Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXIX

The 29th International Symposium on the Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management (“MRS 2005”) was held in Ghent (Belgium), September 12-16, 2005. Convenor was P. Van Iseghem (SCK•CEN). About 190 attendees from 20 countries heard 58 oral presentations and viewed 89 posters during the four days of scientific sessions. The symposium offered an overview of the international status of the research on the geological disposal of radioactive waste. The conference covered the usual topics spent fuel, glass, ceramics, container materials, radionuclide behavior, and performance assessment / safety case. Additional topics were analogs, integrated testing and intermediate level waste forms such as cement and bitumen. Introductory presentations highlighted the status of some major underground disposal programmes worldwide. Key-note lectures provided critical assessments of the state-of-the-art of the major topics. One of the main conclusions from the key-note lectures was that both the far field and a clay-based near field are able to provide excellent isolation for radionuclide migration towards the biosphere. It belongs to the authorities and the scientists to make the right use of these informations. Topics that were brought into front by the organizers were integrated testing and processes, and performance assessment / safety case.