68th IAEA General Conference

At the annual Treaty Event on the sidelines of the 68th General Conference, Liberia and South Africa joined multiple multilateral treaties under IAEA auspices. Liberia pledged its commitment to nuclear safety and security by depositing instruments expressing consent to be bound by six legal instruments. South Africa deposited an instrument of acceptance of the African Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), established by African Member States to strengthen the contribution of nuclear science and technology to socioeconomic development on the African continent. 

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IAEA radiation safety experts have once again opened the doors to the Radiation Safety Technical Services Laboratory during the General Conference, showing visitors the equipment and techniques used to protect more than 3000 occupationally-exposed workers per year.  

If you missed the chance to join the tour in person, visit the laboratory on a virtual tour! 

Workers involved in IAEA activities, such as technical cooperation events and peer review missions that involve visits to nuclear power plants, research reactors and other sites that contain nuclear and radioactive material, are sent to the laboratory for internal and external radiation monitoring. This helps to ensure their exposure does not go above safe levels, complying with the recommendations of IAEA General Safety Requirements.  

The visitors to the tour learned about the IAEA’s state-of-the-art technology that can detect, identify and measure radioactive material in and on the human body. This includes the whole-body counter (pictured) — a large and sophisticated steel chamber with high resolution detectors that electronically measure the photon radiation emitted from inside a person.  

They also visited the radiochemistry and in-vitro monitoring laboratories for processing and measuring radionuclides in urine, faeces and saliva, as well as the external dosimetry laboratory, where personal dosimeters are assembled, issued and read. These techniques provide other essential radiation safety services for monitoring internal and external radiation exposure.  

Today, the IAEA showcased how machine learning and similar technologies can be used to collate millions of nuclear documents. 

There is a vast array of published information on nuclear science and technology topics. Since 1970, the IAEA has played a pivotal role in managing many of these publications through its International Nuclear Information System (INIS). The INIS Repository, supported by literature contributions from Member States and international organizations, contains over four million bibliographic records and provides access to more than two million full text documents. Many Member States also have considerable nuclear information archives, and efficiently organizing all of this material can be a challenge.  

In focus was INIS’s NADIA project, which is used to help categorize and index the INIS Repository’s extensive archives. Other applications of NADIA were also discussed, including for uses outside the IAEA’s portfolio. Advanced techniques such as Retrieval-Augmented Generation and large language models were also examined, with in-depth discussions on these nascent technologies.   

Proud to witness the growth from 5 to 10 #RaysOfHope Anchor Centres centres since our last #IAEAGC.
Today, we welcomed 🇹🇭 @IR_Ramathibodi & I look forward to seeing how our efforts in training, innovation, and quality management will continue to strengthen cancer care 🌎. pic.twitter.com/i8To6DmIp6

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 18, 2024

Today, delegates to the IAEA’s annual General Conference were shown a demonstration of how the State Declarations Portal (SDP) can make their safeguards reporting obligations easier to deliver.  

The portal eases the submission and receipt of declarations and correspondence through a secure, multi-layered channel, ensuring timely and efficient communication, and streamlining communication between countries and the IAEA Department of Safeguards.

"Currently, 117 State and Regional Authorities use the portal on a regular basis," said Jess Border, Associate State Declarations Portal Officer in the IAEA Department of Safeguards, during the event. "By reducing paper-based processes, and enhancing instiutional memory, SDP has signficantly improved both the efficiency and security of safeguards-related information exchange with the IAEA"

The IAEA has laid out the ways it is helping to build the future nuclear workforce - as the field is expected to need an additional one million people within the next decade. 

To meet these needs and make significant nuclear power expansion feasible, capacity building and human resource development must be central components of long-term energy planning strategies. 

At the ‘Creating the Future Global Nuclear Workforce through Exchange and Practice: Lise Meitner Programme and Beyond’ side event earlier today, IAEA experts provided an overview of support offered by the Agency, including Knowledge Management Assist Visits, the International Nuclear Management Academy initiative and other human resource development activities. The event also highlighted flagship projects including the Lise Meitner Programme, which was launched in 2023 to provide early- and mid-career women professionals with opportunities to participate in a visiting professional programme and bolster their technical and soft skills, as well as the Open-source Nuclear Codes for Reactor Analysis (ONCORE) initiative, a framework for simulation tools which supports research, education and training for the analysis of advanced nuclear power reactors. 

From seed banks to nuclear medicine to cultural heritage – delegates from the Arab States in Asia have been discussing the achievements of over 60 IAEA cooperation projects over the last 20 years.

At the annual meeting for the Cooperative Agreement for Arab States in Asia for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (ARASIA), participants reviewed the successes since the agreement’s adoption and planned future technical cooperation activities in the region.  IAEA Deputy Director General Hua Liu also launched a new nuclear medicine reference document at the meeting.

