Nuclear data are produced by dozens of organisations around the world and shared internationally for the safe operation of nuclear power reactors, waste and reprocessing facilities, and nuclear medicine applications. The most common nuclear data format is the Evaluated Nuclear Data File 6 (ENDF‑6) format. Originally designed for 1960s era punch‑card readers, this format poses artificial limitations, requires legacy programming techniques, and obliges new scientists and engineers to learn outdated techniques.
Recognising the need for a new format that embraces modern computer programming paradigms and can address more sophisticated user requirements, the NEA launched a project in 2013 to review the requirements for an international replacement for the ENDF‑6 format. The project convened experts from major nuclear data evaluation projects worldwide and culminated in a new format specification for a Generalised Nuclear Data Structure (GNDS). Following rigorous international review, the new international standard GNDS 1.9 was published in May 2020.
The NEA is hosting an expert roundtable discussion on the GNDS 1.9, its use, specifications, and the strategic vision of the project moving forward. The discussion will be moderated by William D. Magwood, IV, NEA Director‑General and Dr David Brown, Deputy Head of the United States National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC), Manager of the ENDF Library Project, and Chair of the NEA Expert Group on the Recommended Definition of a General Nuclear Database Structure (GNDS).
Discussants
- Dr Osamu Iwamoto, Head, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) Nuclear Data Center
- Dr Jean‑Christophe Sublet, Head, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear Data Services Unit
- Dr Dorothea Wiarda, Research and development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
- Dr Caleb Mattoon, Scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
- Dr Fausto Malvagi, Senior Expert, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)
The event is free and open to the public, and will feature a Q&A session afterwards. Please note that the number of participants is limited and registrations are on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
Related links:
Specifications for the Generalised Nuclear Database Structure (GNDS)
Nuclear Science at the NEA
NEA Expert Group on the Recommended Definition of a General Nuclear Database Structure (GNDS)
NEA Data Bank
