Difference between revisions of "Nuclear knowledge"
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Nuclear knowledge is different from the knowledge developed and used in other industrial domains. It is very complex and has high investment costs, which often require massive governmental support. It must be developed and retained over very long timescales to service operational nuclear facilities and even longer timescales to enable global sustainable growth. Special constraints exist to limit its unrestricted dissemination, due to the dual (civil and military) uses of nuclear technology. These unique characteristics mean that there is an unwritten obligation for the industry to effectively manage nuclear knowledge. | Nuclear knowledge is different from the knowledge developed and used in other industrial domains. It is very complex and has high investment costs, which often require massive governmental support. It must be developed and retained over very long timescales to service operational nuclear facilities and even longer timescales to enable global sustainable growth. Special constraints exist to limit its unrestricted dissemination, due to the dual (civil and military) uses of nuclear technology. These unique characteristics mean that there is an unwritten obligation for the industry to effectively manage nuclear knowledge. | ||
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Revision as of 15:10, 8 May 2013
In response to an increased awareness of the importance to manage nuclear knowledge in many Member States, the IAEA has published a number of technical guidance documents (including nuclear management objectives [9]) containing the highest level issues for knowledge management that are commonly agreed as being relevant and applicable to activities in the nuclear sector.
Nuclear knowledge comprises knowledge that is specific or relevant to nuclear related activities, including, but not limited to, scientific and technical engineering knowledge. Nuclear knowledge exists at all levels and in all sectors within the industry. A wide variety of stakeholders will legitimately claim an interest in managing, using, applying, developing and sharing nuclear knowledge — each with their own objectives, requirements, and limitations.
Basic scientific nuclear knowledge has been accumulating for around one hundred years but this has been further enhanced through practical experience of its application over the last sixty years. The combination of this ‘pure and applied’ nuclear knowledge has brought our understanding to its current mature stage, with significant contributions being made to a wide variety of secondary applications. However, this extensive portfolio of nuclear knowledge — often derived with government support — is beginning to exceed present commercial demand with the consequence that some of it is in danger of being permanently lost. The risk is compounded by the fact that there is an absence of effective systems for transferring the knowledge between successive generations.
Nuclear knowledge is different from the knowledge developed and used in other industrial domains. It is very complex and has high investment costs, which often require massive governmental support. It must be developed and retained over very long timescales to service operational nuclear facilities and even longer timescales to enable global sustainable growth. Special constraints exist to limit its unrestricted dissemination, due to the dual (civil and military) uses of nuclear technology. These unique characteristics mean that there is an unwritten obligation for the industry to effectively manage nuclear knowledge.
