The Next Generation Network of IGSC - building a platform for the next generation of safety case professionals

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Integration Group of the Safety Case (IGSC) was established in 2000 and works on the development and improvement of the safety case concept, which now forms a central pillar of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safety Standards for the geological disposal of radioactive waste. In developing the safety case concept, identifying the key questions for safety, and promoting international dialogue between safety experts, the IGSC has developed a collaborative international community among those working in this field. However, many of those involved in establishing the IGSC are now at or approaching retirement. The IGSC has lately identified the need to involve early career scientists in its key processes and working groups, to ensure a transfer of knowledge and the consideration of the younger generations´ views.   

The Next Generation Network (NGN) was created as a direct outcome of the 2024 IGSC Safety Case Symposium, where the importance of engaging early-career professionals emerged as a central theme. The NGN is a professional platform under the IGSC that supports early-career professionals involved in the development of safety cases for radioactive waste disposal. It fosters international collaboration, interdisciplinary exchange, and the long-term sustainability of expertise in the field.  

The NGN identified five major objectives for ongoing and future work: 1) Opportunities shall be created for early-career professionals to develop their expertise in safety case development and related fields and to gain insight into the fundamentals of international methodologies and best practices. 2) The network acts as a bridge for incorporating the perspectives and contributions of the next generation into the broader safety case dialogue. 3) It supports structured knowledge transfer by promoting mentorship, peer learning, and other initiatives that ensure long-term retention and transfer of expertise within the safety case community. 4) Participants of diverse technical and non-technical disciplines - such as geology, engineering, social sciences, risk assessment, and policy - are connected and encouraged to collaborate and exchange knowledge. 5) Visibility and recognition of early-career professionals is raised by presenting NGN activities at relevant conferences, organizing dedicated sessions for emerging experts, and promoting the importance of early engagement in knowledge transfer. 

Since the NGN is a relatively new network, structures are still under development with space for individual ideas. We welcome professionals involved in the development of safety cases, with a primary focus on those in the early stages of their careers.