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

Benchmark I

Your task is to demonstrate clearly, in a carefully constructed project, a comprehensive understanding of nuclear safety. 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 also add any additional elements to the scenario, if you think those additional elements are important.)

A country in a moderately developed part of the world has had a nuclear industry for several years. This country uses nuclear facility designs from a company in another country,but this country has a developing scientific and engineering infrastructure.

The country has its own governmental regulations, 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 nuclear industry workforce, although there is also the presence of non-national contractors. The country has also conducted an educational program for its citizens, including special training for those who live in the area of each of the facilities.

An environmental event happens in the country, an event that is a major shock on the nuclear industry. All of the safety precautions put in place by the country are severely tested.

Your task is to choose the outcome of this scenario.

If there is little or no negative impact on the nuclear industry in this country, 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 Safety

Students will need to be familiar with the topics below in order to finish the scenario.

Nuclear Safety

The achievement of proper operating conditions, prevention of accidents or mitigation of accident consequences, resulting in protection of workers, the public and the environment from undue radiation hazards.

From IAEA Glossary

• Countries that have safety experience in the nuclear industry
  • Nature of that experience
  • Length of time of that experience
  • Infrastructure
  • Locations of nuclear plants
  • Countries pursing nuclear energy (potential consumers)
    • Nature of that experience
    • Length of time of that experience
    • Infrastructure
    • Countries that export/share nuclear technology (suppliers)
      • Nature of that experience
      • Length of time of that experience
      • Infrastructure
      • The nuclear fuel cycle
      • Structure of nuclear power reactors
      • The dual nature of nuclear energy (civilian vs. military)
      • Nuclear waste and nuclear spent fuel management
      • Governmental roles in nuclear safety
        • National approaches to safety
        • International efforts to enhance nuclear safety
          • Convention on Nuclear Safety
          • Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
          • Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors
          • Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident
          • Convention on Assistance in the Case of Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
          • The Three Mile Island Accident
          • The Chernobyl Accident
          • The Fukushima Accident

2011-2012 Critical Issues Forum

Nuclear Safety and Security Student Benchmarks

Skip to Benchmark I

Skip to Benchmark II

Introduction

REUTERS/Tokyo Electric Power Co/Handout

The issues concerning nuclear safety and nuclear security are not new.

Opinion polls, backed by concerns about global warming and energy security, had been showing increased support for nuclear energy. Support remained even after 9/11 raised concerns about terrorists acquiring nuclear materials. While public trust in nuclear power was growing, there were still memories of Three-Mile Island and Chernobyl. Then, in 2011, there was the Fukushima incident in Japan. After Fukushima public trust in nuclear power dropped, in Japan and around the world. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the accident a wake-up call for the world to enhance nuclear safety and security.

After Fukushima, some countries started reviewing the safety of their nuclear power plants. For example, Germany and Switzerland decided to phase out nuclear power.  Most countries, including Japan, have become more cautious about the rapid growth of nuclear energy. However, neither Fukushima nor concerns about nuclear security will put an end to nuclear power. The IAEA shows that use of nuclear power will continue to grow, but slower than in previous projections. The long-term impact of the Fukushima accident remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. It is necessary to address the serious issues of nuclear power safety and security.

Some countries are interested in constructing new nuclear plants along with existing plants, so nuclear safety and security are important issues. There are also countries starting nuclear power programs for the first time. For example, countries in Asia and the Middle East are planning to begin nuclear power programs. Both nuclear safety and nuclear security have one goal: the protection of people, society and the environment. Although they are different in some respects, they do complement each other. Improvement in one area can also benefit the other area.

International Atomic Energy Agency

Progress on nuclear safety and security is needed if nuclear energy is to have a role in the future. If a “Nuclear Renaissance” is to happen, leaders will have to control technologies that can provide nuclear material for power plants but also for weapons. Leaders in the United States and other nuclear-weapons states will also have to figure out appropriate rules for these technologies.

The Critical Issues Forum topic for 2011-2012 is “Nuclear Safety and Security.” Students will investigate the current status of, challenges to, and future prospects of nuclear safety and security. They will research and respond to two Benchmark Activities on these issues.

In their research about nuclear power in the world today, students will learn basic facts about forms of radiation, the nuclear fuel cycle, construction of various nuclear facilities, and both military and civilian uses of nuclear facilities and materials.

Using this basic knowledge, students will be able to understand the definitions of nuclear safety and nuclear security, as well as the importance of these issues. They will be able to understand the difference between safety and security, and the connection between the two.

During their research, students will see how the four CIF content domains–  scientific/environmental, political/geopolitical, economic, and social/cultural–have an impact on all of these issues.

Benchmark I

Your task is to demonstrate clearly, in a carefully constructed project, a comprehensive understanding of nuclear safety. 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 also add any additional elements to the scenario, if you think those additional elements are important.)

A country in a moderately developed part of the world has had a nuclear industry for several years. This country uses nuclear facility designs from a company in another country,but this country has a developing scientific and engineering infrastructure.

The country has its own governmental regulations, 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 nuclear industry workforce, although there is also the presence of non-national contractors. The country has also conducted an educational program for its citizens, including special training for those who live in the area of each of the facilities.

An environmental event happens in the country, an event that is a major shock on the nuclear industry. All of the safety precautions put in place by the country are severely tested.

Your task is to choose the outcome of this scenario.

If there is little or no negative impact on the nuclear industry in this country, 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 Safety

Students will need to be familiar with the topics below in order to finish the scenario.

Nuclear Safety

The achievement of proper operating conditions, prevention of accidents or mitigation of accident consequences, resulting in protection of workers, the public and the environment from undue radiation hazards.

From IAEA Glossary

• Countries that have safety experience in the nuclear industry
  • Nature of that experience
  • Length of time of that experience
  • Infrastructure
  • Locations of nuclear plants
  • Countries pursing nuclear energy (potential consumers)
    • Nature of that experience
    • Length of time of that experience
    • Infrastructure
    • Countries that export/share nuclear technology (suppliers)
      • Nature of that experience
      • Length of time of that experience
      • Infrastructure
      • The nuclear fuel cycle
      • Structure of nuclear power reactors
      • The dual nature of nuclear energy (civilian vs. military)
      • Nuclear waste and nuclear spent fuel management
      • Governmental roles in nuclear safety
        • National approaches to safety
        • International efforts to enhance nuclear safety
          • Convention on Nuclear Safety
          • Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
          • Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors
          • Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident
          • Convention on Assistance in the Case of Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
          • The Three Mile Island Accident
          • The Chernobyl Accident
          • The Fukushima Accident

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