IAEA Showcases Science in Action at WNE’s “Beyond Electricity” Expo

More than 2,000 visitors - including students, researchers, journalists, private sector representatives and government officials - visited the IAEA's exhibits, which showcased practical applications of nuclear science in health, food, and agriculture.

In medicine, the IAEA demonstrated how ionizing radiation is helping to address non-communicable diseases such as cancer. Through the IAEA's human health programme 's virtual reality (VR) models, attendees experience first-hand how nuclear technology supports the treatment of cervix and the prostate cancers through radiotherapy - a life-saving treatment that nearly half of all cancer patients require at some point.

As visitors moved through each of the key step of the treatment process, they also learned how medical imaging techniques, such as computed tomography help monitor and manage these cancers. Under the IAEA's Rays of Hope initiative, dedicated knowledge and capacity building hubs around the world - known as Anchor Centres - use these VR models to accelerate education and training.

"By simulating external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy procedures, the IAEA's VR tools are helping students and professionals to build hands-on experience within realistic settings," explained Sandra Ndarukwa, IAEA Associate Education Officer (Radiation Oncology) and the specialist responsible for the models. "In light of the 84 000 radiation oncologists, 47 000 medical physicists and 141 000 radiotherapy technologists who are needed by 2050 to meet the global surge in cancer cases, these tools serve as an innovative catalyst to train at scale," she emphasized, noting: "Over 80 radiotherapy specialists from across Africa were able to sharpen their medical skills by utilizing these VR models at the at the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) conference in Tunisia that was held during the same week as WNE."