trainees to give them an instrument of solving many of practical problems. For instance, one should take them into account proposing assurance approach to jugging in a court a suit brought by a worker of atomic power station against his bosses when he has got leukemia. The academic schedule, kinds of lessons and their content is discussed in the report in details.

139

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/16

THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND UZBEKISTAN INIS CENTRE ON ATTRACTING A YOUNG GENERATION INTO THE NUCLEAR AREA

M. Kadirova, M. I. Salimov, V. I. Ananchenkov, L.G. Gurvich, T. S. Tillaev, R. B. Trofimova Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Uzbekistan

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The Institute of Nuclear Physics was founded in July 1956 as part of Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences. The Institute of Nuclear Physics situated 25 km from the city center of Tashkent is the leading Institution carrying out the researches in the fields of fundamental investigations on the problems of nuclear physics, solid state and semiconductors physics, radiochemistry, radiation safety ecology and environmental sciences, especially environmental protection. At present the Institute has different operating facilities, namely, nuclear 10 MW research reactor WWR-SM, U-150 and U-115 cyclotrons, gamma-irradiation facility, neutron generator and radiochemical complex. Today the Institute, being one of the largest research organization in Central Asia, has 6 departments, 19 laboratories, computer centre, INIS Centre of Uzbekistan, scientific library, and three enterprises: “Radiopreparat” (isotope production), “Tezlatgich” (cyclotron isotopes), Design and Machinery Bureau. All these facilities and skilled staff of the Institute allow take part in nuclear knowledge management activities by following concrete articles. Institute of Nuclear Physics AS RU participates in International projects of IAEA, INTAS, STCU, DOE US, SCOPES, GIA and in bilateral collaborations with Sandia National Laboratories, Argone National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory of USA. Institute works in close cooperation with such Governmental organizations as Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan, Safeguarding of State Security, Ministry of Agriculture Technique and such industries as Almalyk Mining & Metallurgical Complex, Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Complex, Uzbek Complex of Heatproof and Refractory Metals. Institute with its "Radiopreparat" and "Tezlatgoch" Enterprises are manufacturing labelled compounds and articles for medical and scientific use and exporting these products to CIS, Europe and USA. The list of products includes of more than 60 items. Technologies of production are unique and patented. The quality of the products corresponds to the world demands. Institute regularly hold an International Conferences in nuclear fields such as "Radioisotopes and their Application" and "Modern Problems of Nuclear Physics". In order to attract young scientists to the research works in the field of nuclear physics The Institute develop its own programme on education and training of staff and young generation: In the period of last 3 years, 6 members of staff of the reactor WWR-SM and 1 specialist of the radiation protection service improved their knowledge (in nuclear physics) by attending on the training courses, also 4 specialists participated in the specialized seminars organized by the IAEA. Leading researchers of the Institute are involved in the preparation of the masters, PhD and doctorate students. In 2002, 13 master students, 13 PhD students and 3 doctorate students were trained in the Institute of Nuclear Physics. In new (2003) year 6 masters students of the Tashkent State Pedagogical University were enrolled to have trainings on the specialization

140

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/16 subjects and to prepare their masters dissertations. Institute agreed to provide financial support for 10 National University of Uzbekistan masters (contract) accepted students. Scientists of the Institute deliver lectures in the National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent State Pedagogical University, Tashkent State University of Arts, Tashkent State University of Economics, and give physics, mathematics and chemistry lessons in the lyceum classes of the school 286 of the Ulugbek village. The Small University organized to improve qualification of the young scientists continues its activities. By the initiative of the Small University and the Young Scientists Council of the Institute the special courses and English language courses were arranged. Young scientists of the Institute participate in the international grants. In particular, more than 20 young scientists are participants of 5 STCU and 2 INTAS grants. The Institute countersigned the Friendship agreements with 13 Higher Education Institutions of the Republic. The Institute computer center with e-mail and Internet services, Uzbekistan INIS Center and the Institute scientific technical library in cooperation create an united information complex to provide both scientists of the Institute and bachelor and masters and PhD students of the Tashkent Higher Education Institutions, as well as researches from the other scientific organization of the Republic the opportunity to access the INIS database, Internet and library information. The staff of computer center carries out works in the field of Information Technology, namely create: the specialised system of Internet-Caching of nuclear physics information; marker technology for creating HTM pages; technology of Internet publications of reference data on nuclear physics; electronic nuclear-physics terminological dictionaries and Thesaur and distance learning system. For INIS users convenience the availability and accessibility of NIS Database on CD-Rom by institute local network has performed. The scientific technical library of INP AS RU received the IRBIS software from the SOROS foundation. It is now used for the automation of the library system. However, currently, there is only single IBM 386 computer is installed and members of staff of the library created the electronic catalogues of the theses and dissertations, which are stored in the archive of the library. The library possessing the archive of 250000 items of reference scientific literature In the paper information on “National Programme for the Personnel training”, Nuclear Education in this frame and INP AS RU other concrete activities in Managing of Nuclear knowledge will be present.

141

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/17

RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE IN ACTION

L. Dobrzyñski University of Bia³ystok, Poland

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Department of Training and Consulting was created at the Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies about 7 years ago. Its main goal consists in dissemination of knowledge of nuclear physics and its applications with special emphasis on the use of radiation in everyday life, its biological effects and the risks connected with the use of nuclear radiation. The second important goal is to counteract social radiophobia. Last but not least, is presentation of the scientific and technological achievements of the Institute. The main target groups are secondary-school teachers and their pupils who in spite of various obstacles in organisation of travels to Œwierk, are coming in mass. During last 4 years we accepted more than 20,000 visitors from all over Poland. In addition to lectures themselves and lectures with experimental demonstrations two permanent exhibitions are displayed permanently. One is called “Nuclear Wastes: Problems, Solutions”, the other one is displaying 1:10 model of nuclear power plant (VVER-440-type), both extremely useful in discussing the problems of nuclear wastes, and organisation and use of the nuclear power plants. Very specific place in the Department is quite unique Laboratory of Atomic and Nuclear Physics, dedicated to secondary schools’ students although it is also used by university students and in teachers’ trainings. Number of basic experiments from nuclear physics can be carried out by students, so the very basis of atomic and nuclear physics can be learnt on experimental basis. The experimental park can also be used in any professional courses on e.g. radiation protection. The need of having this type of units at the otherwise research institute is clearly seen by the systematically growing number of visitors, and their demands for educational material. One can also see some direct results: the groups who visited our centre were winning in all-Poland conquest for a project from radioactivity (organised on 100th Anniversary of Nobel Prize for Maria Sk³odowska-Curie), the schools – after visiting us - try to organise their own minisymposia on the radioactivity, the visitors seem to receive proper message about the real risk connected with nuclear radiation. The latter is judged by the fact that very seldom we encounter typical symptoms of radio phobia after the visit to our Department. We are strongly convinced that our work will result in an increased interest of students in physics, and may regain the popularity of nuclear physics among the students. This is necessary if the nuclear energy is going to be developed and used safely in the country. We also believe that similar educational centres, if wherever absent, should be organised in other nuclear centres in Europe and all of them should form a network in which new didactical methods would be worked out and the experience could be easily evaluated and exchanged between the network’s partners. The paper presents motivation, present status, methodology and results of our more than 5- years experience in raising public awareness of nuclear problems in various social groups.

