Scientific basis for nuclear waste management XXIX. Materials Research Society symposium proceedings, Vol. 932

The 29th International Symposium on the Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management (Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings Volume 932) was held in Ghent (Belgium), September 12-16, 2005. About 190 attendees from 20 countries heard 58 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. Key-note lectures provided critical assessments of the state-of-the-art of the major topics. Special posters highlighted activities of the NEA (Nulear Energy Agency) and some of the new EC Integrated Projects (NF-PRO and FUNMIG) and new EC Network of Excellence (ACTINET). Technical visits on the fifth day led participants to the Forschungszentrum Juelich (Germany) and the nuclear site in Mol (Belgium), with the underground research 'HADES' laboratory in Boom Clay and the Belgian conditioning facility Belgoprocess