Vienna, Tuesday, 15 September 2026. A side event was held during the 70th IAEA General Conference, organized by the Mission of Belgium to the United Nations and International Organizations in Vienna and the secretariat of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), marked 70 years of independent scientific assessment and international cooperation.
H.E. Christophe de Bassompierre, Ambassador of Belgium to Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia, and Permanent Representative of Belgium to the International Organizations in Vienna, opened the side event, followed by welcoming remarks from Hildegarde Vandenhove, Director of the IAEA Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety.
Sarah Baatout, Chair of UNSCEAR, delivered the keynote lecture, highlighting the UNSCEAR’s unique role in assessing radiation exposure and its effects, and in supporting evidence-based decision-making for radiation protection and public health. She also underscored UNSCEAR's continued commitment to providing independent, impartial, and rigorously reviewed scientific evidence to inform policy and protect people and the environment in the years ahead.
Tiberio Cabianca, Secretary of UNSCEAR, moderated a panel discussion on UNSCEAR's global contributions to radiation science and protection. The panel, comprising Sarah Baatout (Belgium), Gillian Hirth (Australia), Aayda Al Shehhi (United Arab Emirates), and Carol Robinson (Norway), explored UNSCEAR’s pivotal role in advancing the global understanding of radiation exposure and its effects on people and the environment. The panel also highlighted UNSCEAR’s enduring contribution to providing the scientific foundation for radiation protection and informed decision-making worldwide.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Arnt Kennis, Chair of UNSCEAR’s Informal Contact Group, who thanked the panelists, participants, and attendees for their valuable contributions and engagement.