142

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/18

HUMAN RESOURCES FOR THE NUCLEAR SECTOR IN THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER

S. Hassane Ministry of Mines and Energy, Niger Republic

Email address of main author: [email protected]

1. Introduction It is interesting to examine how the need to develop and maintain skills in term of human resources was dealt with Niger’s nuclear sector. Although the country is one of poorest in the world, some insight can be derived from its experience. The Niger politics and strategies for both demand and supply side of human resources in the nuclear sector are to promote tangible socio-economic impact to the achievement of major sustainable development priorities. Member state of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 1968, Niger was started during the same year, its nuclear activities by extraction and processing uranium from open pit mine of SOMAIR. With 2960 tons of uranium from two big mines , Niger becomes the 3rd world producer. Training and education are critical components of the development of human resources related to the nuclear sector in Niger Republic. The country has gone through a number of initiatives to consolidate its legal framework concerning radiation safety .The National Centre of Radio Protection (NCRP), under the Ministry of Heath, is operational and is responsible for national regulatory activities programme, while the Ministry of Mines and Energy regulates uranium mining and milling activities. Both regulatory authorities need to develop their human resources to be able to inspect users and enforce regulatory requirements in all areas. 2. Human resources suppliers In order to establish a pool of competency, mining companies send their workers to France for education and training. Incentives (good social condition, salaries etc) were provided to attract people to work in nuclear programme. Many foreign professionals were short-term consultants, but many of them are employed by the companies, forming a pool of well-skilled and motivated professionals. One way that was used to enhance and maintain the pool of trained professionals was the technical co-operation with the IAEA In this regard, we thank IAEA who has assisted Niger Republic to train more than 200 people from 1980 to 2004. The main field of training includes: • General atomic energy development; • Nuclear physics; • Prospecting, mining and processing of nuclear material; • Nuclear engineering and technology; • Application of isotopes and radiation in agriculture; • Application of isotopes and radiation in medicine; • Application of isotopes and radiation in industry and hydrology;

143

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/18

• Safety in nuclear energy. A second method that was used to increase the trained human resources was the development of local training centre and programme : • A comprehensive training programme for radiation protection was put in place by the uranium companies . It consists of refresher training courses and on-job training , with the aim of keeping personal at all levels updated on innovations and technology developments. • The Radio-Isotopes Institute Centre (IRI) provides courses of post-graduate degree (DEA) by course work and research report in the field of nuclear applications (Nuclear medicine, Agronomy, Nuclear physics). • The National Centre of Radio Protection (CNRP) is supposed to provide training in radio protection. Due to some administrative problems , the training is not yet stated. 3. Human resources users The main sectors using manpower comprising the need for human resources are as following: • Extraction and processing of uranium (Ministry of Mines and Energy, MME); • Human heath (Ministry of heath, MSP/LE); • Water resource management (Ministry of hydraulic, MES/ST), • Research and development (Ministry of high education, MES/ST).

Organisational Flowchart

PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC

PRIME MINISTER

MAE/C MSP/LE MES/ST MHE/LD MRA MDA MME

DRE

Hopitaux CNRP IRI LABOCEL INRAN DD SAME Cominak Somair ME

144

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/18

4. Difficulties The major impediments in nuclear development in Niger remain: • The lack of trained technical and management personal who have adequate experience and skills to deliver quality services; • The absence of appropriate planning mechanisms; • Ineffectual regulatory performance; • Non-appropriate technical competence in radiation protection and safety matters at all level; that means at workers , employers and regulatory level; • Lack of national inspectors and material of inspection; • Lack of clear vision, strategic plans and managerial skills • Lack of career patting for personal; • Lack of well-tested surveillance systems and other security measures for the safeguarding of the nuclear materials and radioactive sources. 5. Conclusion The important role in the development of human resources played by the Ministry of Mines and Energy in its capacity of national co-ordination, as well as its planning and programming function need to be enhanced and streamlined further in order to achieve better impact of technical co-operation. Both regulatory authorities, users and suppliers of human resources need to develop their competence. The Government should be encouraged to continue to strengthen its regulatory framework so that it can be self-sustaining. In the addition to the important matter of education and training, it must be pointed out that maintaining competence needs more effort that just excellent training programmes. One key element is generally an intelligent use of the knowledge through good management

