IEEE NPSS School on Nuclear Power for Sustainable Development - Ho Chi Minh City

6 Sept 2026, 14:00 → 12 Sept 2026, 12:00 Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh

The School is jointly organized by the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society and Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City - University of Science

Topics:

• Foundations of Nuclear Power and Sustainability
• Advanced Reactor Technologies and Nuclear Safety
• Non-Electric Applications and Nuclear Safety
  

The goal of the school is

• To train master level students in the area of nuclear power
• To promote the participation of young scientists in nuclear engineering and related fields
• To provide refreshers for young professionals already working with these technologies
  
  

This will be achieved through a combination of lectures and exercises.

Participation is free of charge. Accomodation (for participants from outside Ho Chi Minh City) and meals will be provided. We have some limited funds available to support participant travel, see the registration form.

Location and date

06.-12.09.2026

Main Campus, University of Science VNU-HCM
227 Nguyen Van Cu St., Cho Quan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Registration deadline is July 15, 2026 (midnight in Vietnam)

Sunday 6 September

14:00 → 18:00 Arrival of participants

18:00 → 20:00 Welcome Dinner

Monday 7 September

08:30 → 09:00 Welcome

Speakers: Martin Grossmann, Tran Minh Triet

09:00 → 09:45 The Role of Nuclear Energy in Achieving Net-Zero Emissions and UN Sustainable Development Goals

Speaker: Cinzia Da Via (The University of Manchester (GB))

09:45 → 10:30 Fundamental Reactor Physics: Kinetics and Feedback Mechanisms

Speakers: Quinnan Hetrick, Raymond Cao

10:30 → 11:15 Evolution of Nuclear Fission Technology: From Gen II to Gen III+ and Gen IV and SMR

Speaker: Raymond Cao

11:15 → 12:00 Overview of Fusion Technology

Speaker: NN

12:00 → 13:30 Lunch

13:30 → 18:00 Exercises

Simulator:

IAEA Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Simulator or Micro-Physics Part Task Simulator

Activity:

Introduction to the Human Machine Interface (HMI)
Performing a "Cold Startup: bringing the plant from zero power to full criticality
Observing the relationship between moderator temperature and reactivity

Speakers: Phan Le Hoang Sang, Quinnan Hetrick

18:00 → 20:00 Dinner

Tuesday 8 September

09:00 → 09:45 Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Micro-Reactors: Design, Deployment and Flexibility for Developing Grids

Speaker: Raymond Cao

09:45 → 10:30 Lessons Learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Accident

Speaker: MASAHARU NOMACHI

10:30 → 11:15 Overview of Nuclear Technology in Vietnam

Speaker: Nguyen Kien Cuong

11:15 → 12:00 The NPSS booklet on Radiation

Speaker: N N

12:00 → 13:30 Lunch

13:30 → 18:00 Exercises

Simulator:

IAEA SMR or PWR Simulator

Activity:

Simulating "Load Following" operations (adjusting power based on grid demand)
Testing Passive Cooling: Observing how the reactor behaves during a simulated loos of Coolant Flow without operator intervention

Speakers: Phan Le Hoang Sang, Quinnan Hetrick

18:00 → 20:00 Dinner

Wednesday 9 September

09:00 → 09:45 Radiation Detection in Nuclear Power Plants

Speaker: MASAHARU NOMACHI

09:45 → 10:30 The role of Standards for Nuclear Energy

Speaker: Maike Luiken

10:30 → 11:15 Radiation Therapy with Protons

Speaker: Martin Grossmann

11:15 → 12:00 Overview of Medical Physics in Vietnam

Speaker: Trang Hoang (University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

12:00 → 13:30 Lunch

13:30 → 18:00 Exercises

Simulator:

IAEA VVER or PHWR (CANDU) Simulator

Activity:

Transient Analysis: Simulating a "Turbine Trip" or "Station Blackout" (SBO)
Emergency Response: Using the simulator to practice the "Identification-Mitigation-Recovery" Cycle for abnormal transients

Speakers: Phan Le Hoang Sang, Quinnan Hetrick

18:00 → 20:00 Dinner

Thursday 10 September

08:00 → 12:00 Technical Tour 1: Can Tho Oncology Hospital

Focus

LINAC (Linear Accelerators), Radioisotopes in diagnostics, and Cancer Treatment

12:00 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 18:00 Technical Tour 2: Food Irradiation Facilities

Focus

Industrial Gamma/Electron-beam irradiation for agricultural exports and food safety

18:00 → 20:00 Dinner

Friday 11 September

09:00 → 12:00 Preparation of Student Presentations

The students have been working in groups to solve specific challenges using the simulators. Please prepare a presentation showing simulation data, findings, and a discussion on how their assigned reactor type contributes to sustainable development

12:00 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:00 Student Presentations

18:00 → 21:00 Farewell Dinner

Saturday 12 September

08:00 → 11:00 Departure of participants