AWE experts recently supported the Working Group B (technical working group) of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in Vienna.
Leigh Turner, UK Ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, met the team at the CTBTO headquarters in the Vienna International Centre and thanked them for the hard work in supporting the UK commitments to the CTBT.
The MOD are the National Authority for the Treaty in the UK and AWE have supported the technical verification elements of the treaty for many decades.
AWE send experts covering the key technical areas of the verification regime; seismology, infrasound, hydroacoustic, radionuclide and inspection techniques, to support the MOD in executing the UK obligations to the Treaty.
AWE’s, technical sponsor for Nuclear Treaty Verification, Claire Watt said: “The work of AWE’s multidisciplinary team of scientists at the Working Group B meeting ensures that the UK fulfils its CTBT commitments to international monitoring and verification. Within this international forum AWE provides technical advice including input to the UK national statement and support at the P5 experts meeting. The chairperson for the Waveform Expert Group for the past 10 years (David Bowers) is also part of the UK delegation. Both the MOD National Authority for CTBT, and wider government, have expressed their appreciation for the continued support provided by AWE experts.”