145

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/20

DEVELOPMENT OF NPP PERSONNEL TRAINING SYSTEM IN UKRAINE

V. Tarykin KhNPP, Ukraine

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Modern personnel training and retraining system is a guarantee of NPPs safe reliable operation. NPPs personnel's training is conducted at Kyiv and Odessa Polytechnic universities, Sevastopol Institute of Nuclear Energy and Industry. Since the time when independence of Ukraine was proclaimed personnel training system was created directly at NPPs. This system is based on the latest legislation framework, developed subject to IAEA recommendations, gained international experience in the field of personnel training in view of increased demands to personnel qualification. Training Centers, formed at each plant, form one of the main components of NPP personnel training. Total number of personnel at these centers is 436 persons, including 160 instructors. Personnel's training at Training Centers is performed in accordance with standard programs. At that, special consideration is given to maintaining qualification of the licensed personnel. Simulator training base was created by joint efforts of specialists from the USA, Russia and Ukraine. In 1993 the first in Ukraine full scope simulator of the main control room began to work at Zaporizhzhya NPP. The simulator is designed for acquiring by personnel of skills in reactor control under normal operation, off-normal conditions and emergency situations. In 2002 the second full scope simulator was put into operation at Zaporizhzhya NPP. Now the development of the third full scope simulator is on going. In December 1997 a similar simulator was put into operation at Khmelnitsky NPP. In May 2001 a full scope simulator for Rivne NPP unit ¹ 3 personnel training was put into pilot operation. In 2002 one more VVER-440 simulator for units ¹1&2 was put into operation at Rivne NPP. In 2000 Zaporizhzhya NPP obtained first license to initial and continuing training for operating personnel. Now all NPPs Training Centers have obtained similar licenses. Establishing manager training system and replacement reserves for National Nuclear Energy Generating Company "ENERGOATOM" (NNEGC "ENERGOATOM") managerial personnel, including training program and training materials development, teachers' selection and training, is under way. NNEGC "ENERGOATOM" tries to bring its personnel skills to the internationally accepted level through creation of all conditions for NPPs personnel training and qualification upgrading, scientific technical support of nuclear installation on the basis of National Academy of Sciences, ministries and departments.

146

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/21

REQUIRED COURSES FOR NUCLEAR GRADUATE PROGRAMS: COULD ONE FIT FOR ALL?

A.A.Canella Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Certainly two research jobs in nuclear area may differ as black differs from white. Accordingly, the development of a common academic background for different scientists involved in Nuclear studies have been a challenge for academic boards in institutions where graduate programs are available in Nuclear or Nuclear-related fields. Taking a look at some of them, we can identify Nuclear graduate programs having one only compulsory course – workload from 60 to 120 hours to introduce and to form the foundations of Nuclear Sciences for a wide range of professional backgrounds - physicists, engineers, chemists, biologists, physicians, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists and agronomists. Consequently Nuclear Theory itself, its concepts and ideas have been presented by this induction course covering the general background on introductory level intending to be more friendly comprehensible for heterogeneous student bodies. Additionally, following a current directive emphasized in the last years in many countries, graduate programs generically have limited coursework requirements in order to reduce the time expectation of earning degree. Occasionally deeper courses in Nuclear Theory have not been taught due to their non- compulsory status that has resulting in low demand, not enough to set up classes. The sum of these facts sometimes may hold back physicists, chemists and engineers to deepen their knowledge on specific matters of Nuclear Sciences especially those demanding significant skills on Differential calculus and Physics. Although graduate programs on Nuclear Sciences vary from an University to another, there is a common question to be replied by Nuclear Community: What actions should be taken to improve on quality in Nuclear graduate programs forming Nuclear scientists whose are expected to carry out research that will make a significant contribution within one area of Nuclear Sciences?

147

IAEA-CN-123/04/P/22

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS TO SUSTAIN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN CAMEROON

A. Simo, J.B. Nyobe Ministry of Scientific and Technical research, Cameroon

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Cameroon as a Member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has made full use of the Agency’s Technical Co-operation Programme in his effort to promote peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology at national level. This paper presents the progress made in the development of reliable human resources. Results obtained have been achieved through national and regional technical co-operation projects. Over the past twenty years, the development of human resources in nuclear science and technology has focused on the training of national scientists and engineers in various fields such as crop and animal production, human and animal nutrition, human health applications, medical physics, non destructive testing in industry, groundwater management, maintenance of medical and scientific equipment, radiation protection and radioactive waste management. Efforts made also involve the development of graduate teaching in nuclear sciences at the national universities. However, the lack of adequate training facilities remains a major concern. The development of new training/learning methods is being considered at national level through network linking of national training centres with existing international training institutions, and the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) which offer great flexibility with regard to the number of trainees and the actual needs.

148

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/1

EUROPEAN MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NUCLEAR ENGINEERING

F. Moons Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie•Centre d'étude de l'Energie Nucléaire Belgium

J. Safieh Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, France

M. Giot Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium

B. Mavko Jozef Stefan Institut, SI-Ljubljana, Belgium

B. R. Sehgal Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

A. Schäfer Technische Universität München, Germany

G. van Goethem European Commission

W. D'haeseleer Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The need to preserve, enhance or strengthen nuclear knowledge is worldwide recognised since a couple of years. Among others, "networking to maintain nuclear competence through education and training", was recommended in 2001 by an expert panel to the European Commission.(EUR 19150 EN). It appears that within the European university education and training framework, nuclear engineering is presently still sufficiently covered, although somewhat fragmented. However it has been observed that several areas are at risk in the very near future including safety relevant fields such as reactor physics and nuclear thermal-hydraulics. Furthermore, in some countries deficiencies have been identified in areas such as the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle, waste management and decommissioning. To overcome these risks and deficiencies, it is of very high importance that European countries work more closely together. Harmonisation and improvement of the nuclear education and training have to take place at an international level in order to maintain the knowledge properly and to transfer it throughout Europe for the safe and economic design, operation and dismantling of present and future nuclear systems. To take up the challenges of offering top quality, new, attractive and relevant curricula, higher education institutions should cooperate with industry, regulatory bodies and research centres, and more appropriate funding from public and private sources. In addition, European nuclear education and training should benefit from links with international organisations like IAEA, OECD-NEA and others, and should include world-wide cooperation with academic institutions and research centres.

149

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/1

The first and central issue is to establish a European Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering. The concept envisaged is compatible with the projected harmonised European architecture for higher education defining Bachelors and Masters degrees. The basic goal is to guarantee a high quality nuclear education in Europe by means of stimulating student and instructor exchange, through mutual checks of the quality of the programmes offered, by close collaboration with renowned nuclear-research groups at universities and laboratories. The concept for a nuclear master programme consists of a solid basket of recommended basic nuclear science and engineering courses, but also contains advanced courses as well as practical training. Some of the advanced courses also serve as part of the curricula for doctoral programmes. A second important issue identified is Continued Professional Development. The design of corresponding training courses has to respond to the needs of industry and regulatory bodies, and a specific organisation has to be set up to manage the quality assessment and accreditation of the Continued Professional Development programmes. In order to achieve the important objectives and practical goals described above, the ENEN Association, a non-profit association under French law, was formed. This international association can be considered as a step towards the creation of a virtual European Nuclear University symbolising the active collaboration between various national institutions pursuing nuclear education. Based on the concepts and strategy explained above, and with the full co-operation of the participating institutions, it may be stated that the intellectual erosion in the nuclear field can be reversed, and that high quality European education in nuclear sciences and technology can be guaranteed.

