National Atomic Energy Agency

The first text is an English-language version of an article published in the previous issue, which attracted considerable interest. In it, the author presents a method of assessing the level of readiness to implement  new technologies using the so-called TRL (Technical Readiness Levels) scale. It gives examples of its application to projects related to radiation and nuclear energy – before their introduction into practice. He analyses, among other things, the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) using this scale.

The second article shows how modern computer programs can support safety analyses of nuclear reactors. It compares the calculation results for different fuel types and examines how the choice of input affects the accuracy of the results and the duration of the simulation. This is is an interesting insight into the everyday tools used by nuclear regulatory specialists.

The third material will be of interest to people who follow research on materials used in medicine. The author shares the results of his own experiment, which confirmed that some plastics – such as polypropylene –can degrade after radiation sterilization if improperly packaged. The article also provides a brief overview of research on polymer modification, which gives it a broader scientific context.

The last article discusses the practical issue of measuring radon concentrations in educational institutions. It reminded readers of the obligations of school and kindergarten heads following the 2019 regulatory changes and how to implement them with the safety of students in mind.

Finally, we present a short report from the conference of the Association of Radiation Protection Inspectors (SIOR), which took place in June this year in Katowice.