Press Releases: Joint U.S.-Nordic Workshop on Nuclear Security and Forensics in the Nordic Region
Media Note
More than 90 nuclear security experts participated in a workshop in Oslo, Norway, from January 17‑19, 2018, to strengthen best practices and promote international cooperation in the field of nuclear forensics.
The workshop, organized by the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA), the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM), and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK), in association with the U.S. Department of State, brought together experts from the region, Europe, United States, International Atomic Energy Agency and Interpol to share best practices and review steps to further strengthen security. They discussed nuclear forensics concepts, techniques, and challenges as well as reviewed a variety of international case studies. The workshop also served to strengthen nuclear security on both the national level and within the broader Nordic region.
Nuclear forensics plays a key role, at both the national and international levels, in ensuring the security of nuclear and other radioactive materials. Nuclear forensic techniques and procedures help law enforcement and prosecutors determine the origin and history of nuclear and other radioactive materials. They also help to eliminate nuclear security vulnerabilities, and regional and international cooperation are critical in that respect. Access to nuclear forensics expertise, technology, and best practices helps ensure nations maintain robust and effective nuclear security infrastructures, and that in turn makes the global nuclear security infrastructure stronger and more resilient. Ultimately, effective nuclear security helps prevent radiological and nuclear terrorism.
State Secretary Maria Bjerke from the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, Director Atle Midttun from the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Chargé d’Affaires Jim DeHart from the U.S. Embassy in Oslo opened the workshop.