150

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/2

PRESERVATION OF NUCLEAR TALENTED EXPERTS IN JAPAN BY COOPERATION OF INDUSTRIES, RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND UNIVERSITIES

H. Mori Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, Japan

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Nuclear power accounts for about 35% electric power generation in Japan, playing an important role of energy supply. In addition, a commercial scale reprocessing plant is under construction. A real nuclear fuel cycle is imminently close at hand in Japan. COP3 in Kyoto in 1997 called for every country’s fight against global warming. Nuclear power in Japan is expected to take another important role from this viewpoint, too. In order to play these expected roles, it is absolutely needed to preserve nuclear talented experts, by maintaining, succeeding and newly developing nuclear technologies. The Atomic Energy Commission of Japan also points out in its report on "Long-Term Program for Research, Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy" that research-and- development activities are very important to motivate young researchers and engineers who might choose to take nuclear careers. However, young generation capable students seem to avoid majoring nuclear engineering in view of nuclear industry uncertainties in future caused by stagnated Japanese economy since 1990, liberalization of electricity markets, future electricity demand modest forecasts, matured light water reactor technologies, and repeated nuclear accidents inside and outside the country, etc. Aging research facilities at universities are another demotivating element of causing the reduction of qualifiable students. Consequently, preservation of knowledge and expertise is becoming a big concern for future. According to the survey conducted by the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) over two years since 2002, participated by the members from nuclear industries, universities, research organizations, electricity industries, nuclear plant suppliers and construction contractors, as well as the questionnaire sent to students, there are various issues for preservation of nuclear talented experts in Japan. Although the number of graduates on nuclear engineering is actually about 350 every year, and about 70% of them want to go into nuclear careers, only 1/3 of them can find jobs. For these reasons, despite the importance of nuclear energy and needs of capable students, fewer students go to the nuclear engineering field due to reduced job opportunities. This in turn has led to the lowered popularity of the nuclear engineering departments in universities. Industrials have concerns about preservation of their own nuclear expertise under a circumstance of reduced On-the-Job-Training (OJT) opportunities due to fewer plant installation projects. The JAIF analysis report compiles following proposals: 1) To diminish the quantitative and qualitative imbalance between supply and demands of capable human resources; 2) To develop new technical fields for the application of nuclear technologies so that researchers and engineers of next generations be attracted; and 3) To build up a new network system for nuclear human resources development by education and training through cooperation of universities, research organizations and industries.

151

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/2

The new proposed system in the JAIF report, the Nuclear Educational System network (NES- net), has two main pillars: (i) to share the information on the nuclear human resource development between industries and research organizations; and (ii) to strengthen the graduate school systems jointly operated by universities and research organizations, by sharing expertise resources. The first pillar of constructing the information database about human resource development is underway between the industries and research organizations. Plans of joint operations of graduate courses are also being specified in nuclear engineering by various research organizations and universities. The Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) and the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) will be integrated into one new nuclear research-and-development organization by 2005. Human resources development for future is prescribed as one of the new organization’s missions. Cooperation with universities is expected more than ever. JNC has already inaugurated specializing courses such as back-end technology jointly with state- owned universities. Universities are also under changing circumstances. Being reformed into incorporated administrative agencies, state-run universities are seeking for challenging and attractive research topics to attract capable students. One approach is to operate joint courses with industries or research organizations. The paper reports other examples of activities for preserving nuclear expertise currently practiced or planned in Japan.

152

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/3

INDUSTRY, UNIVERSITY AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE CHALLENGES FOR NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IN CANADA

R. M. Mathur University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE), Canada

Email address of main author: [email protected]

This paper describes the outcome of an important recent initiative of Canadian nuclear industry to reinvigorate interest in education and collaborative research in prominent Canadian universities. This initiative has led to the formation of the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE), incorporated in 2002. During the recent past, the slowdown in nuclear power development in Canada has curtailed the demand for new nuclear professionals down to a trickle. Without exciting job opportunities in sight the interest of prospective students in nuclear education and research has plunged. Consequently, with declining enrolment in nuclear studies and higher demand from competing disciplines, most universities have found it difficult to sustain nuclear programs. As such the available pool of graduating students is small and insufficient to meet emerging industry demand. With nuclear industry employees’ average age hovering around mid-forties and practically no younger cohort to back up, nuclear industry faces the risk of knowledge loss and significant difficulty in recruiting new employees to replenish its depleting workforce. It is, therefore, justifiably concerned. Also, since nuclear generation is now the purview of smaller companies, their in-house capability for mid- to longer-term research is becoming inadequate. Recognizing the above challenges, Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited have formed an alliance with prominent Canadian universities and undertaken to invest money and offer in-kind support to accomplish three main objectives: • Reinvigorate university-based nuclear engineering research by augmenting university resources by creating new industry supported research professorships and supporting research of other professors. • Promote enrolment in graduate programs by supporting students and making use of a course-based Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) Program that is taught collectively by professors from all supported universities and which can be completed through part- time studies. • Create a pool of nuclear expertise in universities that can be accessed by public and governments for impartial and trustworthy advice. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the Canadian Regulator, and Candu Owners Group are also participating in UNENE activities. Nuclear industries have linked with a select group of Canadian universities agreeable to committing to nuclear research and education and seeking investment from governments to match cash and in-kind contributions from industry. The University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) was thus created involving universities of McMaster, Queen’s, Toronto, Waterloo, Western Ontario and the new University of Ontario Institute of Technology. These universities are recipients of funds for setting up NSERC-UNENE Industry Research Chairs in Nuclear Engineering. Also, Ecole Polytechnique and the University of New Brunswick, supported respectively by Hydro

