The First 2018 Fukushima Research Conference (FRC).

　The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), held the first FY2018 research conference on “Development of Analytical Techniques in Waste Management (FRCWM2018)” from June 19 to 20, 2018 at the “Manabi-no-Mori” in Tomioka Town, Futaba County, Fukushima Prefecture. The objective of the conference was to exchange opinions about the latest knowledge that is necessary for the research and development on waste management in order to promote the future decommissioning research.

　On the first day, about 100 researchers participated in the conference. At the beginning of the conference, Professor Shuichi Hasegawa, the University of Tokyo made an opening speech. Next, Mr. Norifumi Sahashi of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. presented a lecture entitled “Waste management at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS)”. After that, the session was divided into two sub-sessions. One was the “Characteristics of waste produced by an accident at nuclear facilities”, and the other was the “Current status of radioactive waste analysis at the FDNPS”. In two sessions, the discussion was made as to, 1) methods for clarifying the property of radioactive waste at Sellafield, UK, 2) radioactive nuclides released by the accident of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and 3) analysis of radioactive waste produced by the accident of the FDNPS and the development of the properties elucidation using the analytical results.

　About 100 researchers participated in the conference also on the second day. Two sessions were held entitled “Upgrading of analytical technology”. In the poster session, 19 presentations were held by young researchers like students, and hot discussion was made over 2.5 hours including lunch time.

　On June 21 after the conference, 24 participants visited the FDNPS and the Naraha Center for Remote Control Technology Development, JAEA.

　In the present conference, ten lectures were presented by the researchers including foreign experts of UK (Sellafield Ltd), Russia (Fukushima University), China (National Institute of Radiological Sciences), and Vietnam (JAEA).

　Through the discussion, the importance of the waste analysis and properties elucidation was reconfirmed to promote the decommissioning of FDNPS. In this conference, thirteen students including foreign students studying in Japan participated. The positive participation and poster presentations of young researchers were valuable opportunity towards the development of next-generation human resources. Such young researchers’ activities were stimulated by awarding the poster prize. The present conference was the important achievement in promoting the decommissioning research.