CERREX and CONNECT: a Hands-on Walk-through of the IAEA Network 'CONNECT' and the IAEA CERREX Decommissioning Costing Tool - 13132

In this paper, we describe how initiatives involving the IAEA CONNECT (Connecting the Network of Networks for Education and Training) platform - come together to provide unique access to training in waste management and decommissioning. In the poster presentation, a number of key features of CONNECT will be illustrated by the CERREX application. CERREX (Cost Estimation for Research Reactors in Excel) is a costing model for decommissioning applicable to facilities involving limited inventory data. CONNECT features and applications used to provide support to user-groups, such as that for CERREX are also presented. For example CONNECT will deliver a structured Radioactive Waste Management curriculum based on IAEA safety standards and technical guidance. Use of CONNECT features to encourage CERREX application such as a forum for case discussion and wiki for structured access to support materials is also discussed. The CONNECT Project has begun with well-defined goals and objectives, and has received enthusiastic support from both users and sponsors. It aims to make use of proven 'Web 2.0' tools to empower users in the Agency's MS to share information efficiently and easily among themselves, and to partially alleviate the Agency's resource constraints in training and support. While these goals can be achieved, they will require patience and perseverance among initial users, and strong support for the changes in work-methods among both the users and sponsors of CONNECT.