VCDNP/CNS Nuclear Security Professional Development Course

On 4 to 8 February 2019, the VCDNP and the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) conducted its first Nuclear Security Professional Development Course.

Working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Division on Nuclear Security, VCDNP designed the course for representatives of countries that are considering or have made a decision to proceed with the development of their first nuclear power plant, also known as “nuclear-newcomer States”. Of the 20 total participants, most were representatives from their countries foreign ministries, regulators or operators from their national capitals. Some participants were also from the local Permanent Missions in Vienna. During the course week, the participants had an opportunity to attend more than 30 lectures by world-class experts from the IAEA, VCDNP, CNS and other institutions, as well as industry.

Aiming to provide a comprehensive overview on nuclear security, the course topics covered key nuclear security concepts, international instruments and organizations, political and legal frameworks, and opportunities and challenges in addressing nuclear security. Specific lectures included: explaining the synergies between nuclear security, safety and safeguards; analysing potential scenarios of nuclear and radiological terrorism; describing a case study of a country implementing national and international nuclear security norms and recommendations; and discussing the threat and benefits of new technologies. In order to provide the participants with more practical insights into the work and activities of the IAEA, course sessions related to emergency management, materials out of regulatory control, nuclear forensics and responding to incidents involving radioactive material took place at the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre.

At the end of the course, participants completed an anonymous evaluation where most of them highlighted their satisfaction with the course structure and stressed their appreciation for the level of expertise of the speakers. In particular, the following comments were made (quoted as written):

Now I feel confident that I can deliver messages and explain our national obligations to our national regulatory authority in a more effective way.

As a junior diplomat who recently joined the Foreign Service, it helped me a lot to grasp the basic concepts of nuclear security. I hope I will continue to work along this path in years to come.

The one-week VCDNP-CNS nuclear security course was enriching, in- depth and insightful with its mind-blowing paradigms on cybersecurity, non-proliferation and nuclear security, safety and safeguards.

Since I took my post in Vienna I have been reading and trying to put together different aspects of topics covered in IAEA. The course was an excellent tool.

All critical issues in the field of nuclear security have been discussed with all the best professionals in the area.

The course was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The VCDNP also expresses its gratitude to the IAEA Division of Nuclear Security for cooperation in implementing this inaugural course.