FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, AND FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION SCIENCES.

The article discusses designs for fourth generation nuclear reactors and challenges in radiation protection. Several nations, including the U.S., Great Britain, and Japan cooperated to form the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). The GIF was established to create a framework for designing nuclear energy systems that provide sustainable energy, meet clean air standards, minimize nuclear waste, present economic advantages and reduce possibilities of core damage or terrorism. Among the reactor designs discussed are gas-cooled fast reactors (GFRs), lead-cooled fast reactors (LFRs) and supercritical-water-cooled reactors (SCWRs). The authors discuss how stakeholder involvement, risk assessment and scientific development will affect radiation protection.