Students from the Nuclear Engineering Department of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) represented Indonesia at the International Conference on Nuclear Security: Shaping the Future 2024 (ICONS 2024). This conference was organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from May 20-24, 2024, in Vienna, Austria.
ICONS 2024 is a significant event for the global nuclear security community. It provides a platform for ministers, policymakers, and experts to discuss the future of nuclear security, share information, and strengthen international cooperation.
Satrio Gilang Ismaya, Marchelino Chrisrichy Cosmo Hutama, Daniel Christian Valentino, and Rafi Athillah Yasin were among the UGM Nuclear Engineering students representing Indonesia.
At the conference, they presented their research titled “Evaluating Physical Protection System for Radioactive Source at Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Nuclear Engineering Department Using Stochastic Approach.”
“This is our work, and it was selected by the IAEA to be presented at the conference,” said Marchelino Chrisrichy Cosmo Hutama at the UGM campus on Monday (Jun. 24).
Hutama was the youngest student appointed to speak at the conference. He successfully presented the research of the UGM Nuclear Engineering Team.
“This research evaluates the reliability of the physical protection system in the radioactive source storage room at UGM’s Nuclear Energy Technology Laboratory using the Monte Carlo method,” he explained.
He further elaborated that the radioactive sources in UGM’s Nuclear Energy Technology Laboratory are used for education and research, but their small size makes them vulnerable to theft. The study conducted by the UGM student team showed that the existing physical protection system is still reliable.
This system is essential in nuclear security as it integrates human, regulatory, and security equipment to create a comprehensive system.
Monalija Kostor, Director of Policy and External Affairs from the Malaysian Atomic Energy Department and forum chair, praised Hutama’s presentation.
She noted that his presentation attracted attention and received appreciation from various country representatives, including Russia and other delegates from Malaysia, Canada, and Oman.
“An excellent and energetic presentation. We should be proud because young people like him will be the future generation for nuclear security and must be fully supported,” said Monalija Kostor.
“I believe this research will be a good starting point for the broader development of global nuclear security. Congratulations; you have succeeded,” added an Oman representative.
The Canadian delegation made a similar assessment. They highly appreciated the youngest speaker at this forum, who was from UGM.
“I highly appreciate his presentation; Hutama delivered it very well, clearly, and attractively,” said a delegate from Canada.
Representatives from other countries, such as the United States, Uganda, France, and Tunisia, also participated in the conference.
For Hutama, being the youngest speaker at ICONS 2024 was a valuable experience and a first step toward developing himself on the international stage. He considered this event an honor and a pride to represent Indonesia.
With this experience, he said he had the opportunity to communicate and establish direct relations with outstanding individuals worldwide.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that it was an extraordinary experience to collaborate with Satrio Gilang Ismaya, Daniel Christian Valentino, and Rafi Athillah Yasin to create competent and internationally recognized research.
“I hope this experience can motivate fellow students, especially in developing nuclear technology for Indonesia and the world,” Hutama hoped.
Author: Agung Nugroho