Poland's only nuclear reactor celebrates its 50th anniversary. The MARIA reactor supports the development of science, medicine and industry. On the occasion of the jubilee, the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) is organising an international symposium on nuclear energy and an exhibition presenting the ‘jubilatee’.

The MARIA reactor is the only operational nuclear reactor and one of the largest research facilities in Poland. It is located on the premises of the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ), in Otwock-Świerk, near Warsaw. MARIA does not produce electricity, but neutrons, which create radioisotopes for cancer diagnosis and radiotherapy. The MARIA reactor produces innovative materials for industry, allows basic and applied research in physics, and enables the training of personnel in nuclear and radiological protection.

On the night of 17-18 December 1974, the MARIA reactor, for the first time, reached criticality, i.e. the appropriate conditions for a self-sustaining chain reaction. This date is considered to be the moment when the reactor began operation. The reactor is named MARIA, in honour of two-time Nobel laureate Marie Skłodowska-Curie.

The MARIA reactor was designed and constructed by Polish specialists. Its original purpose was to support its ‘big sister’, the EWA reactor (an acronym formed from the words Experimental, Water, Atomic). The EWA reactor was the first nuclear reactor in Poland, after several critical sets, to be used for scientific research. It was decommissioned in 1995. Now MARIA is one of the youngest, largest and most modern nuclear research reactors in Europe. - Grzegorz Krzysztoszek, Deputy Director for Nuclear Safety and Radiological Protection at the NCBJ, talks about the history of the reactor.

At MARIA, physical research is carried out, including with the use of intense neutron beams, radiochemical research and materials research, including that necessary to master fusion energy production technology. The MARIA reactor is a major global producer of iodine-131, used in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases. MARIA also meets between 10 and 20 per cent of global demand for molybdenum-99, which is used in cancer diagnosis and therapy. One week of reactor operation is helping 100,000 patients worldwide.

MARIA, as the only active nuclear reactor in Poland, enables the training of personnel specialised in nuclear power and radiological protection. The so-called physical hall is currently being refurbished, which will provide access to a laboratory facility for materials research that is unique in this part of the world. The infrastructure, using intense neutron beams, centred under the banner of the Maria Neutron Laboratory, is included in the Polish Research Infrastructure Map.

An international symposium entitled ‘Jubilee of 50 years of the MARIA reactor’ will be held at the NCBJ headquarters on 25 October. This symposium will present the achievements of several generations of experts from different scientific fields who are tackling the most important challenges of nuclear research. The symposium will be attended by representatives of government authorities and key nuclear and reactor research centres from around the world. The panel discussion will address topics concerning the operation of research reactors and their safety.

‘MARIA's anniversary is the perfect time to take stock of what we have achieved so far and to present our plans for the future. The MARIA reactor is a unique example of a Polish research infrastructure with significance beyond Poland's borders. The decreasing availability of similar research facilities in Europe and around the world, caused by the closure of existing facilities and delays in the construction or abandonment of new nuclear reactors, is increasing interest in MARIA's research capabilities. That is why the current modernisation of our reactor is so important, which will allow research on, among other things: thermal neutron scattering and neutron imaging. - says Paweł Nowakowski, Director of the Nuclear Facilities Exploitation Department at the NCBJ.

The modernisation of MARIA is not the only project being carried out at NCBJ. The final phase of work is currently underway on the design of a new high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR), which will produce both heat and electricity. Thus, a 30 MW HTGR - POLA will be built at Świerk, allowing the capabilities of the reactor to be tested and used in industry.

During the symposium, an exhibition will be presented to showcase fifty years of work by generations of experts in various scientific fields and the potential of the MARIA reactor. A painting work by Ms Daria Solar inspired by the interior of the MARIA reactor will be part of the exhibition. The exhibition will be available, among others, in the building of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland from 18 to 25 November this year.

Honorary patronage over the MARIA reactor anniversary celebrations was assumed by: Marzena Czarnecka - Minister of Industry, Dariusz Wieczorek - Minister of Science and Higher Education, Barbara Nowacka - Minister of Education, Izabela Leszczyna - Minister of Health, Andrzej Głowacki - President of the State Atomic Energy Agency, Adam Struzik - Office of the Mazovian Voivodship, Jarosław Margielski - Office of the City of Otwock.

Detailed information on the MARIA reactor: www.50latmarii.ncbj.gov.pl.