The country's major players within the nuclear sciences will now join forces in a centre where NMBU is a key partner.
Today came the news that the Norwegian Nuclear Research Centre (NNRC) will receive funds for its establishment from the Research Council of Norway. NNRC will strengthen Norway's research capacity and expertise in nuclear science. The center unites the leading professional environments from NMBU, the University of Oslo (UiO) and IFE - Department of Energy Engineering. In addition, there are several research and industrial partners at home and abroad (see supplementary list at the bottom of the story).
"This is a nice recognition of our strong professional environment within nuclear subjects, and especially radiochemistry and environmental chemistry," says NMBU's vice-rector for research, Finn-Arne Weltzien.
He points out that NMBU has run a Norwegian Centre of Excellence: Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD SFF) since 2013.
"This provides an opportunity to pass on solid expertise that has been built up over time, and will lay the foundation for the next generation of researchers and enable them to handle future challenges in nuclear science and technology."
"This is a topic of importance to NMBU, which has only gained renewed relevance in the last year," he says.
NNRC will help meeting Norwegian society's need for expertise in 1) radiation protection and radiation safety, 2) nuclear safety and nuclear preparedness, 3) production of radionuclides for medical and industrial use, and 4) decommissioning of nuclear power plants and handling of radioactive waste.
Long-term consequences
NMBU has for many years carried out research and education in environmental chemistry and radiochemistry, with particular emphasis on consequence and risk assessments related to radioactive contamination.
"The Norwegian nuclear research centre will strengthen national expertise and societal preparedness," says Professor Deborah Oughton, the deputy director of the new centre, and head of CERAD SFF.
"The effect of this investment will extend far beyond the centre's lifespan."
Consequence and risk assessments
NMBU's main responsibility within the centre activities will be to further develop national expertise regarding assessments and handling of consequences and risks for health and the environment linked to radioactive contamination.
"Our focus will be nuclear sources, transport of radionuclides in the environment, nuclear preparedness and risk assessments, as well as impact assessment related to nuclear power and storage of radioactive waste from the research reactors to be decommissioned," Oughton says.
Facts
About the Norwegian Nuclear Research Centre (NNRC):
- Gathers the central Norwegian institutions that conduct research and education within nuclear chemistry and physics.
- Will conduct long-term basic research at the highest international level.
- Planned period: 2023-2031.
- Funding: The Research Council of Norway (NFR).
- Total budget for the activity period: About 300 millioner NOK. NMBU's cut is about 80 millioner NOK.
Partners:
- UiO (coordinator)
- NMBU
- IFE
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
- IJC-Labs, University Paris-Saclay, France
- University of Bergen (UiB)
- The Norwegian Meterological Institute (MET)
- Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI)
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
- University of Antwerp, Belgium
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA
The center is managed via the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management at NMBU.