Nuclear forensic group to present results of Collaborative Materials Exercise

Representatives of the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG) recently presented the results of the organization’s fifth Collaborative Materials Exercise (CMX) at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting in Washington D.C.

The group of scientists, law enforcement officials, regulators and policymakers works to develop techniques, methods and processes to identify intercepted nuclear material as well as determine if it’s dangerous to first responders or the public and if it’s illegal to possess.

The Exercise Task Group conducts CMXs every two to three years. The group sends small amounts of radioactive or nuclear material to participating labs which have two months to analyze and report on the material

Jon Schwantes, a senior scientist at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, will present the results of CMX-5 at the meeting.

“Nuclear forensics is a young science,” Schwantes said. “We are developing the capabilities and analytical techniques and have seen significant advancements over the years. These exercises are not graded, nor a competition, but allow us to practice those advancements in a very realistic way.”

Twenty labs participated in CMX-5. The next exercise will begin in fall of 2018 and is expected to include up to 25 labs from 21 different countries.