Its work has a direct impact on the lives of citizens by contributing with its research outcomes to a healthy and safe environment, secure energy supplies, sustainable mobility and consumer health and safety.
The JRC hosts specialist laboratories and unique research facilities and is home to thousands of scientists working to support EU policy.
The JRC has ten Directorates and is located across five EU Member States (Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain).
Fundamental properties, irradiation effects and behaviour under normal and accident conditions of nuclear fuels and structural materials are studied.
A dedicated functional entity is devoted to the management and dissemination of knowledge and to facilitate open access to JRC nuclear facilities including training and education.
The details of the devices used to test visitors for radioactive and nuclear materials are not public knowledge (for security reasons).
[5][6] PHEBUS is a series of experiments where fuel was overheated and damaged under very strictly controlled conditions, in order to obtain data on what would happen in a serious nuclear power reactor accident.
The ITU is able to examine environmental samples in order to decide if dangerous levels of radioactive contamination are present.
[10] The ITU has a service which assists police and other law enforcement organisations by examining any seized radioactive or nuclear material.