The Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology (IRSE) is located in the city of Kurchatov and functions under National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan as its affiliated state enterprise. The Institute’s site covers over 21 hectares.
Main research activities of the Institute are related to comprehensive studies of the former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (SNTS) with development and implementation of measures aimed at normalization of radio-ecological situation at the test site and adjacent territories.

The Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology keeps the following licenses:

• for handling and operations with radiation sources including storage of radioactive materials, utilization of radiation sources, their storage and accounting;
• for handling of radioactive waste including decontamination of premises and equipment, collection and transportation of radioactive waste;
• for services related to atomic energy utilization including radiation control of territories; for offering expertise, analyses and radiation safety assessments; for radiation rehabilitation and reclaiming of lands;
• for radiological and radio-ecological assurance of works including activities at territories of the former nuclear test sites and other territories contaminated due to nuclear explosions;
• for services in the field of environmental protection;
• for special training of specialists and staff for activity related to atomic energy utilization including future training of specialists for courses «Radioecology», «Dosimetrist, Radiochemistry laboratory technician», «Radiation protection at handling of radioactive substances»
• for activity related to precursor circulation.

Laboratories of the Institute are attested for radiation, radio-chemical and spectrometry tests including:

 

• determination with required precision of ambient dose rates for x-ray and γ-radiation, flux densities for β-particles emitted by surfaces contaminated with radioactive substances;
• tests of soil, water, food industry products and agricultural products, vegetation, construction materials with determination of specific activity for α-, β-, γ – emitting radionuclides.

The Institute is actively involved in joint activities with national and international organizations such as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), NATO, research laboratories in the USA and research institutes in Russian Academy of Sciences and others.

Outcomes of our research are regularly published and presented in Kazakhstan and abroad at scientific conferences and workshops devoted to radiation ecology and radiation biology. The Institute hosted two International Conferences “Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site. Radiation Legacy and Non-Proliferation Issues”. In 15 years after its creation, the Institute has issued more than 230 publications.

The enterprise fulfills the following functions:

1) in accordance with the established procedure carries out the tasks of Republican scientific-technical and other budget programmes; performs the works on the area of its activity based on contracts and agreements with native and foreign organizations;

2)plans, organizes and carries out the research works and technological developments for main activities of the Institute;

3) coordinates with the Main enterprise, scientific-research institutions and industrial enterprises of the Republic, for issues of practical realization of developed methods and technologies at the Enterprise in the interests of science and national economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

4)carries out the training for staff on the basic activities of the Enterprise, assists to other enterprise of the Republic in the training of such specialists;

5)develops and implements the set of actions (search of partners, marketing studies, development and formation of projects with participation of scientific-research divisions of the Enterprise) aimed at a conclusion of contract with native and foreign institutions to carry out research and other works under the activity of the Enterprise;

6)fulfil the economical activity aimed at the development of main activities and resolving of social-economical problems of the Enterprise jointly with interested organizations;

7)according to the established order issues scientific studies, methodical, information and other materials; holds workshops, meetings, conferences for basic areas of scientific and industrial activities of the Enterprises.