Introduction:
The 41st ESARDA Annual Meeting will be the Symposium on Safeguards and Nuclear Non-Proliferation that marks the 50th anniversary of ESARDA, to be held at the Regina Palace Hotel in Stresa, Italy, from 14-16 May 2019. Prior to the Symposium, on 13 May 2019, meetings of the ESARDA Working Groups, Steering Committee and Executive Board and also the Annette Workshop "Safeguarding the Nuclear Fuel Cycle" will take place. After the Symposium, on Friday 17 May, another Annette meeting will be held and a visit to the JRC Nuclear Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Laboratories in Ispra will be organised.
The Symposium will be an opportunity for researchers, regulators and nuclear facility operators to exchange information on new aspects of international safeguards and non-proliferation, as well as recent developments in nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation related research activities and their implications for the safeguards community.

About ESARDA:
Created in 1969, ESARDA is a network of organisations including national regulatory authorities, nuclear facilities operators, as well as research institutions and universities, aiming to bring together the international nuclear safeguards community. Its main goals are research collaboration, exchange of information and joint execution of R&D programmes.

Organiser:
The organisation of the 2019 Symposium will be handled by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, in Ispra, Italy.
Symposium Chair: Willem Janssens, Head of Department Nuclear Security and Safeguards at JRC.

Important Dates:
13 Jan 2019
Abstract submission deadline

31 Jan 2019
Notification of acceptance

15 Feb 2019
Preliminary programme

1 May 2019
Paper submission deadline

Venue: Regina Palace Hotel, Corso Umberto I, 29, Stresa (VB), Italy

Enquiries: JRC-ESARDA-Symposium-2019@ec.europa.eu

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Topics:

1. Improvement of key safeguards measurements, activities, tools and techniques

Nuclear materials measurements (items, bulk, sample, particles):
Neutron measurements, Gamma measurements Hybrid K-Edge
Compucea, Mass spectrometry, Chemical analysis
Challenges for different type of materials:
UF6, Fresh fuel (U, Mox, Minor actinides), In-reactor core fuel, Spent fuel, Reprocessing products, Post operational clean-out, Final storage containers, Swipe samples from the search for undeclared activities
Reference materials, standards, spikes for NDA, DA, particles:
New materials, Improving stability, use, transport, Validation, intercomparison of standard measurements
Containment/Surveillance and verification technologies:
Sealing systems, Cameras surveillance and image review and processing tools,
Laser based measurements e.g. for DIV, BTC…,
Other innovative monitoring techniques (e.g. acoustic UWB, IR…),
Smart sensors, geospatial tagging,… 
Process monitoring, sensor integration, remote operation:
Mass/volume measurements, Near real time accounting, Secure data transmission, encryption, block chain, … 
Internet of Things, Data fusion…
Use of open and all source information for safeguards analysis:
World-wide and dark web, Satellite imagery, Strategic dual-use trade control, trade data analysis, procurement outreach, Voluntary reporting
The Innovative, Investigative Inspector:
Ambient intelligence, Augmented reality, Neural networks, Self-localization, Virtual reality, Robotics
Potential for techniques developed for big data:
modern business analytics, data visualization
Advanced tools and approaches for enhancing capabilities of safeguards analysts:
tools for the brains, artificial intelligence, machine learning, collaborative platforms,
red-teaming approaches
Potential for other emerging and/or disruptive technologies:
Drones, Additive manufacturing, Distributed ledger technology, Nanotechnology

2. Enhancing safeguards and non-proliferation methodologies and approaches

Safeguards by Design
Acquisition path analysis 
Use of physical model
Role of modelling, simulation and statistics
Use and potential of state specific factors
Use and potential of variety of safeguards inspections types
Implementation of Integrated safeguards
State level concept and approaches
Safeguards reporting tools/protocols for states (e.g. IAEA obligations)
Proliferation resistance and physical protection

3. Plant specific safeguards techniques, inspections, operations, challenges

U mining and conversion
U enrichment facilities
Fuel fabrication (U, MoX, Minor Actinide fuel for future reactor systems)
Nuclear reactors (large power reactors, SMR, naval, floating reactors, research reactors…)
Spent fuel storage facilities (wet, dry, storage containers…)
Spent fuel reprocessing facilities
Encapsulation plants and geological repositories
Facilities under decommissioning
Transport of nuclear materials between all fuel cycle steps
Specific issues for small quantity protocol countries 
Specific issues under voluntary offer agreements
Location outside facilities 

4. International Developments, Activities and Initiatives

Role of National NMAC
Role of regional Safeguards Systems
Non Proliferation Treaty review conference
Arms Control and Disarmament initiatives
Importance of WMD free zones
Role and contributions of FMCT, CTBT, UNSCR 1540 etc
Contributions from and to (nuclear) centres of excellence/competence 
Existing world-wide proliferation concerns.

5. Synergies and interactions with other/related disciplines

Nuclear forensics
Nuclear security
Cybersecurity
Strategic dual-use trade control
Nuclear liability and insurance issues
Combatting Proliferation networks and financing
Earth observation monitoring/capabilities (satellites)
Other (non-nuclear) non-proliferation treaties and regimes

6. Human resource development and Knowledge Management

Safeguards and non-proliferation training activities
Safeguards and non-proliferation education activities
Role and contribution of academia and research centers
Collaboration/interaction with non-governmental organizations
Knowledge management approaches and implementation
Dissemination of best practices and mutual/regional collaborations
Access to specialized infrastructure and facilities/installations
Enhanced visibility for the safeguards/non-proliferation activities
Communication to all stakeholders including the broader public
Knowledge transfer and retention within organisations

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Abstract Submission:
By sending an abstract, the authors confirm having their organisation's approval for public release and agree to submit a paper suitable for inclusion in the symposium's proceedings and to present that paper at the symposium. Authors are requested to respect the deadline to give the Symposium Committee sufficient time to review all abstracts and to compose the Symposium programme.

To Submit your abstract(s):

Enter the Symposium’s webpage on the ESARDA website  and link to EasyChair, or go directly to the Symposium submission page in EasyChair:https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=esarda19
Login to EasyChair (requires registration)
Insert the abstract text into the field provided by EasyChair, including topic and keywords in the required field. Please do not attach any documents to the form!  

The abstracts must be written in English and have the following format:

Title, author(s), affiliation;
a maximum length of 300 words;
a maximum of 5 keywords related to the topic(s) of their paper

The author(s) may already indicate whether they would like to present their contribution orally and/or as a poster. The Symposium Committee will decide on the acceptance of contributions as oral or poster presentation.
The authors of the accepted abstracts will have to electronically submit their papers following the instruction for authors. It is essential that papers are submitted in PDF format by 1 May 2019 on EasyChair. Late papers will not be included in the programme or proceedings.
The proceedings will be published after the meeting and be available for download from the ESARDA website.

General Information:
SOCIAL EVENT
14 May 2019 Welcome Reception
15 May 2019 Dinner on the shores of Lake Maggiore

REGISTRATION
All attendees of the ESARDA Symposium are required to pay the registration fee. The registration fee provides full participation in the conference including registration and conference materials, proceedings, morning/afternoon coffee breaks and lunches from Tuesday through Thursday, Welcome Reception on Tuesday and Dinner on Wednesday evening, as well as the bus transfer to/from Ispra on Friday for the visit to the JRC.
700 € Registration fee.
More information on registration to the Symposium and to the visit to the JRC can be found on the ESARDA website.