153

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/3

Quebec and New Brunswick Power, and Royal Military College - operating a joint graduate program with Queen’s University, are participants in UNENE. The following Industrial Research Chairs are either in place or approved to start within the next few months. In each case there is a provision for hiring a junior Research Chair. • Dr. John Luxat, Nuclear Safety Analysis and Thermal Hydraulics, McMaster University • Dr. Rick Holt, Advanced Nuclear Materials, Queen’s University • Dr. Roger Newman, Nano-Engineering of Alloys for Nuclear Power Systems, University of Toronto • Dr. Mahesh Pandey, Risk-Based Life Cycle Management of Engineering Systems, University of Waterloo • Dr. Jin Jiang, Control, Instrumentation and Electrical Systems of Nuclear Power Plants, University of Western Ontario. Progress is being made to find a candidate and define a research program for an Industrial Research Chair: • Knowledge Management, University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Each of the above six NSERC-UNENE Industrial Research Chairs are tenured positions, funded at $2.0 M or more for first five years. The Chairs may be subsequently renewed. A large number of graduate students are already enrolled with Professors Holt, Jiang and Pandey. In anticipation of receiving Ontario Council of Graduate Studies accreditation for the course- based M. Eng. Degree in Nuclear Engineering, the following courses have already been offered to a typical class of 20 students. • Reactor Physics • Nuclear Plant Systems and Operations • Nuclear Reactor Safety Design • Thermal Hydraulics In addition to these, courses to be offered in near future include: Engineering Risk Analysis; Reactor Chemistry and Corrosion; Nuclear Materials; Control, Instrumentation and Electrical Power Systems; Nuclear Waste Management; Fuel Management; Health Physics/Radiation Protection; Power Plant Thermodynamics; Codes, Standards and Jurisdictions; and Business Management. M.Eng. Courses are delivered in flexible format to suit distant faculty and part-time students. UNENE, an industry driven partnership of nuclear industry, universities and governments, created to address the future challenge of research, education and human resources in Canada, has made an impressive start.

154

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/4

CSNI ACTIVITIES IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER - AN INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

J. Reig, M. Hrehor Nuclear Safety Division, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Committee on Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) was set up in 1973 to develop and co-ordinate the activities of the NEA concerning the technical aspects of the design, construction and operation of nuclear installations insofar as they affect the safety of such installations. Although there is currently no formal "CSNI knowledge management strategy", i.e. defined coherent durable CSNI approach and the appropriate resources for activities related to identification, acquisition, development, dissemination, use and preservation of nuclear safety knowledge and expertise, the CSNI has been actively involved in each of these areas during its 30 years of existence. Review the state of knowledge on selected topics of nuclear safety technology and safety assessment, including operating NPPs experience, with the aim of identification of gaps and future research needs, is one of the main functions of the CSNI. For this the CSNI organises every year a number of topical meetings and workshops on various topics which provide an efficient forum for experts of Member countries to discuss issues of mutual concern and to arrive at consensus views and conclusions. Important facets of the CSNI work involve analysing, interpreting, understanding and summarising existing knowledge coming from various sources. International technical consensus on major topics is materialised through the preparation of the State-of-the-Art Reports (SOAR) and Technical Opinion Papers (TOP). These "situation reports" bring together the latest developments in a given area or give a "snapshot picture" of the international situation regarding a particular issue, stimulate the formation of common understanding, and provide a source of up-to-date information for those countries that may not have an activity in the area. In cases when there is a gap in knowledge which requires additional "development" effort, a special Co-ordinated Programme or an Action Plan is set up by the CSNI to investigate particular complex issues. Another very successful way of knowledge acquisition and development is the establishment of Joint Research Projects. The CSNI joint projects enable interested countries, on a cost-sharing basis, to pursue research or the sharing of data with respect to particular areas or problems. The CSNI realizes how important it is to "know what is known" and where is the knowledge/expertise available, so that it is able to make maximum use of the existing knowledge. This knowledge resides in many different research laboratories of the NEA member countries. To facilitate an access to this international knowledge asset the CSNI has established and keeps maintaining, around existing permanent working groups, a network of experts covering areas such as operating experience, integrity and ageing of components and structures , analysis and management of accidents, risk assessment, fuel safety and human and organisation factors. It is critical for the safe operation of existing NPPs that and necessary research capabilities including experimental facilities are maintained and the knowledge gained is preserved in order to respond timely to new potential safety issues. A substantial quantity of data and information exists related to reactor safety, but it resides in different organizations and countries and in diverse formats. The CSNI recently endorsed a Policy Statement on Data Preservation with the aim to establish the relative importance of data preservation in the overall context of maintaining competence and knowledge. Indispensable part of knowledge

155

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/4 preservation is knowledge sharing, especially with respect to young generation. Many prominent experts involved in the CSNI activities are close to retirement; some are moving to non-nuclear activities. Their knowledge and experience should be transferred to younger specialists. The paper gives a number of specific examples of various CSNI activities, which all together represent, from an international perspective, a significant contribution to knowledge management effort at the national level of the NEA member countries.

156

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/5

THE GERMAN COMPETENCE NETWORK ON NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

B. Kuczera, P. Fritz Karlsruhe Research Centre (FZK), Germany

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The present German energy policy is based on the phase-out of nuclear electricity generation, which means that the last of the currently operating eighteen German nuclear power plants will run until about 2022. While the plants will be shut down one after the other, decommissioning will start together with interim storage of the radioactive waste. The safe waste disposal in a final repository is planned to start around 2030 and may take another two decades, i.e., in Germany nuclear competence is further needed, at least until the mid of this century. Against this background, a high-ranking commission under the direction of the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology evaluated the publicly funded nuclear safety related research and development (R&D) activities in Germany. One of the recommendations made by the commission was the foundation of a Competence Network on Nuclear Technology for an optimum coordination of the remaining nuclear activities including aspects of future human resources in this area. This Network was established in March 2000 with the following member institutions: Research Centre Juelich, Research Centre Karlsruhe, Research Centre Rossendorf and the Gesellschaft fuer Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) in Munich and their neighbouring Technical Universities. The strategic objectives of the Competence Network include: • Trend investigations on job development and on university education capacities in the nuclear technology sector; • Enhanced cooperation of the Research Centres with universities in the nuclear field and support of international education initiatives (e.g. ENEN, WNU); • Coordination and bundling of the activities in publicly funded reactor safety and waste management R&D programmes; • Support of qualified young scientists and engineers (pre-doctoral students) – also by third-party funds; • Participation in and collaboration with international projects and activities for advancements of international nuclear safety standards (EU, IAEA, OECD-NEA). In the full paper, these objectives will be outlined in more detail, actual problems will be addressed and illustrated and first approaches to certain problems will be described.

