Nuclear Security School An IAEA, ICTP and Italian MoFA Initiative Global Partnership WG on Centers of Excellence Miami, 17-18 April 2012 Alicia Mignone Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate for Political Affairs and Security alicia.mignone@esteri.it GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 1
Background (1) ü During the presidency of the G8 in 2009, Italy has highlighted the importance of human capital to fight against the spread of weapons of mass destruction and to diminish the proliferation risks. ü Italy sustained the relevance of human resources training and institutional capacity building in nuclear sector GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 2
Background (2) ü During the Washington Nuclear Security Summit of April 2010, the issue of education and training was mentioned in the Summit Communiqué and was part of the Work Plan approved by the 47 participating nations. ü Within this framework, Italy announced that it was going to organize an International Nuclear Security School to disseminate a Nuclear Security culture in developing countries GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 3
The Nuclear Security School (1) Objectives: ü Strenghtening nuclear security globally and supporting the development of a nuclear security culture at international level ü Increasing awareness of nuclear security issues among future decision makers and encouraging promising young professionals to go for a career in nuclear security. ü Fostering the exchange of experiences and facilitating networking among nuclear professionals around the world GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 4
The Nuclear Security School (2) ü The School was organised in April 2011 by the IAEA, the International Center of Theoretical Physics, in Trieste and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ü The School was also sponsored by the Central European Initiative, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science and the Partnership for Nuclear Security, U.S. Department of State ü The Italian MoFA contributed to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund to sustain the initiative GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 5
First edition of the School on Nuclear Security ü 45 participants from 43 IAEA member states ü ü ü ü First week: international security framework, physical protection regime, design basis threat, latest physical protection devices, security culture, export controls, radioactive sources and related facilities Site visit: demonstration of radiation detection portals Second week: transport security; radiation detection and response to criminals or unauthorised acts. Hands-on exercise led by experts of the European Joint Research Center GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 6
First edition of the School on Nuclear Security (2) ü Great interest for the initiative showed by the number of applications (300) that was higher than the optimal number foreseen by IAEA and ICTP (45) ü The evaluation (feed-back from participants, lecturers and school organisers) indicated that the set of goals were successfully met ü It was recommended that the School be repeated on a regular basis in the future GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 7
Second edition of the School on Nuclear Security ü The second edition will be held in May 2012 ü 207 applications have been received from 50 different countries ü The geographical dsitribution of applicants is as follows: ASIA 36% AFRICA 32% EUROPA 24% LATIN AMERICA 6% AMERICA 2% GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 8
A few words on the ICTP ü The International Center for Theoretical Physics, located in Trieste, in the North East of Italy was created in 1964 on the basis of a tripartite agreement among UNESCO, the IAEA and the Italian government (the Italian contribution to the ICTP is of approx. 80%) ü For more than 45 years, the ICTP has been a driving force to advance scientific expertise in the developing world GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 9
Joint IAEA- ICTP activities (1) ü ICTP has enjoyed the support and partnership of the IAEA since the beginning ü Work together in interdisciplinary applications of nuclear science and technology in areas crucial to socio-economical development. u Energy systems u Nuclear safety and security u Nuclear applications in medicine u Synchroton light for experimental science and applications GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 10
Joint IAEA- ICTP activities (2) ü Cooperation is carried out through: u Joint workshops and scientific events (10-12 per year) u ICTP-IAEA Sandwich Training Educational Programe (STEP) u International School on Nuclear Security u School of Nuclear Energy Management u School on Dosimetry in Diagnostic Radiology u Network of accelerators for sustainable development in Africa GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 11
Conclusions ü A well-known and prestigious institution as ICTP is considered a centre of excellence to advance the scientific knowledge and culture in the developing world. ü Joint activities with the IAEA in a strategic partnership serve as an unique intellectual conduit on subjects related to nuclear science and its applications and help ü to strenghten nuclear safety and security in devloping countries GP meeting, 17-18 April 2012 12