Background
The World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) held a training course on Nuclear Security for Scientists, Technicians and Engineers, to be held at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University.
Scientists, Technicians and Engineers (STE) with responsibilities for nuclear materials management work in a variety of fields and facilities—from hospitals, university laboratories and industry to nuclear power plants. They help design and/ or build facility plans, processes and physical layouts; oversee the information technology system; or work closely with security equipment.
While STEs will likely be very familiar with common safety practices, they may know less about security practices. This is not surprising because the two areas of responsibility have traditionally developed in separate silos that did not communicate with each other. Furthermore, the security professions often draw people from very different backgrounds, such as the military and police. Consequently, safety and security practitioners have divergent worldviews, and it is sometimes challenging to bridge this gap. Therefore, the purpose of this three-day training is to support the development of security competence for STEs. The training structure was derived from the WINS Academy Elective on Nuclear Security for Scientists, Technicians and Engineers, and supplemented by a virtual reality exercise created by Los Alamos National Laboratory. Participants were enrolled in the WINS Academy and expected to have completed a first reading of the WINS Academy Foundation Module and Elective for STEs prior to their participation in the event. Participants were encouraged to attempt WINS Academy certification exams shortly after the completion of the training.
Objectives
The major purpose of the training course was to help participants consider how their knowledge, skills and professionalism comprise an important asset that can be harnessed to improve security—for colleagues, the facility, the local community and the State itself. By the end of the training course, participants were to understand:
- The common threats to nuclear and other radioactive materials
- The potential security risks posed by insiders and how to mitigate the threat
- The intersection between nuclear safety and security and how to integrate the disciplines
- The personal accountabilities and responsibilities that STEs have for security
- The fundamental role of the human factor in security
- The different stakeholders involved in nuclear security and how best to communicate
Audience
The course was designed for a group of 25-30 participants. The intended participants for this
training were:
- Students at PDPU
- Scientists, technicians and engineers working at nuclear facilities
- Security professionals wishing to better engage with STEs at their facility
The course was also open to representatives of other academic institutions and relevant professional associations.