157

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/6

THE ASIAN NETWORK FOR EDUCATION IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY (ANENT)

F. Amin Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT), Malaysia

R. B. Grover Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), India

K. W. Han Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, The Republic of Korea

R. Hewamanna Atomic Energy Authority, Sri Lanka

Email address of main author: [email protected]

The per capita electricity availability in the Asian region is below the world average. Nuclear energy is considered by several countries in the region as a potential source to meet their growing energy demand. Thus, there is likely to be a great expansion of nuclear power in the Asian region. Additionally, as the economies in the region expand, there will be an increasing role for isotope and radiation technologies in the health care, agriculture, and industrial sectors. The growing demand for power and non-power applications of nuclear technologies would require a sustainable supply of well-trained nuclear workforce. The Asian Network of Education in Nuclear Technology, ANENT in short, was established in February 2004 in response to this need. The state of nuclear education in the region is at different levels in different countries. This diversity provides an opportunity for sharing of knowledge and resources. ANENT will facilitate cooperation in education, related research and training through: • Sharing of information and materials on nuclear education and training; • Exchange of students, teachers and researchers; • Establishment of reference curricula and facilitating mutual recognition of degrees; and • Facilitating communication between ANENT members institutions and other regional and global networks. By focusing on education, ANENT complements existing activities undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and supports IAEA activities for the preservation of nuclear knowledge. ANENT is a comprehensive initiative in education and training in that it will give equal importance to power and non-power technologies, thus meeting the diverse needs of the countries in the Asian region.

158

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/8

THE ROLE OF NETWORKING FOR NUCLEAR EDUCATION

P. Gowin International Atomic Energy Agency

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Nuclear knowledge is the basis for almost all nuclear activities. Education and training are the most fundamental means to transfer knowledge from one generation to the next. The paper gives a working definition of “nuclear knowledge” and reviews the history of nuclear knowledge, it’s accumulation over past decades and trends in it’s dissemination – either favouring networking and sharing knowledge, e.g. for sustainable development, or restricting such sharing, e.g. in the case of commercially used knowledge. In the past years, a number of trends and questions in nuclear knowledge, education and training have emerged. With declining student enrolment numbers and a general stagnation of the use of nuclear power in some of the IAEA’s Member States, the issue of a slow erosion of the knowledge base and the possibility of loosing knowledge has become increasingly important, in particular if seen against the background of a possible renaissance of nuclear power in the future. In other Member States, an expansion of nuclear power is expected, with a corresponding need for human resources. As a result, in many Member States education and training of the next generation and succession planning have become key issues. Several actions are being taken in the nuclear education and training sector, ranging from governmental programs to industry recruitment efforts, but most importantly a trend to increased networking and sharing of resources and facilities has become apparent. After a brief overview about the theory of networking, network types and characteristics, the paper presents selected networks in nuclear education and training as examples, including the IAEA initiative Asian Network for Education in Nuclear Technology (ANENT). Based on a review of the key factors leading to the success of those networks, it can be concluded that networking already is a key element in shaping the nuclear educational sector, and that networking nuclear education and training can be expected to become even more important in the future. Networking contributes to efficiency, sharing of resources, the effectiveness of programs, the timeliness of responses, to quality control, and to stabilisation and flexibility in the nuclear human resource sector. Nuclear Knowledge – an analysis 1.1 History of Nuclear Knowledge Military and commercial purpose favour not to network. sustainable development contrary. Recently more networking. Agency foundation as network. 1.2 Where does nuclear knowledge reside? 1.3 Working definition for nuclear knowledge 1.4 Ageing workforce 1.5 Loss of knowledge? 1.6 Universal character of technology knowledge 2 Networking – what’s that? 2.1 Networks as connections of elements 2.1.1 Networks of information 2.1.2 Networks of people 2.1.2.1 Formal networks 2.1.2.2 Informal networks

159

IAEA-CN-123/05/O/8

2.1.3 Means of exchange One can exchange either people or information.

160

IAEA-CN-123/05/P/1

IMPLEMENTATION OF EUGENE WIGNER TRAINING COURSE AT UNIVERSITY “POLITEHNICA” OF BUCHAREST POWER ENGINEERING FACULTY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DEPARTMENT

E. N. Ghizdeanu University “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest, Romania

Email address of main author: [email protected]

“Eugene Wigner Course” training Course for Reactor Physics Experiments has been supported by the 5th Framework Programme of the European Commission, and it has been integrated in the ENEN (European Nuclear Engineering Network) program. This project has been prepared for the future European Nuclear Education schemes and degrees. Starting from a general presentation of the course this paper presents my opinion as a former student about the course impact. There is presented my opinion about the following: • The content of theoretical courses, • The usefulness of the textbook, • The content of the practical experiments, • The usefulness of the textbook for the practical experiments, and evaluations. Moreover, parts of this course were implemented to my seminars. Results and also expectations and conclusions about the usefulness of the course are presented.

161

IAEA-CN-123/05/P/2

THE BELGIAN NUCLEAR HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORK

F. Moons Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie•Centre d'étude de l'Energie Nucléaire Belgium

W. D'haeseleer Katholieke universiteit Leuven, Belgium

M. Giot Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium

Email address of main author: [email protected]

BNEN, the Belgian Nuclear Higher Education Network has been created in 2001 by five Belgian universities and the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN) as a joint effort to maintain and further develop a high quality programme in nuclear engineering in Belgium. In a country where a substantial part of electricity generation will remain of nuclear origin for a number of years, there is a need for well educated and well trained engineers in this area. Public authorities, regulators and industry brought their support to this initiative. In the framework of the new architecture of higher education in Europe, the English name for this 60 ECTS programme is "Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering". To be admitted to this programme, students must already hold a university degree in engineering or equivalent. Linked with university research, benefiting from the human resources and infrastructure of SCK•CEN, encouraged and supported by the partners of the nuclear sector, this programme should be offered not only to Belgian students, but also more widely throughout Europe and the world. The master programme is a demanding programme where students with different high level backgrounds in engineering have to go through highly theoretical subjects like neutron physics, fluid flow and heat transfer modelling, and apply them to reactor design, nuclear safety and plant operation & control. At a more interdisciplinary level, the programme includes some important chapters of material science, with a particular interest for the fuel cycle. Radiation protection belongs also to the backbone of the programme. All the subjects are taught by academics appointed by the partner universities, whereas the practical exercises and laboratory sessions are supervised by researchers of SCK•CEN. The final thesis offers an opportunity for internship in industry or in a research laboratory. More information: http://www.sckcen.be/BNEN

