Abstract

 

International Cooperation under the U.S.

National Nuclear Security Administrationís

Sister Laboratory Arrangement Program

 

In the early 1980s, the United States launched a new initiative to establish cooperative institutional relationships between its own nuclear research laboratories and those in developing nations that have supported the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty (NPT). Mexico was the first beneficiary of the Sister Laboratory program when its National Institute of Nuclear Research was paired with Los Alamos National Laboratory in March 1982. In addition, Sister Lab arrangements are currently in place with Argentina, Costa Rica, Ghana, Romania, Thailand, Egypt, Morocco, and Peru.

These arrangements generally provide for the following:

• ß       Exchange of scientific and technical information
• ß       Short visits by expert teams or individuals to U.S. labs or their foreign counterparts
• ß       Longer-term personnel assignments, ranging from one week to six months
• ß       Exchange of samples, materials, instruments, and components
• ß       Training of scientific and technical personnel through fellowships, seminars, or courses
• ß       Various collaborative projects.

 

The Sister Labs program establishes a direct line of communication between U.S. nuclear specialists and the nuclear research and scientific communities in participating countries and helps to facilitate cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.

 

Since 1994, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has collaborated with the Moroccan National Center for Nuclear Energy Sciences and Technique in developing its expertise in many scientific areas including radioactive and mixed waste management; research reactor operation and business planning; environmental sampling, testing, and monitoring; computer code modeling; air quality study; water resources; emergency management and safeguard and security.

 

Presenter:

Mo Bissani

ES&H Policy and Assurance Manager and

Technical Cooperation Project Manager

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Tel: 925 423-4299

bissani1@llnl.gov

7000 East Avenue L-005

Livermore, California 95441

United States of America