Institute of Nuclear Materials Management
Encyclopedia
The Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) is an international technical and professional organization that works to promote safe handling of nuclear material
and the safe practice of nuclear materials management through publications, as well as organized presentations and meetings.
The INMM's headquarters is located in Deerfield, Illinois
in the USA, but its members are located around world including Europe, Asia, South America and North America. There are more than 1,100 members and 20 chapters.
The current president of INMM is Scott Vance, an employee of the Tennessee Valley Authority
.
Les Shephard, vice president of Sandia National Laboratories
' Energy, Security, and Defense Technology Center, said in February 2009 of the INMM and the American Nuclear Society,
and Brookhaven National Laboratory
, are Sustaining Members of the INMM.
In 2010, the INMM Executive Committee approved a restructuring of the Institute. This included changes in the technical divisions. Some were merged and a new division was created. The technical divisions are:
The division is the focal point for information and activities related to the physical protection of nuclear materials, nuclear facilities, and other high value assets and facilities.
In 2008, the INMM joined with Nuclear Threat Initiative, the United States Department of Energy
, and the International Atomic Energy Agency
to establish a new international organization called the World Institute for Nuclear Security
(WINS) aimed at strengthening physical protection and security of the world's nuclear and radioactive materials and facilities. This organization's focus is on collecting information on best management practices from professionals responsible for on-the-ground security and sharing that information with their peer professionals around the world. These security professionals are in the best position to know where the vulnerabilities are, how to improve security, and how to ensure that improvements are implemented quickly and effectively. WINS will place a high priority on protecting sensitive information that may be discussed between members. Initial funding for the WINS included $3 million each from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy plus $100,000 from Norway
.
The INMM also has seven student chapters that offer opportunities including participation in a mentor program, meetings and workshops, publication subscriptions, and professional networking. Student chapters currently exist at Idaho State University
, Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies
, Texas A&M, the University of Michigan
, University of Missouri
, University of Tennessee
, and North Carolina State University
.
. In addition, the "Communicator", online newsletter
is posted three times annually.
American physicist William Higginbotham served as technical editor of the Journal from 1974 until his death in 1994.
Nuclear material
Nuclear material refers to the metals uranium, plutonium, and thorium, in any form, according to the IAEA. This is differentiated further into "source material", consisting of natural and depleted uranium, and "special fissionable material", consisting of enriched uranium , uranium-233, and...
and the safe practice of nuclear materials management through publications, as well as organized presentations and meetings.
The INMM's headquarters is located in Deerfield, Illinois
Deerfield, Illinois
Deerfield is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and is located approximately 25 miles north of Chicago, Illinois. A portion of the village is in Cook County, Illinois, United States...
in the USA, but its members are located around world including Europe, Asia, South America and North America. There are more than 1,100 members and 20 chapters.
The current president of INMM is Scott Vance, an employee of the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
.
Les Shephard, vice president of Sandia National Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories
The Sandia National Laboratories, managed and operated by the Sandia Corporation , are two major United States Department of Energy research and development national laboratories....
' Energy, Security, and Defense Technology Center, said in February 2009 of the INMM and the American Nuclear Society,
Structure
INMM is led by an executive committee of nine members, including a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, four members-at-large, and the immediate past president. In addition, INMM has several standing and two technical committees. Many organizations, such as Los Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
and Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory , is a United States national laboratory located in Upton, New York on Long Island, and was formally established in 1947 at the site of Camp Upton, a former U.S. Army base...
, are Sustaining Members of the INMM.
Technical divisions
Until 2010, the INMM had six technical divisions:- International Safeguards, focusing on the development of effective international nuclear material safeguards, and working to advance safeguard procedures and technology
- Materials Control and Accountability, promoting and communicating the need for development of technology for the control and accountability of nuclear materials
- Nonproliferation and Arms Control, promoting research to further international stability with regard to nonproliferationNuclear proliferationNuclear proliferation is a term now used to describe the spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information, to nations which are not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the...
and international arms controlArms controlArms control is an umbrella term for restrictions upon the development, production, stockpiling, proliferation, and usage of weapons, especially weapons of mass destruction... - Packaging and Transportation and Disposition, promoting technology and research aimed at the packaging and transportation of radioactive materials, including all levels of radioactive waste
- Nuclear Security and Physical Protection, focusing on research to advance technology for the physical protection of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities
- Waste Management, promoting research to help find a solution for the worldwide waste management issues, focusing on each step of waste management including handling, processing, storing, and disposal for all radioactive wasteRadioactive wasteRadioactive wastes are wastes that contain radioactive material. Radioactive wastes are usually by-products of nuclear power generation and other applications of nuclear fission or nuclear technology, such as research and medicine...
