The Second 2018 Fukushima Research Conference (FRC).

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), held the FY2018 2nd Fukushima Research Conference jointly with the University of Fukui at “LATOV” in Iwaki City and “J-Village” in Naraha Town from September 18 to 20, 2018. The conference entitled, “International Seminar on Progress of Fundamental R&D of Core/Fuel Degradation Analysis for Decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station”, focused on promoting the basic research of decommissioning, developing young researchers, and exchanging between students and young researchers.

On the first day, about 50 people attended the conference. First, three preliminary lectures were presented by the famous researchers (open to the public and press), and then general lectures on the latest research results were presented by the domestic and oversea young researchers. The morning preliminary lectures were held in “LATOV”, Iwaki City. First, Dr. R. Gauntt (Sandia National Laboratories USA) presented the improvement of the severe accident code “MELCOR” based on lessons learnt from the accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS). Next, Dr. D. Bottomley (Deputy Director General of CLADS, JAEA), who had experiences in analyzing fuel debris produced by the Three Mile Island (TMI) accident, talked about the experience of TMI-II and fuel debris characterization. Further, Mr. I Sato (Deputy Division Head of CLADS) reported the latest knowledge on the core status evaluation of FDNPS. In the afternoon, the session moved to the J-Village in Naraha Town, and seven lectures were presented by the domestic and oversea young researchers on the latest results of accident progression analysis and fuel degradation phenomena.

　On the second day, a group discussion was held by the students and young researchers of JAEA. The participants were divided into small sub-groups (7~8 people) depending of the topics, and discussed in English. The topics discussed were; 1) how to utilize the research on accident progression and fuel degradation for the decommissioning research, 2) how to promote the human resource development and the technology inheritance in basic research of decommissioning, etc. The active discussion was made beyond the specialty of each researcher.

　On the final day, the students and young researchers made efforts to present the results of the group discussion the day before, and the best presentation was awarded the excellent presentation prize.

　Through the group discussion, the students and young researchers exchanged their opinions about the topics that are rarely discussed in general international conferences, such as what was the motivation for domestic and oversea young researchers to advance their research. By these opinion exchanges, this session was able to contribute to preparing the human network. In the discussion, there was an opinion that young researchers should positively propose the direction of the decommissioning research. Thereby, such opinion was much helpful for each participants’ future research activities.

　In the present seminar, about one-third of the participants were university-related people including those from foreign countries, and tow-thirds of the participants were students and young researchers in their twenties to thirties. Some of the participants expressed the impression that the discussion and communication with foreign researchers in English was a valuable experience that is hard to obtain in the university. Also, many senior participants described that such seminar conducted mainly by young researchers is good event, and expressed the strong expectations to hold similar seminars again after next year.