Expertises

Radiation can damage healthy tissue, but how? How does our body react to low doses? Or to high doses such as found in space? What are the short and long term effects? SCK CEN reveals the biological secrets: this knowledge is necessary in the fighting against cancer. SCK CEN uses its versatile expertise to develop personalised and, above all, less invasive cancer therapies.

What is nuclear waste? What do we do with it? What if a nuclear power plant is taken out of service? SCK CEN is working on many applications to protect people and the environment, now and in a distant future, against radioactivity. Radioactivity cannot be detected through human senses. SCK CEN uses advanced measurement devices to continuously measure and monitor radioactivity.

Neighbouring inhabitants, cancer patients or astronauts. Before launching any research project, we ask ourselves: is there any social added value to this research? This is the starting point of our activities, and one specific research line studies the interaction between nuclear technology and society.

How to extend the lifespan of a nuclear reactor? How to choose structural materials of new reactor designs? Ever since its creation, SCK CEN acquired a great amount of knowledge on material aging. Thanks to this knowledge, SCK CEN accurately predicts how materials (will) behave in a nuclear reactor.

Innovation in nuclear technology is never at a standstill. SCK CEN is actively working on developing innovative nuclear research infrastructures. SCK CEN also develops techniques to dismantle nuclear facilities, to manage radioactive residues more efficiently and to produce more pure medical radioisotopes.

How to guarantee the safe operation of nuclear reactors? What measures to take in the event of a nuclear incident? How to make sure astronauts can safely explore space? How to monitor radioactivity? Safety is our priority. It is also the motive behind the activities carried out by SCK CEN.