Nuclear Sciences & Applications

The Major Programme on Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection

The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, under Deputy Director General Werner Burkart, is charged with the implementation of one of the Agency's Major Programmes, called the Major Programme on Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection. The key areas that were identified by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), Johannesburg, 2002, drive the programme. WSSD re-affirmed the Agenda 21 Action Plan and the priorities identified in the Millennium Declaration. Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture and Biodiversity, known as the WEHAB topics, emerged as key areas for action.

Major Programme 2 utilises nuclear and isotope techniques, on their own or integrated with other technologies, to assist in providing unique solutions to helping solve the relevant WEHAB topics. The techniques are utilized in the programmes addressing agricultural productivity and food security, improvement of human health, increased availability of water resources, assessment and management of the marine and terrestrial environments and industrial applications using radioisotopes and radiation technology.

The techniques enhance the contribution of nuclear sciences and applications to sustainable development objectives by strengthening national research and development capacities. Staff in the Department are also responsible for a nuclear science programme located in a Major Programme managed by the Department of Nuclear Energy.

A unique feature of this Major Programme is the experimental contributions provided by the IAEA Laboratories (Seibersdorf and Vienna) and the Monaco Marine Environmental Laboratory (IAEA-MEL). (See Our Laboratories for more information)

The Major Programme is comprised of five individual programmes, in the areas of:

A Strategy for Nuclear Sciences and Applications [pdf]

To implement the programmes the Department has developed a strategy, taking advice from its Standing Advisory Group on Nuclear Applications (SAGNA), which is a group appointed by the Director General of the IAEA to provide programmatic and policy advice on the use of nuclear applications and sciences. Werner Burkart, Head of Department and Deputy Director General, said that the strategy is vital to guide the Department in meeting Member States priority needs in an efficient and effective way. He emphasised that the strategy is intended to be a visionary and flexible tool, setting objectives, defining the means to achieve them and the outcomes that are expected, but at the same time remaining flexible and responsive as situations demand.