Benchmark II
Your task is to demonstrate clearly, in a carefully constructed project, a comprehensive understanding of nuclear security. You will expand on the following scenario to demonstrate your understanding of the issue.
(You may choose to be specific about each element in bold italics or you may discuss the element in general terms. You may add any additional elements to the scenario, if you think it is important.)
A country in a moderately developed area in the world has had a nuclear industry for several years. This country uses security procedures from a company in another country, but has a developing protective scientific and engineering infrastructure.
This country has its own governmental security regulations and systems, but also cooperates with regional and international agreements and organizations.
The country’s various political parties have different opinions about nuclear issues, but while there is no close agreement, neither is there seriously strong argument with regard to nuclear issues.
This country’s nuclear facilities are constructed in several regions of the country; each region has very different environmental features. When each region was chosen, both positive and negative feature of the environments were kept in mind.
The country has a trained workforce in nuclear industry security, although there is also a presence of non-national contractors. The country has conducted an educational program for its citizens, including those who live in the area of each facility.
Local security forces, and the national army and militia have first response training.
An event happens in the country that has a major shock to the security of the nuclear industry. All of the security precautions put in place by the country are severely tested.
Your task is to choose the outcome of this scenario. One consideration is to determine if the event is an external breach of the system, or if it began internally.
If there is little or no negative impact on the nuclear industry, you will explain, in detail, what has gone “right.” Right scientifically, politically, economically, and socially.
If there is negative impact on the industry, you will explain, in detail, what has gone “wrong.” Wrong scientifically, politically, economically, and socially.
The project must be your own original work, with clear and correct citations for any work you borrow from others. If the work is not your own, including photos, graphics, multimedia, charts, and graphs you must credit it both within the text and in a bibliography.
Research Background for Nuclear Security
Students will need to be familiar with the topics below in order to finish the scenario.
Nuclear Security
The prevention and detection of, and response to, theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer or other malicious acts involving nuclear material, other radioactive substances or their associated facilities.
From IAEA glossary
- The difference between nuclear safety and security
- How these two issues interact
- Challenges in nuclear security
- The possibility of nuclear terrorism
- How terrorists could obtain nuclear material
- Their uses for it?
- How they could be prevented from getting the material
- Nuclear waste and spent fuel management
- Summary of the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC
- Prospect of the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul
- Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM)
- International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373
- Relevant framework for both nuclear safety and nuclear security:
- Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident
- Convention on Assistance in the Case of Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
- Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources
