Xiao Chen, a Chinese scientist, is set to head the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)’s technical committee for nuclear instrumentation, replacing Gerhard Roos.
Roos, managing director of the German Nuclear Safety Standards Commission, has been the chairman of the committee since 2016.
Established in 1960, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Committee 45 (TC 45) focuses on nuclear instrumentation, specifically developing international standards for electrical and electronic equipment systems used in nuclear applications.
According to South China Morning Post, Xiao graduated from Beijing's Tsinghua University. The scientist, with more than two decades of experience in the nuclear industry, held positions at the Chinese Institute for the Standardisation of the Nuclear Industry and the Standardisation Administration of China.
She began her career at the Chinese Atomic Agency before moving to the Chinese Institute for Standardization of the Nuclear Industry.
The scientist has been taking part in IEC standardisation processes since 2005 and has been a member of seven of TC 45 working groups. Since 2012, she has been Secretary of TC 30 SC1 (General Nuclear Instruments Subcommittee) at the Standardization Administration of China (SAC).
China National Nuclear Corporation said she is the first person from Asia to head the committee.
“International standards in nuclear instrumentation play a crucial supporting role in the operation of nuclear facilities, the application of nuclear technology and the development of nuclear radiation detection, as well as international trade,” the state-owned enterprise has been quoted as saying.
“I intend to actively try new methods and new tools proposed by the IEC. My aim will be to improve the efficiency in the compilation of standards as well as to promote the community through the development of more projects,” she told IEC.