162

IAEA-CN-123/05/P/3

REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER REFINEMENTS

B. J. Chung Cheju National University, Korea

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Concerns are raised world-wide on the sustainability of nuclear society due to the ageing of nuclear manpower, coming massive retirements of senior workers within the next several years, declination of nuclear education and training, as well as the shortage of nuclear manpower supply. These concerns were reflected in the international activities such as the OECD/NEA report on the nuclear education and training [1] and the IAEA conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management [2]. Many more follow-up activities are currently being formulated and implemented. The OECD/NEA published a report concerning the declination of nuclear education and training organizations [1]. Regardless of the accuracy of the statistical data cited, it introduced the issue to the international society in a timely manner. It investigated into the problem of worldwide deterioration of nuclear education such as decreasing number and dilution of nuclear programs, decreasing number of students taking nuclear subjects, lack of young faculty members, and ageing research facilities. Also, the report came up with a set of recommendations to the responsible bodies of governments, industries, and universities. However lacking active measures to implement the recommendations such as international policy-making, budget allocation and strong commitment of the agency, only a few countries have been influenced by the report and many more countries are either still ignorant of or ignoring the recommendations. The IAEA held the Nuclear Knowledge Management Conference with the premise of massive retirements of the first generation nuclear experts [2]. An immediate need to preserve existing knowledge in nuclear science and technology was recognized and a unanimous consensus was reached on the IAEA’s obligations to lead activities towards preservation and enhancement of nuclear knowledge. It also resolved top priority and additional activities. However the difference in nuclear knowledge lost by retirement and by layoff should have been distinguished. The activities seemed to have been formulated and their priorities seemed to be given lacking in understanding about the difference. The IAEA seems to be digressing further from the nature of the issue. The problem of massive retirements of the first generation nuclear experts was changed to nuclear knowledge preservation, which was changed again to nuclear knowledge management covering almost all of the information related technologies. Based upon the above personal speculations of the international activities and the Four Season Model proposed by the author [3], proposals for further refinements of the nuclear knowledge management activities are suggested. The Four Season Model describes the fluctuation in the nuclear industry from the 1950’s to the 20th Century. First, a more precise definition of nuclear knowledge is needed. The nuclear knowledge that can be lost by retirements or lost by layoffs should be differentiated and activities should be devised to tackle the issue directly for the maximum usage of societal resources. Without a precise definition of nuclear knowledge for each specific field, the nuclear knowledge management activities will have to cover every aspect in the nuclear world. Secondly, a comprehensive and frank review of the current international activities should be followed to see if we are a) preparing for massive retirements, b) seeking nuclear knowledge transfer to the next generation, c) seeking accumulation of all the nuclear knowledge in an

163

IAEA-CN-123/05/P/3 ample form, d) attaching our programs to an international program, or e) just increasing the international collaboration activities. Thirdly, if the problem we are discussing is related to a life cycle model or a Four-Season Model of manpower demand and supply, then we have to devise ways to achieve an equilibrium in manpower demand and supply lest we should discuss the same issue again in 40 years. Fourthly, in the discussion of the sustainability issue, both experienced seniors and responsible young generation should both be privy to the available information. A good policy is generated from the blending of different voices instead of listing all the voices from just one party. If only the senior officials from organizations have the opportunity to attend these conferences, it will lead to the lack of participation from the young generation who will ultimately be responsible for carrying on the nuclear society. Finally, if we are to prepare for massive retirements in the future, then the nuclear knowledge that should be preserved and transferred to the next generation such as the experience, management, supervising skills, and international politics. These cannot be simply documented or uploaded to cyber space. A mentoring program or a shadow delegation program is needed to transfer that knowledge. REFERENCES

[1] NUCLEAR EDUCATION AND TRAINING: CAUSE FOR CONCERN, OECD/NEA (2001) [2] SUMMARY REPORT FOR SENIOR LEVEL MEETING ON NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, IAEA (2002) [3] CHUNG, B. J., Growing Concerns on Nuclear Manpower Shortage and Korean Initiatives (Transaction of IYNC 2004), International Youth Nuclear Congress, Toronto, Canada

164

IAEA-CN-123/05/P/5

A CENTRAL EUROPEAN TRAINING COURSE ON REACTOR PHYSICS AND KINETICS-THE “EUGENE WIGNER COURSE” – ORGANISERS VIEW

H. Böck, M. Villa Atominstitute Vienna,Austria

K. Matejka, L. Sklenka Czech Technical University Prague, Czech Republic

M. Miglierini, Slovak University of Technology Bratislava, Slovak Republic

C. Sukods University of Technology and Economics, Hungary

Email address of main author: [email protected]

Initiated by the 5th Framework Programme of the European Commission, the European Nuclear Engineering Network (ENEN) is preparing the future European Nuclear Education schemes, degrees and requirements. To fully utilise the benefits of international co-operation and to promote the knowledge of students in nuclear engineering a 2,5 weeks course has been organised starting in spring 2003 and 2004. The main emphasis of the course is to perform reactor physics and kinetics experiments on three different research- and training reactors in three different locations (Vienna, Prague, Budapest). The experimental work is preceded by theoretical lectures aiming to prepare the students for the experiments (Bratislava). The students’ work will be evaluated, and upon success the students will get a certificate. The finally accepted credit (ECTS) value will be determined by the students’ home university. The ENEN-recommended value is between 6 and 8 ECTS. The more detailed description of the course will be given in the full paper. These courses are an upgraded result of a long-standing similar cooperation between the above-mentioned four institutions in Vienna, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest. The participation was opened to students of any European university, however, basic knowledge of reactor physics theory is requested, and this knowledge has to be attested by a professor of the student’s home university The number of participants is limited to 20. The application is subject of a selection procedure, and may be refused, if the course is already fully booked, or if the selection committee decides so, due to any reason. The quality control and accreditation of ENEN assures that the acquired knowledge of the participants will fulfil the requirements of the European Nuclear Education and fits in the European ECTS system. The cost of the 18 days course is in the range of 2000 €, which includes the tuition fee (utilization of 3 research reactors), textbooks, the accommodation during the time of the course (mostly in student hostels), and the transport between the four countries. These are all organised centrally. The travel to the “starting place” (Bratislava, Slovak Republic) and back to his/her home country is not included in the price, and must be arranged and paid individually. The applicant should also take care about his/her insurance and visa arrangements if necessary. The participants are divided into four groups. During the first week all groups attend the preparatory theoretical courses in Bratislava, followed by a visit to an operating NPP and radioactive waste facility nearby. The second and third week the groups rotate between Vienna, Prague and Budapest, and perform the reactor-experiments. The paper will describe in more detail the contents of the courses at the three research reactors. Emphasis was put on

