Held : 23-27, April 2007, Meiringen, Switzerland

Course Programme : PDF file 49 kb

Course Outline

This is a novel course for the ITC on the uses of information from natural and archaeological systems (or natural analogues) in radioactive waste disposal . The 5 day programme for 2007 features:

1. Lectures on the fundamentals of using information from nature’s laboratories in support of radioactive waste disposal, with examples on near- and far-field processes, integration with laboratory and underground rock laboratory data and overviews of some of the major national analogue studies of the last two decades. Sufficient time will be allocated for questions and discussions in each presentation module.
2. Two extended sessions will encourage more active roles for the participants: designing a national natural analogue programme using the top-down methodology and setting up a national communication campaign using data from natural analogues. These will then be presented and discussed with tutors and other participants from around the world.
3. The final part of the course focusses on using natural and archaeological data in an integrated safety assessment – what to do and what not to do – and giving examples of how to use natural analogues in staff training.

The course is ideal for those involved in any component of a national waste programmes who are looking to learn how to utilise information from both nature and archaeology to improve our understanding of the long-term development of a repository and who are open to finding ways of improving public confidence in our ability to safely dispose of radioactive waste.

Course Organiser

The course is organised by the ITC-School, supported by a range of organisations and individuals who have been active in the natural analogue field for many years, including several founding and active members of NAWG (Natural Analaogue Working Group – see www.natural-analogues.com).

Teaching

The course will be held in an informal, workshop atmosphere and participants will be encouraged to interact and question at all times. Each course topic will be taught by highly qualified and internationally recognised specialists from a range of organisations active in the field of radioactive waste disposal. They will provide the most up to date and comprehensive information and discussions. Course materials will be provided for each topic. Modules will generally be taught throughout the day but there will also be two, focussed, group sessions where the participants will be split into small groups and encouraged to develop their own national NA programme and to design their own confidence building programme based on NA information.

Course Programme