Success Stories

Two STCU projects at the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan have created this national analytical center and companion mobile field laboratories, which will provide the INP with a source of contract analytical work. The INP is at the center of a joint U.S.-Uzbek program to improve the Uzbek capability to monitor, detect, and identify the transit of illicit radioactive materials across its borders. A key element of this border security system is a modern radioanalytic laboratory for analysis and characterization of materials detected and intercepted at Uzbek border crossings. But in addition to this nonproliferation mission, the center will also provide Uzbekistan with an important capability to study, evaluate, and monitor a wide variety of materials that play a role in Uzbekistan’s industrial economy as well as its environmental and public health security. The laboratory can provide analytical services to Uzbek government agencies and companies involved in industrial metallurgy, recovery of precious metals, soil nutrient replenishment in agricultural land, geological studies for ore prospecting, medical diagnostics, food quality, and environmental monitoring. With this radioanalytic laboratory, the INP is now positioned to further diversify its activities in the non-nuclear sphere, and make important contributions to Uzbek national development and quality of life for the Uzbek people.

The National Radioanalytic Center was officially opened during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Institute of Nuclear Physics on October 6, 2004. STCU Executive Director Andrew Hood participated in cutting the ribbon and the ceremony was attended by members of the diplomatic community, officials of the government of Uzbekistan as well as members of the Uzbek scientific community and STCU staff.