As a growing number of governments are repositioning nuclear energy as a core component of energy security, environmental goals and industrial competitiveness, strong scientific foundations and international co-operation are becoming increasingly important. Against this backdrop, the NEA Nuclear Science Committee (NSC) held its annual meeting at NEA headquarters on 8-10 June 2026. Chaired by Daniel Mathers (United Kingdom), the Committee reviewed progress across its work programme and defined strategic priorities to reinforce the scientific expertise and collaborative frameworks essential for the future of nuclear energy.
The review covered a broad spectrum of NSC activities, including reactor physics, transient studies, advanced fuel cycle physics and chemistry, fuel and materials science, nuclear criticality safety, nuclear data, nuclear knowledge management, artificial intelligence (AI), and nuclear education and training.
A key focus of the discussions was the role of data and AI in strengthening nuclear research and education. The Committee reviewed the NSC strategy for data preservation and discussed progress towards the establishment of the AI Platform for Research and Education (AIxpertise) joint project. Together, these initiatives highlight the growing importance of high-quality data, advanced digital tools and international collaboration in shaping the future of nuclear science and technology.
The meeting also included an in-depth discussion on “Integrating AI with In-pile Instrumentation to Advance Research and Development Capabilities”. The session featured presentations from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), highlighting emerging opportunities to enhance nuclear research through the integration of advanced instrumentation and AI-driven analytical tools.
Looking ahead, the Committee reviewed and approved its programme of work for the next biennium and expressed support for the AIxpertise joint project, which is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026. It also acknowledged the report “A Roadmap to 2050 for Full Nuclear Fuel Cycle Closure with Minor Actinide Partitioning and Transmutation”, presented at the meeting, reflecting the Committee’s continued attention to scientific challenges and opportunities.
The meeting concluded with the election of Dr Kyler Turner (United States) to the NSC Bureau, further supporting the Committee’s role in guiding international collaboration on priority nuclear science topics.
