• Class Number 9471
  • Term Code 3570
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Mode of Delivery In Person
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Art Cotterell
  • LECTURER
    • Art Cotterell
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 22/09/2025
  • Class End Date 31/10/2025
  • Census Date 03/10/2025
  • Last Date to Enrol 03/10/2025
SELT Survey Results

Australia's ability to fulfil its international obligations regarding the security and safeguards for nuclear materials and technologies depends on having a skilled professional workforce to monitor and enforce these. This course, developed in partnership with the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO), provides an analytical, problem-based and experientially-grounded approach to building the skills for security and safeguard professionals. The course includes site and lab visit(s) to locations where nuclear materials are used, stored, monitored and disposed of; practical instruction in the tools and techniques of nuclear regulation; and approaches to future technologies and methodologies of oversight and management.


Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the Australian legal requirements for radiation safety and the handling and transportation of nuclear materials.
  2. Identify and explain how regulatory tools such as standards, physical design and safety protocols combine to ensure the security of nuclear material use, storage and displosal.
  3. Understand the professional and organisational dimensions of nuclear inspection, including the strengths and limitations of the full range of regulatory tools used to secure compliance from designated sites and licensees in Australia and internationally.
  4. Be able to communicate at an advanced technical level, the safeguards challenges for regulators and inspectors of nuclear materials likely to flow from Australia's AUKUS obligations and/or emerging technologies.
  5. Be able to find, understand and apply, regulatory, scientific and professional sources that inform nuclear inspections and compliance protocols and practice.

Field Trips

Site visit to Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) on Friday, 26 September. Pre-registration required, details provided upon enrolment.

Additional Course Costs

Your travel to/from ANSTO for the site visit and any accomodation.

Required Resources

Course readings provided on Canvas site.

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

  • written comments
  • verbal comments
  • feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Class activities are not recorded for this course as they primarily consist of interactive discussions and activities.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Class 1 (Monday, 22 September)Introduction to nuclear safeguards practice
  • Invited guest presentation and Q&A: Australian Safeguards and Nonproliferation Office (ASNO) Director General
  • Discuss the course, assessments, timetable, any burning questions
  • Orientation to Canvas

Class 2 (Friday, 26 September)Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) site visit
  • Students to organise travel to/from site and any accomodation
In-class participation (ongoing)Engage with discussion forum (established for each seminar)NO class on Wednesday, 24 September due to our site visit to Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) on Friday, 26 September. Pre-registration required. Details provided upon enrolment.


2 Class 1 (Monday, 29 September) Debrief from ANSTO site visit
  • Invited guest presentation and Q&A: ANSTO safeguards team

Human factors in nuclear safeguards practice:
  • Delivered by Associate Professor, Elizabeth (Liz) Williams (ANU)

Class 2 (Wednesday, 1 October) Tools and techniques of regulation 1/2: nuclear material accountancy, analytical methods, HM5
  • Delivered by Dr Russell Leslie (ANU) with HM-5 demonstration
  • In-class scenario discussions
3 Class 1 (Monday, 6 October)
  • Note, NO seminar due to the ACT Public Holiday

Class 2 (Wednesday, 8 October)Tools and techniques of regulation 2/2: emerging technologies for safeguards verification, satellite imagery and integrating AI into safeguards practice
  • Delivered by Art Cotterell and Associate Professor Liz Williams (ANU)
  • Guest lecture and Q&A: ASNO inspector
NO seminar Monday, 6 October due to the ACT Public Holiday.
Friday, 10 October 2025: Reflection on safeguards at ANSTO (1000 words)
4 Class 1 (Monday, 13 October)Designing compliance systems and safeguards-by- design (verification and monitoring, containment and surveillance)
  • Pre-recorded presentations delivered by Adjunct Associate Professor Jasmin (Jaz) Diab (CSU)

Class 2 (Wednesday, 15 October)Destructive assay techniques and nondestructive assay techniques
  • Delivered by Dr Russell Leslie (ANU)
Friday, 17 October: Research and writing outline for research assessment (1000 words)
5 Class 1 (Monday, 20 October)Nuclear safeguards for emerging technologies: SMRs, advanced reactor designs, fusion reactors, commercial maritime nuclear propulsion, floating nuclear power plants, space-based uses
  • Delivered by Art Cotterell (ANU) and guest lecture TBC

Class 2 (Wednesday, 22 October)
  • Course wrap-up
  • Research assessment discussion
Sunday, 30 November: Research assessment due (3000 words)

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find . No tutorials for this course, as it is presented as a series of seminars. Out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Due Date Learning Outcomes
In-class participation (10%) 10 % * 1,2,3,4
Online discussion forum participation (established for each seminar) (10%) 10 % * 1,2,3,4
Reflections on safeguards practice at ANSTO (1000 words) (20%) 20 % 10/10/2025 3,5
Research and writing outline for research essay (1000 words) (20%) 20 % 17/10/2025 1,2,3,4,5
Research assessment (3000 words) (40%) 40 % 30/11/2025 1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Value: 10 %
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4

In-class participation (10%)

Assessment Task 2

Value: 10 %
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4

Online discussion forum participation (established for each seminar) (10%)

Assessment Task 3

Value: 20 %
Due Date: 10/10/2025
Learning Outcomes: 3,5

Reflections on safeguards practice at ANSTO (1000 words) (20%)

Assessment Task 4

Value: 20 %
Due Date: 17/10/2025
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5

Research and writing outline for research essay (1000 words) (20%)

Assessment Task 5

Value: 40 %
Due Date: 30/11/2025
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5

Research assessment (3000 words) (40%)

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.


The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.


The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

Not applicable.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

  • Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
  • Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

  • ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
  • ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
  • ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
  • ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
  • ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
  • ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students
Art Cotterell
0403102670
U7060484@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Governance and regulation of emerging technologies

Art Cotterell

Monday By Appointment
Wednesday By Appointment
Sunday
Art Cotterell
0403102670
art.cotterell@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Art Cotterell

Monday By Appointment
Wednesday By Appointment
Sunday

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