Submit a Manuscript to the Journal
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology
For a Special Issue on
Geological Disposal Research Frontiers: Insights from URLs and Cooperative Projects for Future Challenges
Manuscript deadline
Special Issue Editor(s)
Dr. Yukio Tachi,
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan
[email protected]
Prof. Akira Kirishima,
Tohoku University, Japan
[email protected]
Prof. Takumi Saito,
The University of Tokyo, Japan
[email protected]
Prof. Toshihiko Ohnuki,
Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan
[email protected]
Dr. Kotaro Nakata,
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan
[email protected]
Mr. Toshihiro Seo,
Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan, Japan
[email protected]
Dr. Masahiro Kawakubo,
Radioactive Waste Management Funding and Research Center, Japan
[email protected]
Geological Disposal Research Frontiers: Insights from URLs and Cooperative Projects for Future Challenges
Enhancing international cooperation would be of great importance not only to maintain and strengthen technological capabilities for the final disposal but also to improve stakeholder's confidence. The development of a geological disposal project is an internationally growing priority, many R&D activities are underway in the various field of geological disposal technologies worldwide. Looking towards the long-term implementation of a geological disposal project in an effective and efficient manner from an international perspective, the technical understanding for the project should be further strengthened by, for example, transforming research and development (R&D) results into practical and reliable technologies and managing temporal uncertainties associated with long-term predictive modeling. To this end, it is suggested that international cooperation utilising underground research laboratories (URLs) made internationally available should be facilitated.
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) launched an international project called “Horonobe International Project (HIP)” which utilises an underground facility for the research and development (R&D) of geological disposal at the town of Horonobe in Hokkaido in 2023, supported by OECD/NEA. The aims of this project are to develop and demonstrate advanced technologies to be used in repository design, operation, closure, and a realistic safety assessment in deep geological disposal, which are recognised as common international challenges; and to encourage and train the next generation of engineers and researchers by sharing and transferring a vast amount of knowledge and experience developed to date by relevant organisations worldwide.
In order to cooperate on the R&D topics that will potentially promote multilateral collaboration, the following topics have been identified as three priority tasks in the HIP, i.e. Task A: Solute transport experiment with model testing, Task B: Systematic integration of repository technology options, and Task C: Full-scale engineered barrier system (EBS) dismantling experiment.
This special issue aims to highlight recent advances in R&D on geological disposal, addressing both current and future challenges. While contributions from URL projects such as the HIP are highly encouraged, submissions from other URL initiatives and international collaborative projects worldwide are equally welcome.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- URL projects and international collaborative initiatives
- Site evaluation and characterization
- Design and performance of engineered barrier systems
- Optimization and demonstration of repository design and related technologies
- Radionuclide/solute transport experiments and modeling
- Safety and performance assessment, and treatment of uncertainties
- Research and demonstration: advances in process understanding and modeling
- Applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence to geological disposal
Submission Instructions
Before submission authors should carefully read over “the Instruction for authors,” which is located at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?show=instructions&journalCode=tnst20. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through “Submission Portal” at “Go to submission site” on the journal website https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tnst20/current, according to the following timetable:
- First Round of Reviews: October 31, 2026
- Final Submission of Manuscript: November 30, 2026
- Expected Total Number of Published Papers: 20
- Expected Total Number of Pages: 8 to 10/ paper
- Publication Fee (Non-Open Access publication): Free (excluding Colour charges)
Notification
In the contribution of manuscript, at Step 5
“Manuscript Details,” when finding
(1) “Are you submitting your paper for a specific special issue or article collection?” please select, Yes
(2) Select, “Geological Disposal Research Frontiers: Insights from URLs and Cooperative Projects for Future Challenges” from the dropdown list of Special issue or Article Collection name.
“Colour Figures,” when the authors wish,
please select “Select Individuals” at Print Preferences, and tick the figure to print in colour (If you wish colour printing for all figures, select “All Colour.”) The authors should then pay their own colour charges. Figures should be saved individually and separately from the text.
“Open Access (OA) publication,” when the authors wish, the authors should then pay their own Article Publishing Charge (APC).