Nuclear science

Overview

The goal of the NEA in this area is to help member countries identify, collate, develop and disseminate basic scientific and technical knowledge required to ensure safe, reliable and economic operation of current nuclear systems and to develop next-generation technologies.

Objectives

• To help advance the existing scientific knowledge needed to enhance the performance and safety of current nuclear systems;
• To contribute to building a solid scientific and technical basis for the development of future-generation nuclear systems;
• To support the preservation of essential knowledge in the field of nuclear science.

Programme of work

The NEA nuclear science programme is developed and executed by the Nuclear Science Committee (NSC), comprising high-level scientific experts from all NEA member countries. The secretarial support to the NSC is provided by the Division of Nuclear Science. Close co-operation with the Data Bank is maintained, primarily because of the potential for mutual benefit to be gained between the programme of work of the Data Bank and the type of activities pursued within the nuclear science programme. The main areas of work are:

• reactor physics;
• fuel cycle physics and chemistry;
• criticality safety;
• material science;
• radiation shielding;
• nuclear data.

Working parties (and expert groups)

• The Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems (WPRS)
• The Working Party on Scientific Issues of the Fuel Cycle (WPFC)
• The Working Party on Nuclear Criticality Safety (WPNCS)
• The Working Party on Multi-scale Modelling of Fuels and Structural Materials for Nuclear Systems (WPMM)
• The Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC)
• Expert Group on Improvement of Integral Experiments Data for Minor Actinide Management (EGIEMAM-II)
• Expert Group on Accident Tolerant Fuels for Light Water Reactors (EGATFL)
• Expert Group on Multi-physics Experimental Data, Benchmarks and Validation (EGMPEBV)

Joint projects

• Thermodynamics of Advanced Fuels – International Database (TAF-ID)
• Thermodynamic Characterisation of Fuel Debris and Fission Products Based on Scenario Analysis of Severe Accident Progression at Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (TCOFF)

Related links

• Nuclear science publications
• Nuclear science documents
• Research and test facilities database (RTFDB)
• NSC members' area (password protected | reminder)

For more information, please contact .

Nuclear science events

Workshop on Building Multinational Fuels and Materials Testing Capacities for Science, Safety and Industry
Paris, France, 4 - 5 October 2018

Fifteenth NEA Information Exchange Meeting on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation
Manchester, UK, 30 September‑3 October 2018

Workshop on Enhancing Experimental Support for Advancements in Nuclear Fuels and Materials
Paris, France, 8‑10 January 2018

NEA/WRPS benchmark workshops (UAM-11, SFR-UAM-3, C5G7-TD-2) held in conjunction with related meetings (CTF-4, AER-D)
Erlangen, Germany, 8‑12 May 2017

Workshop on Nuclear fuel Modelling to Support Safety and Performance Enhancement of Water-Cooled Reactors
Paris, France, 7‑9 March 2017

Fourteenth Information Exchange Meetings on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (IEM P&T)
San Diego, USA, 17‑20 October 2016

Shielding Aspects of Accelerators, Targets and Irradiation Facilities (SATIF), 13^th meeting
Dresden, Germany, 10‑12 October 2016

Third International Workshop on Technology and Components of the Accelerator-driven Systems (TCADS)
Mito, Japan, 6‑9 September 2016

Fourth International Workshop on Structural Materials for Innovative Nuclear Systems (SMINS)
Manchester, UK, 11-14 July 2016

Last reviewed: 21 November 2017