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MATGEN-IV

NATO Advanced Study Institute on Materials for Generation-IV Nuclear Reactors

September 24 - October 6, 2007

Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques de Cargese - Cargese, CORSICA, FRANCE


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

Dominique Gorse, Chair
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
e-mail: Dominique.Gorse@cecm.cnrs.fr

Veronique Ghetta, Co-Chair
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
e-mail: Veronique.Ghetta@lpsc.in2p3.fr  
Dominique Maziere, Co-Chair
Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
e-mail: Dominique.Maziere@cea.fr