NAWG-18 venue, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, UK
Image courtesy Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester
Workshop Overview
NAWG (Natural Analogue Working Group, chair Prof Heini Reijonen, Geological Survey of Finland), in association with Prof Kevin Taylor (University of Manchester, UK) and Prof Simon Norris (Nuclear Waste Services and University of Manchester, UK), is pleased to invite you to the 18th NAWG workshop, to be held in Manchester, UK, on 9-11th June, 2026.
The NAWG-18 workshop will be an opportunity to explore recent developments in the use of natural analogues (NA) in the field of geological disposal of radioactive waste. Extensive scope of NAs is reflected in the preliminary topical session list (below), but we are also happy to receive proposals for additional sessions. The scope covers all geological disposal concepts for HLW, ILW, LLW, including alternative concepts.
Schedule
Monday, 8th June: Travel to Manchester, ice breaker in the evening.
Tuesday, 9th June: Workshop sessions
Wednesday, 10th June: Workshop sessions and workshop dinner
Thursday, 11th June: Field trip (Harpur Hill and surroundings)
Posters will be on display throughout the workshop (session reserved for Tuesday afternoon)
Preliminary Topical Sessions
- Siting and site characterisation
- NA studies in support of repository siting
- Direct NA technical input to site characterisation
- Using NAs to communicate with local communities
- NAs in stakeholder communications
- What has been achieved so far?
- Previous mistakes made through over-simplification of the messages
- Where to now – examples of current thinking, how to learn from science on other media?
- NA in the safety case
- Recent examples of NA support of the safety case
- What should NA bring to the safety case – the view of the regulator
- Use of NA information in licence applications
- Longevity of the engineered barrier systems (EBS)
- Waste forms
- Waste packages
- Buffers, backfills, seals, earth covers
- Host rock studies
- External processes (climate, biosphere, seismicity etc.) potentially affecting repository performance
- Radionuclide migration in the geosphere
- Impact of potential EBS-host rock interaction
- Deep borehole disposal – relevant analogues for deep geosphere
- Knowledge management (KM)
- How to ensure inclusion of NAs in national/international programmes (e.g. EURATOM, IAEA, NEA)?
- What can/should NAWG contribute?
- NA Knowledge Management examples
Participation & Submissions
For any questions, please contact
Registration has been opened here. You can submit your presentation topic(s) and title when you register.
Registration fee is 250£ covering coffee/tea/food during breaks, conference dinner and field trip.
Abstract template can be downloaded from here.
Important dates
Abstract submission deadline: end of March 2026
Registration deadline: May 15th 2026 (but please register as early as possible)
Full paper deadline: End of July 2026
