An IEEE NPSS Technically Cosponsored Conference

We are all well aware of the fact that, over the past few decades, we have made tremendous progress in the development of measuring devices, data processing and analysis tools in many areas of interest such as computing (data mining, Artificial Intelligence, Algorithmic, Machine Learning and Deep Learning), robotics, space, health technologies, energy, environment, and transport. These advances unavoidably affect the requested performances of predictive modeling tools as well as experimental capabilities linked to our fields of activities. In this respect, the ANIMMA scientific community has both the legitimacy and the leadership to face these challenges, and continuously develop a relevant international network. 

As such, each ANIMMA conference and the associated network is a seedbed of new scientific international collaborations dealing with experimental sciences and technologies. 

The ANIMMA Conference has always strived to create a special meeting place shared by all those working in nuclear instrumentation and measurement and their applications, as we strongly believe that cross-border exchanges among scientists, engineers and industrialists can only lead to the most developed ideas, the best solutions and the most efficient collaborations and partnerships. Therefore, ANIMMA continues to maintain a high level of scientific and technical quality by presenting not only the latest advances but also the state of the art in each field through the participation of international specialists and experts.

ANIMMA-2023 was held exclusively in-person from June 12^th – 16^th at Real Collegio in Lucca, Italy. The conference was locally organized by both CAEN-Sys and University of Pisa in strong partnership with CEA (France), SCK.CEN (Belgium), Aix-Marseille-University (France), IEAP Institute (Czech Republic) and Josef Stefan Institute (Slovenia).

ANIMMA-2023 is the eighth edition of a series of conferences with a scientific program dealing with: 

• Three days dedicated to the new ANIMMA Inter-national Summer School (AISS) from June 10^th – 12^th
• A full day dedicated to four international workshops on Monday June 12^th 
• Three keynote lectures on Tuesday, June 13^th during the opening ceremony 
• Three relevant plenary talks at the start of each day on Wednesday, June14^th, Thursday, June 15^th and Friday, June 16^th, followed daily by parallel oral sessions 
• Intensive oral sessions to promote posters on Tuesday 13^th and Wednesday 14^th afternoon followed by a plenary poster session 
• Permanent poster session from Tuesday 13^th to Friday 16^th
• Permanent industrial exhibition with 21 exhibitors from Tuesday 13^th to Friday 16^th

More than 270 scientific presentations were presented in 43 scientific sessions.

ANIMMA International Summer School: AISS 

Encouraged by the success of the short courses organized during previous ANIMMA conferences and with support from the IEEE NPSS Education Committee budget, a three-day Summer School was offered. It took place at the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering of the University of Pisa (June 10^th – 12^th, 2023). 

The program contained ex cathedra lectures on interaction of radiation with matter, general aspects of radiation detectors, medical physics instrumentation, fundamentals of electronics and semiconductor detectors, innovation aspects in radioactive waste characterization, nuclear heating rate measurements, and tips for presenting scientific work. However, the emphasis of the program was put on practical sessions, some of them as plenary demonstration sessions (OPENMC and HOTSPOT simulation training, Flash proton therapy), others in the form of laboratory exercises in small groups (neutron detection, luminescence detection technique, gamma spectroscopy, statistics for radiological measurements and EasyPet). 32 students from various locations attended the ANIMMA Instrumentation Summer School. 

At the end of the program, an optional examination was organized, allowing students to acquire an ECTS certificate.

Workshops

For this eighth edition, four topics focused on new challenges, new emerging techniques and technologies, and recent experimental and numerical results in various fields such as fission, fusion, and medical physics. These four workshops provided a real opportunity to exchange, discuss, perform skill cross-fertilizations and identify new collaborative projects. More precisely: 

• Nuclear instrumentation and measurement for major research facilities in the fields of fusion and fission, 
• Novel perspectives for crystalline materials for radiation detection
• Nuclear Security & Emergencies in Homeland Security
• Building bridges and synergies between reactor dosimetry, irradiation facility dosimetry and personal dosimetry techniques

Special Events

Furthermore, for the first time, special events in strong partnership with IEEE/NPSS and EPS (European Physical Society) were organized: 

• Panel Discussion on “Nuclear Energy and Climate Change” on Wednesday June 14th evening 
• Women In Engineering (WIE) event on Thursday June 15th late afternoon to celebrate “Excellence” and “Recognition” of Women and Minorities in the scientific fields.

ANIMMA-2023 welcomed 403 attendees from 31 countries including 80 graduate students. We awarded two best student papers and three best posters.

The ANIMMA-2023 attendees deserve our warmest thanks and consideration for making this eighth edition a great success in an extraordinary location. 

All the committee members are looking forward to welcoming everyone again at ANIMMA-2025 in Valencia, Spain

Prof. Dr. Abdallah Lyoussi, ANIMMA General Chairman and Program Committee Chair can be reached by E-mail at [email protected]