In 2010, the INMM Executive Committee approved a restructuring of the Institute. This included changes in the technical divisions. Some were merged and a new division was created. The technical divisions are:
- Facility Operations
- International Safeguards
- Materials Control and Accountability
- Nonproliferation and Arms Control
- Nuclear Security and Physical Protection
- Packaging, Transportation and Disposition
The division is the focal point for information and activities related to the physical protection of nuclear materials, nuclear facilities, and other high value assets and facilities.
Best practices
The INMM develops and promotes global "best practices" for nuclear materials management. Best practices are based on past events, lessons learned, and ways to effectiveness and efficiency. They are focused on the six technical divisions and should be applicable to all countries with nuclear capabilities, both civilian and military.In 2008, the INMM joined with Nuclear Threat Initiative, the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
, and the International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
to establish a new international organization called the World Institute for Nuclear Security
World Institute for Nuclear Security
The is an organisation which aims to help strengthen the physical protection and security of nuclear and radioactive materials and facilities worldwide...
(WINS) aimed at strengthening physical protection and security of the world's nuclear and radioactive materials and facilities. This organization's focus is on collecting information on best management practices from professionals responsible for on-the-ground security and sharing that information with their peer professionals around the world. These security professionals are in the best position to know where the vulnerabilities are, how to improve security, and how to ensure that improvements are implemented quickly and effectively. WINS will place a high priority on protecting sensitive information that may be discussed between members. Initial funding for the WINS included $3 million each from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy plus $100,000 from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Chapters
The INMM has 20 chapters around the world, including six regional chapters in the United States and international chapters in Japan, Korea, Obninsk Regional in Russia, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Urals, and Vienna.The INMM also has seven student chapters that offer opportunities including participation in a mentor program, meetings and workshops, publication subscriptions, and professional networking. Student chapters currently exist at Idaho State University
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
, Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies
Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies
The Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies , located on the campus of Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania, offers undergraduate and graduate studies programs in intelligence analysis. The program also offers graduate certificates in Applied Intelligence, Counterintelligence and...
, Texas A&M, the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, and North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
.
Meetings and workshops
INMM holds an annual meeting, an annual Spent Fuel Management Seminar, and a number of other workshops each year. These educational/networking events allow professionals in nuclear materials management to learn new strategies, keep abreast of the science and technology, and to meet with colleagues from around the world. In June 2005, INMM held two workshops in Prague, Czech Republic, sponsored by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).Publications
INMM publishes the Journal of Nuclear Materials Management, a quarterly, peer-reviewed technical journalAcademic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
. In addition, the "Communicator", online newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
is posted three times annually.
American physicist William Higginbotham served as technical editor of the Journal from 1974 until his death in 1994.
See also
- American National Standards InstituteAmerican National Standards InstituteThe American National Standards Institute is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear MaterialsBrazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear MaterialsThe Brazilian–Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials is a binational safeguards agency playing an active role in the verification of the peaceful use of nuclear materials that could be used, either directly or indirectly, for the manufacture of weapons of mass...
(ABACC) - European Nuclear SocietyEuropean Nuclear SocietyThe European Nuclear Society, founded in 1975, is the federation of 24 nuclear societies from 24 countries – stretching from the Atlantic to the Urals and on across Russia to the Pacific. ENS connects these national nuclear member societies with the principal aim of fostering and coordinating their...
- International Atomic Energy AgencyInternational Atomic Energy AgencyThe International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
- American Nuclear SocietyAmerican Nuclear SocietyThe American Nuclear Society is an international, not-for-profit 501 scientific and educational organization with a membership of approximately 11,000 scientists, engineers, educators, students, and other associate members. Approximately 900 members live outside the United States in 40 countries....
- Nuclear Threat Initiative
- World Nuclear AssociationWorld Nuclear AssociationThe World Nuclear Association , formerly the Uranium Institute, is an international organization that promotes nuclear power and supports the many companies that comprise the global nuclear industry...
- Nuclear Energy InstituteNuclear Energy InstituteThe Nuclear Energy Institute is a nuclear industry lobbying group in the United States.- Synopsis :According to its website, the NEI "develops policy on key legislative and regulatory issues affecting the industry. NEI then serves as a unified industry voice before the U.S...