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Home > CNL Advanced Radiation Detection Techniques (CARDT) course – November 14-18, 2022

CNL Advanced Radiation Detection Techniques (CARDT) course – November 14-18, 2022

Radiation detection and measurement is a critical and integral part of Nuclear Safety and Security (NSS). Under AECL’s Federal Nuclear Science and Technology Work Plan, CNL’s Advanced Radiation Detection Techniques course (CARDT) is designed to help participants gain key skills needed in the area of NSS.
CARDT course aims

The CARDT course is targeted and intended to build technical expertise within the broader national safety and security community. The week-long in-person course aims to provide training to participants in research, applications, operations, and engineering roles in the field of NSS. Training topics include: radiation detection measurements and instrumentation, nuclear analytical methodology and instrumentation, detection methods of bare and integrated special nuclear material (SNM), and other advanced nuclear material analysis techniques used in nuclear emergency response, nuclear forensics, nuclear safeguards, and non-proliferation.

The main objectives of the course are:

  • Demonstrating an understanding of the principles of radiation detection and measurement, and nuclear instruments
  • Gaining knowledge and skills on radiation detection, counting and spectrometry including shielding, radioactive sample detection and identification, radiation protection and emergency response
  • Demonstrating an ability to conduct experiments and understanding how to acquire, identify, quantify and assess radionuclides and report radiation data, uncertainty and detection limits
Who should attend the CARDT course

The CARDT course is designed for both new and mid-career employees in the field of nuclear forensics, non-proliferation, nuclear safeguards, nuclear emergency response, and border security. Other career paths might include radiological protection, health physics, and decommissioning.

Benefits of attending the CARDT course

Participants will be able to gain knowledge and experience about the nature of radioactivity, interaction of various types of radiation with matter and how these interactions are used to detect and measure them, different types of radiation, nuclear characterization instruments, statistics of radioactivity counting, estimation and propagation of uncertainties, and finally data interpretation, analysis and reporting.

There are practical modules specifically designed for providing hands-on experience in detecting and handling radioactive samples, radiation survey and monitoring, detection of special nuclear materials (SNM), nuclear forensics, and nuclear emergency response.

The course provides the participants with the opportunity to access unique facilities at a national lab.

CARDT course methods

The course consists of a series of fifteen morning lectures on radioactivity, radiation detection instrumentation and measurements, and five hands-on practical modules held in parallel in the afternoons. The practical modules are designed to provide hands-on learning opportunity in the area of nuclear safety and security.

Key training areas
  • Radiation detection measurements and instrumentation
  • Nuclear analytical methodology and instrumentation
  • Detection methods of bare and integrated special nuclear material
  • Advanced nuclear material analysis techniques for nuclear emergency response
  • Nuclear forensics
  • Nuclear safeguards, and non-proliferation
  • Nuclear response and emergency

Location
The course will be held at CNL’s Chalk River campus.

Participation

No registration fee is charged to participants. Attendees are responsible for the travel, meals and other costs associated with participating in the event.

Registration is now closed.
Acceptance notification

Space is limited and will be allotted based on first come-first served basis. CNL reserves the right to ensure a diverse group of participants. Only accepted participants will be asked to register.

Important Dates:

Deadline to submit participation intent: October 10, 2022

Acceptance notification date: October 14, 2022

For more information, please contact Zahra Yamani at [email protected].