"As a nuclear safeguards inspector I can directly contribute towards world peace through my work."

"When I was going to school in the Philippines, science was always something I enjoyed doing. I was always good at Biology. So when it came to choosing a programme at university, that was the most natural thing to do. There's so much you learn by doing science, like the way to approach and solve problems. Scientific methods get assimilated into your life and you look at things differently, have a different perspective." Sharon's lab deals with mosquito Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which is used to control unwanted populations of insect pests. It has been successfully applied against insects that threaten livestock and crops. Sharon is in charge of maintaining the quality and competitiveness of the male mosquito in the colonies she supervises.

"The thing I enjoy most is working with people who are passionate about what they do. It's very infectious! Enjoying my colleagues is especially important in a field like entomology where you seldom see rewards, at least not right away."

An estimated 120 million people worldwide are exposed to lead in the environment and dangerous levels of lead poisoning are found in children in some 80 countries, including the Caribbean island of Jamaica. Sasha Henriques speaks with victims of lead poisoning, as well as Jamaican scientists and experts at the IAEA about the issue.

As water scarcity increases worldwide, several countries are considering desalination - a process which turns seawater into freshwater. The IAEA operates a programme that helps countries in the field of nuclear desalination. Louise Potterton speaks to IAEA's Ibrahim Khamis to find out more about the programme.

Established in 1995, the Illicit Trafficking Data Base (ITDB) is the IAEA's information system on incidents of illicit trafficking and other unauthorized activities and events involving nuclear and radioactive materials. Louise Potterton speaks to George Moore, a senior analyst in the IAEA's Office of Nuclear Security, which is responsible for the database.

170 states have entered into safeguards agreements with the IAEA, submitting nuclear materials, facilities and activities to the scrutiny of the IAEA´s safeguards inspectors. These inspectors have to undertake an intensive three-month course before venturing into the field. Louise Potterton spoke to the IAEA´s Therese Renis who conducts part of the course.

Thirty countries around the world currently operate over 430 nuclear reactors. But there is still no system in place for the permanent disposal of the spent nuclear fuel. The IAEA considers deep disposal in stable geological formations as the only sustainable way to safely manage high-level waste; some countries, including Sweden, France, and Finland have decided to move forward with this option. Louise Potterton speaks to Peter Wikberg, the Research Director for Safety and Science at the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company.

For 20 years, an intergovernmental agreement supported by the IAEA has contributed to foster nuclear science and technology for African development. Louise Potterton speaks to the outgoing chairperson of the agreement - known as AFRA - Professor Evelyne Mbede of Tanzania.

Cancer is on the increase in Tanzania where it is estimated that around 35,000 cancer cases occur each year. But this African country with a population of 38 million has only one cancer treatment centre - the Ocean Road Cancer Institute. The IAEA's Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy, or PACT, is working closely with this centre to help Tanzania establish a comprehensive cancer control programme. Louise Potterton speaks to Professor Twalib Ngoma, Executive Director of the Cancer Institute.