Research organisations – universities, government and private sector research laboratories – hold sensitive nuclear information, and sometimes nuclear materials, which poses unique challenges for nuclear security. Research environments may also be less regulated, be based on open campuses, and place security awareness and arrangements lower down the priority list, as compared to nuclear sites. Careful attention needs to be paid to promoting any security arrangements to the workforce through constant engagement, in order to avoid accusations that security is quashing academic freedoms.

Technological solutions may help to provide physical protection in these types of environments. However, the role of the human factor should not be underestimated, particularly in lower risk environments where extensive physical protection systems would not be practical.

Building security awareness amongst researchers also has benefits beyond the security of their laboratories. For example, security awareness can help to ensure that academics do not publish sensitive nuclear information in journals by accident, or disclose it to colleagues overseas without appropriate risk assessment.

Further Reading:

Bowen, W. and Hobbs, C., ‘Sensitive Nuclear Information: Challenges and Options for Control’, Strategic Analysis, Vol.38, Issue 2, pp.217-229, 2014

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Security of Nuclear Information, IAEA Nuclear Security Series: Implementing Guide, No.23-G, Vienna, 2015