NFI participates in International Conference on Nuclear Safety
During the IAEA Security Conference in Vienna, Dutch organisations involved in nuclear security and safety, including the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), presented their expertise in the Holland Pavillion.
'Small country, high skills'
The conference was attended by more than 1,000 representatives from 150 countries. The Holland Pavillion highlighted the Dutch activities in the field of international nuclear safety and security.
Organisations such as the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV), Delft University of Technology and Urenco demonstrated the broad nuclear expertise that can be found in the Netherlands, including producing and storing enriched uranium, detecting nuclear material, radiation protection, education on nuclear security and innovative (forensic) research.
Forensics in nuclear security
In 2012 the NFI started an international project to improve the forensic analysis of radioactive material and nuclear devices. The project was designed to make it easier for the various international experts involved in this field to work together as effectively as possible.
Finding quick answers to questions such as ‘What happened?’ and ‘Who did it?’ and making a rapid attribution can be crucial in solving or even preventing a nuclear crime. This is because the terrorists may well be planning additional attacks. Finding them before they can do so is therefore a matter of the greatest urgency. To meet this challenge and be able to answer these questions, the NFI brings together specialists from both nuclear science and forensic science, extending forensic skills into the field of nuclear and radiological threats.