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Inside the new IAEA Visitor Centre — a first-of-its-kind space where visitors can discover how nuclear science and technology is addressing global challenges.?
Step into the new IAEA Visitor Centre in Seibersdorf, Austria, and discover how nuclear science delivers solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges — from food security and clean energy to climate action and global health.
Through 33 interactive exhibits, digital displays and real-world examples, visitors can see how the IAEA works with countries worldwide to put “Atoms for Peace and Development” into practice.
Here are five hands-on highlights you won’t want to miss:
A visitor measures radiation from a potassium sample with a Geiger counter, demonstrating the presence of natural radioactivity.
Did you know the human body contains enough potassium to set off some radiation detectors? Because of potassium-40, your body is a small but constant source of natural radiation that sensitive instruments can pick up. At our interactive exhibit, you can test out a Geiger counter and learn what levels of radiation are considered safe. You’ll also discover why radiation isn’t just something found in nuclear power plants — it’s a natural part of the environment and even inside our own bodies.
Guests watch a life-sized display of IAEA safeguards inspectors explaining the specialized tools they use to carry out verification activities.
When IAEA inspectors visit nuclear facilities around the world, they carry specialized instruments to verify that nuclear material is used only for peaceful purposes. For the first time, all these tools are on display. On a life size monitor, you’ll meet an inspector who personally walks you through each instrument. You can the pick up the tools yourself and see how the IAEA’s safeguards system works to build trust and support international peace and security.
An interactive display at the Ocean Acidification panel shows the real-time effects of rising temperatures and changing pH levels on corals and marine life.
Oceans sustain ecosystems, regulate weather and provide livelihoods for more than three billion people. But human activities are altering their chemistry. By absorbing about 23 per cent of the carbon dioxide we produce, seawater has become 30 per cent more acidic since pre-industrial times. At our interactive exhibit, you can see in real time how acidification weakens corals, threatens marine life and disrupts the food web — and how nuclear techniques help scientists study and address these challenges.
A visitor takes the interactive quiz on nuclear safety and security, testing their knowledge of the two and learning how the IAEA supports countries in both areas.
Nuclear safety and nuclear security both protect people and the environment, but in different ways. Safety prevents accidents and limits radiation risks, while security stops theft, smuggling or sabotage. At the Visitor Centre, you can test your knowledge with interactive exhibits and explore how the IAEA helps countries strengthen both.
You can also check out the Incident and Emergency Centre, the IAEA’s global hub for emergency preparedness and response, which operates around the clock to provide guidance and real-time support,to member countries in the unlikely event of a nuclear or radiological incident.
At the Plant Breeding exhibit, visitors discover how tiny doses of radiation can speed up natural processes to create crops that resist disease, grow faster and improve food security.
Can science help protect and make staple crops stronger? Nuclear techniques can speed up natural plant breeding to create varieties that resist droughts, pests and diseases. At the Visitor Centre, you’ll see how these techniques help farmers adapt to climate change and how IAEA-supported research is helping boost food security in many countries.
The IAEA Visitor Centre welcomes organized groups, with tours offered free of charge on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Each visit lasts up to two hours and, when possible, can be tailored to specific interests.
The Centre is fully accessible and designed with students and educators in mind: teachers can request additional STEM resources to link the experience with classroom learning. Practical arrangements are simple and can be made upon registration, with free parking available on site and support for group transport if needed.
To learn more, visit the IAEA Visitor Centre website — and follow our social media channels, including the Visitor Centre’s Instagram account, for regular updates and highlights.
