VIII International scientific and practical conference “Semipalatinsk Test Site: Legacy and Prospects for Developing Scientific and Technical Capacity”.

Between September 11 and 13, 2018 VIII International scientific and practical conference “Semipalatinsk Test Site: Legacy and Prospects for Developing Scientific and Technical Capacity” was held based on RSE “National Nuclear Center”. The conference was dedicated to the two significant events: the 60th anniversary of the branch “Institute of Atomic Energy” and the 25th anniversary of the branch “Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology”. The subject matter of the conference covered two lines – Radiation Ecology and Medicine and Research Nuclear Facilities: current trends and development prospects. About 100 scientists and specialists took part in this event from over 10 countries of the world: Russia, Japan, France, Belarus, PRC, Ukraine, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary and others. Over 150 reports were presented at plenary and breakout sessions. Staff members of the Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology were involved in arrangement and activities of the breakup group “Radiation Ecology and Medicine” where there were 69 reports presented (30 oral and 35 poster), and 4 reports dedicated to radioecology issues were presented at the plenary session. An individual attention was paid to summarizing and planning the major subject matters of the Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. Leading specialists of the branch presented their reports covering the main outputs in: environmental radiation monitoring, biological research, development and implementation of up-to-date technologies and methods in the laboratory and field work, biodosimetry. Conventionally, conference guests — scientists from the Julich Research Center (Germany), were actively involved in activities of the breakup group. On the whole, a high scientific level of each participant’s presentations in the breakup group should be noted. During proceedings of the conference the museum of the STS history was open to all guests and visitors as well as laboratory buildings. Site visits were arranged for conference participants to the “Experimental Field” and the “Atomic Lake”.