Dr. Howard Hall and Dr. Joseph Stainback IV recently returned from Egypt, where they participated in a nuclear security conference organized by the UT Institute for Nuclear Security and hosted by the Egyptian Council of Foreign Affairs. The conference focused on building international partnerships and encouraging new ideas for helping countries develop the infrastructures needed to support peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Many countries want nuclear energy, but have not yet developed the internal foundations needed to guarantee its safe use.

Hall and Stainback were well-received in the course of their visit. Hall delivered opening remarks at the conference in Cairo. They also took VIP tours across the country where they connected with Egyptian colleagues, successfully proposing memoranda of understanding with Alexandria University, the Library of Alexandria, and Aswan University. And in Aswan, together with its governor, Maj. Gen. Magdy Fouad Hegazy, Hall and Stainback prompted interest in a sister city agreement for our local municipalities. After a brief visit to Luxor, Chairman of the Arab Union Eng. Hesham M. Rezk presented Hall with an Egyptian Shield, a plaque acknowledging UT’s outreach efforts in Egypt. Back in Cairo, Egyptian Ambassador Gillane Allam invited the pair to dinner at the Diplomatic Club where they discussed potential collaboration with other figures. Amb. Allam is a career diplomat who held posts in India, Australia, and New Zealand.

UT’s Institute for Nuclear Security leads by example in hosting and delivering local and international workshops, lectures, and meetings designed to foster a culture of nuclear security that can address and resolve some of the toughest issues of our time. The Institute’s world-renowned experts promote excellence in global security through a vital understanding that academic and cultural exchange with government and industry is critical to building partnerships with countries interested in developing nuclear energy.

Hall is the UT/ORNL Governor’s Chair for Global Nuclear Security and directs the Institute which is housed by the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy. His well-established expertise covers nuclear forensics, nuclear engineering, international transparency, nuclear nonproliferation, and nuclear security science and analysis. Stainback’s expertise is based on his lifelong career in nuclear security at high-risk facilities. His specialties include domestic safeguards, physical security, nuclear nonproliferation, and domestic International Atomic Energy Agency inspections.

Stainback remarked, “We experienced the history of civilization at every turn. It was a very enriching experience.”