From high to low. The IAEA is helping to reduce the use of high-risk nuclear fuel at the world's research reactors

Research reactors play a key role in the development of peaceful uses of atomic energy. They are used for the production of isotopes for medicine and industry, for research in physics, biology and materials science, and for scientific education and training. They also continue to play an important role in support of nuclear power programmes. The IAEA's data shows there are 249 operational research reactors worldwide. Of these, more than 100 reactors are still fuelled with highly enriched uranium (HEU). It is considered high-risk nuclear material since it can be easily used for a nuclear explosive device. As part of a developing international norm to minimize and eventually eliminate HEU in civilian nuclear applications, research reactor operators increasingly are working with national and international agencies. They are being encouraged and supported to improve their physical security arrangements, convert their reactors to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel, and ship irradiated fuel back to the country of origin.For more than twenty years the IAEA has been supporting international efforts associated with reducing the amount of HEU in international commerce. Projects and activities have directly supported a programme the United States initiated in 1978, called Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR). The IAEA's work additionally supports efforts to return research reactor fuel to the country where it was originally enriched so-called take back activities. IAEA initiatives have included the development and maintenance of several databases with information related to research reactors and research reactor spent fuel inventories. These databases have been essential in planning and managing both RERTR and take-back programmes. Other Agency activities through technical cooperation and other channels have supported the conversion of research reactors to using lower enriched fuels. In other ways, the IAEA supports the exchange of information among experts. It co-sponsors annual RERTR international meetings (in late October 2006, South Africa hosts this gathering). In cooperation with Norway, the Agency also organized the June 2006 International Symposium on Minimization of Highly Enriched Uranium in the Civilian Nuclear Sector. Consensus at the meeting indicated that LEU can be used for almost all applications in which HEU is currently used. IAEA support of RERTR and the take-back programmes was strengthened in 2004, following the establishment in the United States of the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) and ensuing recommendations of the RERTR meeting. The common goal is to reduce both proliferation and security risks by eliminating or consolidating inventories of high-risk material. This article outlines a few of the areas where the IAEA is concentrating its efforts