Hello and welcome to Day 3 of the IAEA’s General Conference. Today is the second and final day of the Agency’s premier side event – the Scientific Forum, focused on ways nuclear techniques help combat global hunger. You can attend in person or follow on the livestream. The open plenary debate between Member States will carry on continues, as will the closed discussions in the Committee of the Whole.

Our range of exciting side events also continue, from the annual treaty signing event, to discussions on SMRs, a trainee programme for Safeguards, and a presentation of the impact of our flagship cancer initiative Rays of Hope. See here for all today’s side events.

Keep checking this blog throughout the day for updates, photo essays, videos and more.

The IAEA Scientific Forum 2024 kicked off today under the theme Atoms4Food: Better Agriculture for a Better Life. Running alongside the IAEA’s 68th General Conference, the Forum opened with a packed house of over 260 participants, including ministers and food experts from around the world. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi set the tone, highlighting the urgency of the global food crisis and how nuclear technology can offer real solutions. “Countries don’t need more speeches—they need solutions,” he emphasized, pointing to the IAEA’s Atoms4Food initiative, which uses nuclear science to improve agriculture.

From drought-resistant crops to advanced water management, these innovations are designed to boost productivity and sustainability. Key speakers like Abdulhamid Alkhalifa from the OPEC Fund and Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, echoed this sentiment. They stressed the importance of partnerships and innovation, particularly in vulnerable regions like Africa, where food security is a major challenge. As the Forum continues, the conversation will dive deeper into the role of nuclear science in creating a more resilient global food system. Read the full report of the day here. Stayed tuned on Wednesday by following the livesteam!

The IAEA has hosted a panel discussion to showcase how nuclear security networks successfully build capacity and collaboration. 

“While the responsibility for a State’s nuclear security regime rests entirely with that Sstate, the IAEA has a vital role providing an inclusive platform for global cooperation in nuclear security. Establishing networks as communities of practice is part of our efforts to further strengthen international cooperation for nuclear security,” said Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.

The invited event panelists represented the International Network of Front Line Officers and Organizations for Nuclear Security Detection (FLO Network), the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN), and the International Network for Nuclear Security Training and Support Centres (NSSC Network).

Non-nuclear power countries have been learning how to manage the spent fuel from research reactors, as well as disused sealed radioactive sources, at a General Conference side event. Today’s event provided an overview of the factors that go into deciding on spent fuel and source management options, including the cost, environmental impact and human resource requirements, and demonstrated how IAEA tools can help simplify these decisions.

The IAEA has developed several tools, including Back End Research Reactor Integrated Decision Making Evaluation (BRIDE) and Disused Sources Integrated Decision Evaluation Support Tool (DSIDES), to assist in the process of choosing a path forward.

Before the IAEA General Conference even started this year, 44 national representatives of 21 countries attended the annual meeting of stakeholders to the Asian Regional Cooperative Agreement. They gathered to lay the ground work before the General Conference to consider new challenges facing the region and to prepare for the implementation of the next technical cooperation cycle. 

IAEA Deputy Director General Hua Liu stressed the important of close cooperation between the Technical Cooperation programme and the Reional Cooperative Agreement. “This integration will enhance the effectiveness and reach of our efforts, enabling us to leverage our resources for maximum benefit and sustainability.”

IAEA General Conference participants have been taking out their mobile devices to explore the IAEA’s database on discharges of radionuclides to the atmosphere and the aquatic environment, at a side event that demonstrated how the recently upgraded tool supports transparency and monitoring of global discharge data.

During the event, attendees checked out data on discharges from nuclear power plants, reprocessing facilities and research reactors. The presentation showcased the accessibility and functionalities of the database, known as DIRATA, such as the data visualization map and the option to download data for further analysis.  Currently, 24 out of 34 nuclear countries voluntarily provide data on more than 500 nuclear installations for DIRATA, contributing to a comprehensive global resource for tracking discharges. The event also informed visitors on the sources of nuclear discharges and the regulations that control them.  

Every night, around 800 million people go to bed hungry. Every 10 seconds, hunger takes the life of a child. Yet, 1/3 of food is lost or wasted.
This is an obscenity.
At this year's @IAEAorg #Atoms4Food #ScientificForum we’re exploring how nuclear science is helping change this. pic.twitter.com/MToiqmOeC9

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 17, 2024

The IAEA Scientific Forum on improving agriculture and nourishing the future has just begun, on the sidelines of the General Conference. You can watch the opening film here, to get a taste of the ways nuclear science is helping combat global hunger. 

Would you like to see some of the images from yesterday’s opening day of the General Conference? From the opening speeches in the plenary to side events and other key moments throughout the day – check out our selection of the key pics from day 1.

