News from ETSON and its members*

11 Sep 2025 | RSD | amentum and rsd logos Regulatory Support Directorate (RSD) re-nominated as UK member of ETSON

The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation has re-nominated Amentum’s Regulatory Support Directorate as the UK member of ETSON under the name RSD.

11 Sep 2025 | PSI | man working at the hot lab 60 years of the Hotlab

The Hotlab at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI is a unique experimental facility for analysing highly radioactive materials – its 60th anniversary marks a milestone not only in the institute’s history but also in the history of Swiss nuclear technology as a whole.

11 Sep 2025 | JSI | From left to right, prof. dr. Denis Arčon, prof. dr. Boštjan Zalar, dr. Mark Pleško and prof. dr. Leon Cizelj at the handover of duties. Change of leadership at Jožef Stefan Institute

Prof. dr. Leon Cizelj is the new Acting Director of the Jožef Stefan Institute.

11 Sep 2025 | GRS | abstract picture with a virtual lock representing cyber security Hidden risks: Computer security also encompasses the supply chain

Be it software updates, cloud services or external analysis platforms - modern IT systems rely on a large number of digital service providers. What brings efficiency also harbours new risks: This is because attackers can penetrate deep into well-protected systems unnoticed via an inadequately protected supply chain - even in safety-critical areas such as nuclear engineering. A new GRS research project looks at how such attacks unfold, which systems are particularly at risk, and how operators can protect themselves better.

11 Sep 2025 | RSD | HM Government logo UK aims to improve regulation of nuclear projects

The UK Government has established a Nuclear Regulatory Task Force to examine the regulatory approach to civil and defence projects.

11 Sep 2025 | PSI | Copenhagen Atomics Onion Core™ Cooperation in reactor research

Copenhagen Atomics, a Danish molten salt reactor developer, and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, Switzerland’s largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences, have signed a large-scale experimental collaboration agreement.

11 Sep 2025 | GRS | Drone The role of drones in nuclear safety and security - an overview of the benefits and risks of using this technology

In recent years, drones - also known as unmanned aerial vehicles, systems or devices (UAV, UAS or UAD for short) - have become increasingly important.

11 Sep 2025 | RSD | Frederic Wheeler Head of RSD becomes ETSON’s Second Vice President

Frederic Wheeler, Head of the Regulatory Support Directorate (RSD) at Amentum, has been appointed as the Second Vice President of ETSON for the next three years.

11 Sep 2025 | PSI Generation IV International Forum (GIF) in Switzerland | hosted by PSI/NES in April 2025

The 53rd GIF Experts Group and 59th GIF Policy Group Meetings (EG/PG) took place from April 7-10, 2025.

11 Sep 2025 | GRS Effects of subrosion on a potential repository in salt rock

Subrosion, i.e. the leaching of easily soluble rocks in the subsoil, can impair the barriers of a repository for high-level radioactive waste. In a recently completed research project, scientists at GRS investigated these processes and compiled affected areas and boundary conditions in a web application. Model calculations of groundwater flow help to better assess the long-term effects of subrosion on the containment of radionuclides in a repository system.

11 Sep 2025 | PSI | Logo of openSPACE Not Rocket Science, just Nuclear Rocket Science

The PSI Laboratory for Reactor Physics and Thermal-Hydraulics (LRT) conducts computational and experimental research with focus on the safety of nuclear reactors and systems. In recent years, it established the EPSILON program to coordinate and consolidate its research activities on nuclear space applications. Among other things, developments were initiated towards an open-source European platform for high-fidelity simulations and experiments dedicated to space nuclear reactors. Referred to as the openSPACE platform, its underlying concepts are a) to include not only solvers but also reference simulation models as well as experimental validation data; b) to make all of these available to the broader and combined nuclear- and space communities for usage and/or further developments. Through this, the goal is thus not only to facilitate collaborative research in this area but also to enable effective support to the European Space Agency for thorough design, safety and performance evaluations of nuclear reactor systems for in-space propulsion and/or surface power. A first development phase focused on nuclear electric propulsion was proposed and retained among the two projects selected in 2023 by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) for its MARVIS call (Multidisciplinary Advanced Research Ventures in Space) and funded by the Swiss Secretariat for Research and Innovation (SERI). This project, to be conducted via four inter-connected PhD theses, was launched in October 2024 and this marks thus a key milestone for the propulsion of PSI nuclear research towards space.

11 Sep 2025 | PSI | Author Dr. Romana Boigner Artificial intelligence explores the underground

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have shown that artificial neural networks have the potential to determine very precisely the characteristics of rock layers, like their mineralogical composition, solely on the basis of drill core images. This could speed up future geological investigation efforts while simultaneously optimising costs.

21 Jul 2025 | ETSON | Members of General Assembly posing on a stage. News from the ETSON General Assembly Meeting - June 2025

The ETSON General Assembly convened on June 25-26, 2025, at the Academy of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary. Representatives from member organizations gathered to discuss key topics and make significant decisions for ETSON's future.

13 Jun 2025 | ASNR | Participants of the ANCHORS Annual Meeting in front of a tunnel entrance. Annual Meeting of the ANCHORS Project (EURAD-2): ASNR hosts its European Partners in Montpellier and Tournemire

ANCHORS contributes to the safety assessment after the closure of geological disposal sites. It is part of the European partnership EURAD-2 (2024-2029), which brings together stakeholders in the research on radioactive waste management.

13 Jun 2025 | SSTC NRS | Newspicture Crisis communication SSTC NRS Crisis communication in times of war: experience, challenges and responses

Crisis communication has become an integral part of the Ukrainian media space long before the full-scale invasion. Its importance was acutely felt in the spring of 2020, during the global COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, the media faced the need to convey information from official sources to the public in a prompt, objective, and responsible manner. The key task was to maintain public trust, prevent panic and ensure compliance with life-saving recommendations.

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