SRNL: Savannah River National Laboratory Establishes Nonproliferation Applied Sciences Center

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) today announced the establishment of
the Nonproliferation Applied Sciences Center (NASC) to advance nonproliferation research and development to
reduce security concerns, modernize nonproliferation concepts to accelerate nuclear as a clean energy source,
and align emerging nonproliferation concepts with the growing reactor and fuel-cycle markets.
The NASC will be an innovation hub bringing together scientists, engineers and policy experts to:
• Advance and expand scientific research and development knowledge, such as trace actinide behavior
during fuel processing, through novel detection advances and comprehensive validation testing
• Develop and advance methods and detection capabilities related to advanced manufacturing processes
• Demonstrate modernization of safeguard solutions by applying advanced nuclear forensics and
radiation detection applied to weapons production activities, such as tritium and pits
• Create safe and efficient global pathways for the removal and elimination of weapons-useable nuclear
materials by developing and applying advanced materials packaging science
“The NASC supports DOE’s clean energy goals,” said SRNL Laboratory Director Dr. Vahid Majidi. “The NASC will
help to sustain the continued safe operation of U.S. nuclear reactors, the nation’s largest source of clean power,
and secure our energy future.”
Associate Laboratory Director, Global Security Directorate, Dr. Tammy Taylorsaid the NASC will be a differentiator
for SRNL. “Instead of focusing expressly on nonproliferation, the NASC will build on the lab’s rich history of nuclear
material processing and environmental management; build on the reality that nuclear, as a form of clean energy,
requires modern nuclear material security solutions; and be an innovation and collaboration hub for advancing
new approaches and solutions to safeguarding nuclear materials.”
The NASC will be located at SRNL’s main campus at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site. Dr. Taylor
will lead its initial development until a permanent director is announced later this year.