Held virtually on Sept. 23 2020 at the sidelines of the 64th IAEA General Conference, the first ever IAEA meeting discussing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for nuclear applications showcased the ways in which AI-based approaches in nuclear science can benefit human health, water resource management and nuclear fusion research. Open to the public, the event launched a global dialogue on the potential of AI for nuclear science and the related implications of its use, including ethics and transparency.
AI refers to a collection of technologies that combine numerical data, process algorithms and continuously increasing computing power to develop systems capable of tracking complex problems in ways similar to human logic and reasoning. AI technologies can analyse large amounts of data to “learn” how to complete a particular task, a technique called machine learning.

The virtual meeting of National Liaison Officers with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for Europe region was held yesterday in Vienna.
In his introductory address, the Head of The IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation (TC) and Deputy Director General, Mr Dazhu Yang, introduced the new Director of Technical Cooperation Department for Europe (TCEU), Ms Eve-Külli Kala who was appointed on this position almost a month ago. By reminding on the pandemic aftermath that struck almost the entire modern world, powering beyond the health care systems capacities, Mr Yang underlined the importance of the efforts to focus nuclear science and technology towards sustainable development. He continued by pointing out that the IAEA supported 120 IAEA Member States in procuring COVID-19 testing kits, 23 of which were in the region of Europe.

23 September, 2020 – On the margins of the 64th General Conference, the IAEA marked 20 years of the IAEA International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO). Director Genreal of the State Coorporation Rosatom Tech took the opportunity to award distinctions for a significant personal contribution to the INPRO development, and the active global promotion of nuclear technologies. These, which are seen as the ROSATOM’s recognition for the international promotion of nuclear technologies, were awarded to Mr Zoran Drace as the first Head the INPRO Section in the Department of Nuclear Energy at the IAEA, and to two of his colleagues from Germany and the USA.

The delegation of the Republic of Serbia today gave its statement to the IAEA 64th General Conference.
On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, the Deputy Head of Serbian delegation Milan Gojković congratulated the President of 64 the General Conference on his election and welcomed the applications of the Republic of Guinea nad the Independent State of Samoa to the Agency.
The Deputy Head expressed his gratitude on the assistance Serbia had received from the IAEA during the outbreak and rapid spread of COVID-19 virus. He pointed out that 227,286.400 euros worth of equipment for three specialized RT-PCR units significantly upgraded our capacities in the early detection of the infection carriers.

On the sidelines of the IAEA General Conference, the Government of Japan organized a meeting yesterday to overview the decommissioning activities at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reactors, and the activities of remediating and rehabilitating decontaminated areas.

The presentations and video material shown clearly demonstrated comprehensive progress in all segments. The removal of spent nuclear fuel from all reactor pools is underway, while the other activities on the removal of melted nuclear fuel from the reactors are being prepared. There are also apparent steps forward in the treatment and storage of liquid and solid radioactive waste, as well as the activity of keeping groundwater from the soil beneath the nuclear reactors and its subsequent leakage into the ocean. The working conditions have been significantly improved, while the area requiring the use of protective gear has been drastically decreased.