That’s a wrap on the first day of the 68th IAEA General Conference. It’s been a busy and productive day, from welcoming the IAEA’s newest Member States to learning about all aspects of the IAEA’s work, from tackling climate change, to monitoring plastic pollution, helping farmers grow better crops and widening access to cancer care. Find out more about everything that happened today in our Daily Highlights article.  

The IAEA has received more than 36 000 registrations to e-learning courses on radiation protection in medicine, marking a 13 per cent increase since the beginning of this year alone. This growth, highlighted during the 68th IAEA General Conference side event on learning to protect patients, reflects a growing interest in training on radiation protection and safety in healthcare. 

“The education, training, qualification and competence of health professionals are fundamental to radiation protection and safety in medical uses of ionizing radiation, as outlined in IAEA safety standards,” said Chadia Rizk, IAEA Radiation Protection Specialist and e-learning course developer. “These online courses offer accessible and flexible learning, enabling an unlimited audience to access important radiation protection guidance.”  

Approximately 4.2 billion medical radiological examinations are performed annually worldwide, compared to the global population of 7.3 billion people. This underscores the need for robust safety measures and a strong safety culture in clinics and other healthcare facilities. 

The courses are designed for radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and technologists, covering topics such as radiation protection in diagnostic radiology, including radiography, computed tomography and dentistry, as well as in interventional radiology and radiotherapy. The courses also aim to empower other stakeholders, such as regulators, by providing them with the knowledge needed to ensure the safety of patients and staff in medical settings where ionizing radiation is used.  

Courses are self-paced, interactive and available in multiple languages, with certificates awarded upon completion. New e-learning courses and their translations are continually being developed. All are available via the Radiation Protection of Patients website. 

The International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group has just held its annual forum, this time on the topic of shaping a safe and sustainable nuclear future.  

Prior to this general conference, INSAG had formed a task group to assess the challenges and opportunities for the deployment of nuclear technology in the coming decade.  

Members of the task group have now shared their initial ideas on the safety landscape before us. The task group also engaged those attending to share their thinking and ideas on where nuclear energy and technology are headed and the possible implications for nuclear and radiation safety.  

See INSAG’s most recent publication, INSAG-28, Application of the Principle of Defence in Depth in Nuclear Safety to Small Modular Reactors. 

Experts in zoonotic diseases came together in Vienna today to discuss the ways the FAO/IAEA Joint Centre is helping to address drug resistance. The side event highlighted success stories in increasing the capacity of countries to address the challenges of Antimicrobial Resistance (MR) using nuclear and related technologies. Antimicrobial Resistance includes resistance to antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals and more. The IAEA helps countries counter potential pandemics through its Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action Initiative, or ZODIAC.

Atteendees learned about the robust research and development efforts and capacity-building initiatives supporting ZODIAC's mission to strengthen global pandemic readiness. 

At the event, five young scientists from different parts of the world presented their results from a competition highlighting innovative solutions to AMR.

Signed agreement with 🇸🇦 “Women & Energy Association” at #IAEAGC which will strengthen the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme in Saudi Arabia. By leveraging WEA networks & resources, we aim to support more women pursuing careers in the sector—because #NuclearNeedsWomen! pic.twitter.com/MxCWU7NgXj

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 16, 2024

The IAEA has revised up its annual projections for the expansion of nuclear power for a fourth successive year, the Director General said in his opening statement to the General Conference today. World nuclear capacity is now projected to increase by 2.5 times the current capacity by 2050, in the IAEA’s high case scenario, including a significant contribution from small modular reactors (SMRs). The increased projections published in Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2050, released today, aligns with the global consensus on the need to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy. All operating reactors, potential lifetime extensions, possible power uprates, planned shutdowns and expected construction projects in the next few decades were considered in the estimates. The new publication states that achieving the high case scenario for nuclear capacity will depend on enabling factors: national policies, supporting investment, demonstration projects for new reactors, investment in grids, supply chain management, work force development, and regulatory collaboration and global harmonization – particularly for SMRs.

The general debate is about to start in the plenary. Watch it live as high-level speakers from most of the Agency’s 178 Member States deliver their statements. 

Delegates will also consider the Annual Report for 2023. 

 “I am confident that we will look back at 2023 as a milestone in the transition to net zero,” Director General Grossi says in the Annual Report forward.  Read more about the significant activities of the Agency during the past year here.  

As the 68th IAEA General Conference kicks off this morning, the IAEA Member States have now elected their new president – Ambassador Sang Wook Ham from the Republic of Korea. 

The General Conference elects a President at the beginning of each annual session, following consultations among Member States beforehand. They hold office for the duration of the conference. Read more about Ham’s extensive service with the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. IAEA General Conference Elects Korean Ambassador as Conference President