Life quality improvements by nuclear research reactor use

When we talk about nuclear energy, come to our mind just the uses of this energy in electrical power plants and, to the person that never had studied or worked in the area, the production of nuclear weapons. The use of nuclear energy in all fields of science and technology has been spreading worldwide. Many times more quickly, fast and simple than other usual methods some measurements can never be realized without the use of isotopes because the alternative ways may not exist. This paper presents the main uses of isotopes produced in nuclear research reactors and a global view of the contribution of the TRIGA MARK I IPR-R1 nuclear reactor of the CDTN in the last three decades. (author)