Areas of interest
The ITWG will improve technical capabilities to foster international security through nuclear forensics and will :
- Provide recommendations for developing national response plans (e.g., the Model Action Plan) enabling a harmonized approach and a qualified and coordinated response to criminal or unauthorized acts involving the unauthorized possession, transport and use of nuclear or other radioactive materials.
- Develop concepts and elaborate guidelines for responding to radiological incident sites, including collection and preservation of evidence, radiological hazard assessment, categorization of seized nuclear/radioactive material, and awareness of applicable national laws and regulations.
- Support education and training in the field of nuclear forensics.
- Promote R&D for improved techniques and methods in the field of nuclear forensics.
- Identify and prioritize techniques and methods for forensic analyses of nuclear and other radioactive materials in order to answer questions regarding origin and intended use of seized materials.
- Adapt classical forensics techniques and methods to radioactively contaminated evidence for supporting prosecution and for supplying information bearing on source and route attribution.
- Formulate and execute inter-laboratory exercises to evaluate and improve techniques and methods for forensic analysis of seized nuclear materials.
- Identify and design relevant tools for interpretation of nuclear forensic analytical data. This may include evaluation and interpretation methods including international forensic databanks, and comparative sample and data libraries.
- Communicate the progress and annual meeting summaries of the ITWG through maintenance of both a registration-only and open web-site augmented by regular updates.
- Publish informal and formal reports to disseminate findings pertaining to nuclear forensic best practice.
- As invited, participate in international meetings sponsored by ITWG partner organizations (e.g., the International Atomic Energy Agency) to represent nuclear forensic expertise.
- Provide points of contact and technical information for organizations and states that request assistance.