MATGEN-IV
NATO Advanced Study Institute
on Materials for Generation-IV Nuclear Reactors
September 24 - October 6,
2007
Welcome and opening
talk
by the vice chairman of the french Atomic Energy Commission
(CEA)
Dr. Jean-Pierre LE ROUX
About objectives, participants
and the educational context
Motivation:
As the demand for sustainable and orderly economic development grows,
such factors as global warming, shortage of low-cost oil resources and
the increasing demand for energy are currently sending contradictory
messages. In this context, the development of new energy sources and
the improvement in the performance of existing energy systems have
become scientific and technological objectives of the highest priority.
This is particularly true of nuclear reactors, which face the needs of
increased safety, innovative waste management, optimal use of fuel
(regeneration), better yields, and of plants designed to avoid barriers
to the civilian uses of nuclear fuel. All of these aspects are
integrated in the concept of the so-called Generation-IV nuclear
reactors and are inextricably intertwined with the demand for new
structural materials.
Objectives:
This advanced school focuses on the identification of the new
structural materials that will be needed for Generation-IV nuclear
reactors, and on the methodology required for their development. In a
series of lectures and seminars the required fundamental knowledge on
relevant material properties will be presented, together with
methodological tools and processing techniques. The use of theoretical,
computational and experimental tools will be presented in detail during
practical exercises (e.g. computation and assessment of phase diagrams)
while round tables and poster sessions will provide several
opportunities for general exchanges intended to foster future
collaborations among participants.
Participants:
The school is intended not only for researchers
and engineers already involved
in nuclear research and development, but also for those who desire to
orient their future activities towards the field of nuclear materials.
The participation of young scientists
(PhD students and postdoctoral fellows) is highly desired and
encouraged. In order to facilitate attendance, financial support will
be granted on request, within budgetary limits. The organizers believe
that this school will contribute to strengthening the community of
materials scientists specialized in nuclear materials, by providing
them with the knowledge required for facing the challenges of energy
production and waste incineration, for current needs as well as those
of the future.
Educational
context: The school is fully integrated within the European
academic educational context: educational credits (ECTS) will be given
to students who will successfully satisfy the requirements as defined
by the organizers, and will be validated by the Institut National des
Sciences et Techniques Nucleaires (INSTN) under the control of the
European Nuclear Education Network association (ENEN).
Conference
Chairs
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