SUPPLY CHAIN | WOMEN IN NUCLEAR
IAEA and women in the nuclear industry
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) event aimed at bringing more women into the nuclear industry was held in support of International Women’s Day recently, NEI was there
By Judith Perera
SOME 430 WOMEN, CURRENT AND future nuclear professionals, gathered at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna for talks and interactions with senior nuclear experts, industry and recruitment agencies. The event, entitled “For More Women in Nuclear”, took place from 7 to 8 March in commemoration of International Women’s Day. It was opened by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi who urged other organisations and members of the nuclear industry to address the gender disparity of women in the nuclear sector.
The two days were filled with panel discussions,
presentations and career talks. IAEA Marie Skłodowska- Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) students and alumnae, and Lise Meitner Programme (LMP) participants from more than 100 countries exchanged their experiences and aspirations with opportunities for networking and making contacts. IAEA says women are far from being adequately
represented in the nuclear field. They often face barriers to enter and progress in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), right from their school years. According to Women in Nuclear Global, women
comprise less than a quarter of professionals working in the nuclear sector globally, particularly in senior roles. With Grossi’s strong support, the number of women in professional and higher categories at the IAEA secretariat has increased from 30% to almost 46% since December 2019 when he joined the Agency. Grossi’s target is for 50% by 2025. However, the real problem is not in the IAEA but “outside”, he said in his opening address to the conference. “The real problem is the imbalance of the presence of women in the professional world, and of course more imbalance when it comes to nuclear and STEM-related professions.”.
He described why and how he had started the MSCFP
and LMP programmes, which now had some 600 members. He stressed that this was just a start and that the hundreds of participants in these programmes needed to grow to “thousands and tens of thousands”. He said: “It’s always about the next step and we are not going to stop here.” He told the conference that the nuclear industry was growing and it was the right time become involved. The industry, which currently employed some 2.3m people worldwide would need twice that number. “We need you. The world needs nuclear, and nuclear needs women,” he said.
Right: Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director- General, together with recipients of the IAEA Marie Sklodowska- Curie Fellowship Programme and Lise Meitner Programme All images: Dean Calma/IAEA
24 | April 2024 |
www.neimagazine.com
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