Introducing Nuclear Security Content in Present Radiochemistry Course

Recently, nuclear security has become a global issue in developing nuclear technology which is stated by IAEA. As consequently, this important issue should be learned by students of Nuclear Engineering Study Program to provide awareness on the possibility of threats which are conducted by potential adversary groups who will misuse radioactive sources. INSEN has developed several modules to assist all nuclear engineering education around the world when these education institutions decide to include this nuclear security modules into their education process. Almost all of the modules are focused on physical protection, radiation detection, nuclear fuel cycle and waste management, however a radiochemistry module has not been included in nuclear security aspects and hence the improvement should be done. This paper would like to describe the improvement of Radiochemistry Course which previously does not involve the nuclear security aspects in Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Indonesia. Radiochemistry course is one of present course in UGM which has to be taken by fifth semester students. Presently, Radiochemistry course refers to Nuclear Engineering Study Program syllabus in Curriculum 2011 that should be revised in 2016. This course elaborately teaches topics such as nuclear chemistry (radioactivity, interaction of radiation with matter and radiation detection), chemistry of radiotracers, and chemistry of nuclear transformations. Topics related to the nuclear security are delivered by guest lecturers who introduce the integration and interrelation of the safety, safeguard, and security (3S) and uploaded to e-learning system. Field trips to some radiochemistry installations are conducted to gain students’ experience to reinforce the theoretical topics. In this activity, students undertake the preliminary evaluation of nuclear security aspects of those installations which must be presented in front of students and lecturers in the last two weeks. This enhancement is believed could trigger and embed students’ awareness and culture of nuclear security in order to apply the radiochemistry for peaceful and non-proliferation uses by concerning nuclear safety and security.