165

IAEA-CN-123/05/P/5 the fact not to duplicate experiments and to use at each reactor the special training possibilities. It is important to note that each reactor is of different design and power level: Prague-1 kW, Budapest-100 kW, Vienna-250 kW with pulsing capability to 250 MW. This offers a large range of training possibilities and increase the knowledge transfer. The paper presents the experience of two courses as well as the feedback from the students, already the second course had been modified to include suggestions for improvements from the first course. It has also to be mentioned that the two courses would not have been possible without the generous support of the IAEA and CENS. The “Eugene Wigner Course” is a truly international training course in reactor physics and kinetics and an excellent example of international cooperation on a university level.

166

IAEA-CN-123/05/P/6

NUCLEAR SAFETY EDUCATION AND TRAINING NETWORK

J. Bastos, L. Ulfkjaer International Atomic Energy Agency

Email address of main author: j.bastos @iaea.org

Background In March 2001, the Secretariat convened an Advisory Group on Education and Training in nuclear safety (E&T). The Advisory Group considered structure, scope and means related to the implementation of an IAEA Programme on E&T. A strategic plan was agreed and the following outputs were envisaged: 1. A Training Support Programme in nuclear safety, including a standardized and harmonized approach for training developed by the IAEA and in use by Member States. 2. National and regional training centres, established to support sustainable national nuclear safety infrastructures. 3. Training material for use by lecturers and students developed by the IAEA in English and translated to other languages. The implementation of the plan was initiated in 2002 emphasizing the preparation of training materials. In 2003 a pilot project for a network on E&T in Asia was initiated. Preparation of Training Materials A standard training package consists of a set of documents that helps training centres organize a course on a specific topic and helps the lecturers to prepare their presentations. The package contains a manual on organizing courses, viewgraphs with associated text and reference material. In the first 2 years of the strategic plan implementation, standard training packages were prepared on topics where the Agency had organized training activities recurrently. These include safety assessment of NPPs, management of operational safety, ageing of research reactors, emergency preparedness and response for research reactors and probabilistic safety assessment. With the increased availability of personal computers, many workers have access to a computer in the workplace and this has stimulated the development of computer based training tools. At present training tools were created as hypertext modules and as multi-media material with video and PowerPoint presentations synchronized. A special series of multi- media presentations covering the most recent issued nuclear safety standards was initiated in 2003. Textbooks were prepared for the Basic Professional Training Course and for the course on Regulatory Control of Nuclear Power Plants. The first one is a 6 weeks course oriented to young professionals and is designed to provide a basic understanding of the broad range of topics that make up the body of fundamental background knowledge in nuclear safety. The second one is a 2 weeks course oriented to new staff of regulatory bodies. Both courses present the general practices recommended by the IAEA in its safety guidance as well as country specific examples. The standard training course packages, computer based training tools and textbooks are being distributed to Member States upon request. About 4000 CD’s were distributed in 2003. Support on the use of the materials, as well as information on training methods, are being provided through training courses oriented to the trainers - so called ‘train-the-trainers’. Networking

167

IAEA-CN-123/05/P/6

A network of training centres to share experiences and training materials is an essential element of the E&T strategy in nuclear safety. For the Asian region this goal is to be achieved through the establishment of the Asian Nuclear Safety Network (ANSN). The ANSN major functions goes beyond E&T covering as well aspects related to information assessment from knowledge management and communication with the public. This paper focuses only on the use of ANSN as tool that facilitates the communication among training experts and shares training related documents. One of the main elements of the ANSN is an electronic database developed with modern IT technology. The concept is to have de-centralized storage of documents and materials relevant to ANSN and a centralized search and retrieval mechanism, Figure 1. ANSN consist of a number of web servers located in various countries in South East Asia, Europe and USA. Each server holds nuclear training material produced by the country. Each of these servers is referred to as a hub, while the central IAEA server is referred to as the Master Index. As a minimum, each hub has a web server that provides access to the content, however the hub might also have a web site and this web site might also have a search mechanism giving access to the content on this particular web server. The content on the hubs is organized in a structure that has 3 levels: Group, Document and Item. For example: A Group could be a training course; a Document could be a lecture in the training course while an Item could be an element used in the lecture, like a Power Point presentation or a pdf file. All 3 levels of the content are described by metadata. The contents under Group and Document are technically classified using a standard Taxonomy. The Taxonomy is grouped into 3 areas: Technical Area (e.g. Facility Operation & Maintenance), Facility Type (e.g. Research Reactors) and Activity Area (e.g. Emergency Preparedness). The metadata are stored in a database. The metadata for an Item will include a full URL pointing to the location on the web server (hub) where it is stored. By selecting the URL, the related document can be either downloaded or displayed on the screen. The IAEA hub, unlike most other hubs, is holding the metadata for materials stored on all hubs in the ANSN network. This enables users to use only one search engine to search for content located on all hubs. When downloading content from a specific ANSN hub, the user is automatically authenticated on that hub. However, true single sign-on has yet to be implemented. Quality assurance procedures were developed for the data input in an effort to establish common quality measures and to assure minimum standards on the choice and content of materials distributed through the ANSN. The ultimate goal of the ANSN is to facilitate the establishment of a network of experts. This is to be achieved through electronic means (ANSN database) as well as through regular meetings of training experts. In this regard the first workshop of representatives of training centres will be organized in July this year in Japan. The purposes of the workshop are to discuss Member States needs, to assess national training programmes and to launch the topical group (TG) on E&T.

168

IAEA-CN-123/05/P/6

Figure 1: ANSN Schematic representation

The TG on E&T will be constituted of training experts. A moderator from one of the hubs will be designated to coordinate the activities of the group. The mission of the TG is to provide technical support to ANSN activities, serve as forum for information exchange among experts, prepare technical documentation to capture the results, ensure the quality of the material, classify the material and populate the database, consider and respond to feed-back from users and maintain sustainability.

169