Tapping into the power of research reactors

Research reactors have been a powerful tool driving innovation in nuclear science and technology throughout the world for decades. There are 224 research reactors operating in 53 countries today. Their numerous applications include producing radiopharmaceuticals for cancer care and nuclear medicine, helping to create new materials for research and industry and training nuclear scientists and engineers. They are generally not used for power generation. For more than 60 years, the IAEA has helped countries to set up, operate and maintain research reactors in order to reap the great benefits that they offer to science and society. This edition of the IAEA Bulletin examines research reactors and the many ways in which the IAEA helps countries to derive optimal benefit from them. It provides an overview of how they are used, such as for the production of radioisotopes for medical scans and the education and training of nuclear professionals. A photo tour offers an inside look at a research reactor facility in Jordan.