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The International Atomic Energy Agency-Environet (Network on Environmental Management and Remediation) invites young professionals (younger than 35 years) to develop an essay outlining innovative strategies and approaches to manage NORM residues and waste. The writer of the best essay will be granted a lump sum (to cover airfare and lodging over the entire duration of the Conference) and will be entitled to make a 20-minute presentation during the closing session of the International Conference on the Management of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in Industry (NORM2020 Conference) to be held in Vienna, Austria, 19–23 October.

The NORM2020 Conference amplifies the objectives of the IAEA-Environet NORM Project, which has established three tasks groups (1) providing guidance on the establishment of policies and strategies for NORM, (2) defining strategies to establish NORM inventories in member states, and (3) establishing cost estimation of different NORM residue and waste management approaches.

The NORM2020 Conference wishes to establish a look into the future in which sustainability principles, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, are of paramount importance to back up development objectives. In this context, making efficient use of raw materials and natural resources is of strategic importance and these are linked with principles and practices that are aimed at eliminating waste and promoting the responsible and cyclical use of resources.

The essay should be two pages long, indicating the industry where the residue/waste comes from, the feasibility of the intended approach, and the fields of application. Economic considerations, safety/regulatory implications, and stakeholder acceptability may be also considered. The essay must be original, written in English, and limited to 800 words.

Essays should be sent by email to NORM2020 Conference by 14 August. The submitted essays will be reviewed by the chair and work group leaders of the Environet NORM Project.