The challenge of managing knowledge in nuclear energy development

After half a century of successful development, going through glorious success and enthusiasm and dark criticism, nuclear power has made a substantial contribution to human development. No other energy technology has such a widespread scientific demand, ranging from nuclear physics, chemistry, material science, biology, medicine and others to any aspect of engineering, computer science, simulation and ending in social science and social behavior. The knowledge to use nuclear technology has been accumulated during the last fifty years and must be sustained further irrespective of the role nuclear energy will play in this century. The safety of the currently existing nuclear installations and especially the new ones that are being build and expected to be built in the developing world will directly depend on how we preserve, transfer and further grow nuclear knowledge and expertise world wide. The paper deals with some of the critical challenges of managing nuclear knowledge today and in the near future.

► Nuclear knowledge management is essential for nuclear operating safety.
► The nuclear sector faces an aging workforce.
► Education of a highly skilled nuclear work force is a major challenge.