SUPPLY CHAIN | WOMEN IN NUCLEAR
The Lise Meitner Programme Building on the success of the MSCFP, the IAEA in 2023 announced its second programme to support women in the nuclear sector – the Lise Meitner Programme named after Austrian-Swedish physicist Lise Meitner. The programme includes professional visits to various nuclear facilities, such as but not limited to, nuclear power plants under construction, in operation or in decommissioning, research reactors and centres, scientific institutions, laboratories, industry sector and start-up companies. This is for early- and mid-career women professionals and provides an opportunity to participate in a multi-week visiting professional programme to advance technical and soft skills at host institutions around the world. The professional visits may focus in various areas and
typically lasts between two to four weeks – and possibly longer in some host countries – gathering 10 to 15 visiting professionals per cohort. The visiting professionals are not expected to bear any financial cost for participation in the programme. The programme is funded by extra-budgetary and in-kind contributions from IAEA member states and other donors. “The LMP technical visits have been a transformative
experience for the cohorts as well as host organisations, providing invaluable insights and fostering cross-cultural collaboration. It’s not just a programme; it’s a catalyst for professional growth and a bridge connecting diverse perspectives in the global nuclear community,” said Tatjana Jevremovic, an expert in the Nuclear Power Technology Development Section at the IAEA, who led the first two LMP cohorts. The first visiting professional programme was hosted at
North Carolina State University in Raleigh, USA in June 2023. The cohort had the opportunity to visit a nuclear power plant, research reactor, fuel factory, and research labs, among other activities. “Attending the Lise Meitner Programme was an eye-opening experience,” said Simona Miteva, an LMP Visiting Professional from Bulgaria. “Witnessing the latest advancements in the nuclear field and engaging with
industry experts has reinforced my passion for this industry. The programme has not only expanded my knowledge but also ignited a drive to contribute to the future of women in nuclear engineering.” The second 2023 cohort took place in October 2023, and the visiting professionals shared their time between the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Idaho National Laboratory in the USA. This focused on strengthening the participants’ individual technical expertise, as well as nuclear reactor modelling, simulations, and virtual environment. Participants also had the chance to visit the nuclear research labs and computational facilities. The third LMP visit is expected to later in 2024 in the Republic of Korea and will focus on nuclear power. During the IAEA Women in Nuclear conference, Minister Nobuharu Imanishi of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the IAEA announced Japan’s agreement to host future LMP cohorts. “The Lise Meitner Programme was extraordinary. I got
familiar with a suite of tools for reactor physics modelling and simulation. These tools are crucial to my organisation, for safety analysis of nuclear reactor structures systems and components during normal and accident conditions,” said Diana Musyoka, a Senior Environmental Scientist from Kenya’s Nuclear Power & Energy Agency. “I also enjoyed the mentorship sessions which opened doors to the careers and lives of women in nuclear. I learnt a lot of best practices that I am currently applying to advance my career in nuclear and to help other young women develop their careers too. The international networks created are proving to be very valuable.”
“Supporting the higher education of young women and
their career growth in the nuclear sector is pivotal for the field. With these two programmes, the IAEA supports women at the most crucial stages: their entry to the field and, afterwards, their continued professional development,” said Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy. “We will continue to support women from all corners of the globe to fulfil their aspirations and contribute to a better world, through nuclear science and technology.” ■
Above left: IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi, delivers his closing remarks at the International Women’s Day event Above right: In 2023 the IAEA announced the Lise Meitner Programme to support women in the nuclear sector
26 | April 2024 |
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