Over 500 experts, young scientists and specialists from more than 70 countries gathered at the Obninsk NEW International Youth Nuclear Forum that opened in Obninsk, Russia, on September 21, 2023.
The forum, organised with the support of the Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom, discussed global challenges faced by industry towards the creation of a future based on sustainable development principles, as well as the prospects for development of nuclear and related sciences, arrangement of the new system for training of industry specialists and their career management, a Rosatom statement said.
Addressing the gathering, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that work was underway to set up the Obninsk Tech International Scientific and Educational Center of Nuclear and Related Technologies.
“I am sure that it will become the leading cluster and the point of attraction for the talented youth from every corner of the world. It will facilitate training of high-class specialists sought after in the economic sectors and enable to ensure technological sovereignty of Russia in the area of new nuclear scientific developments,” Mishustin said.
Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev expressed confidence that the development of the Obninsk Tech International Nuclear Education Center with participation of all stakeholders from the partner countries would enable Russia to cover at least 20 percent of the global nuclear and related education market approximately by 2030.
“It is the youth that must define what education should be like tomorrow and beyond tomorrow. Our mission is to help the youth in this work. That is why today we are arranging the unique international scientific and educational platform in Obninsk together with National Nuclear Research University MEPhI in order to train specialists for the future nuclear projects,” Likhachev said.
Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of the World Nuclear Association (WNA), Hortensia Jiménez Rivera, Director General of the Nuclear Energy Agency of Bolivia, Alikaan Çiftçi, Director of the Nuclear Industry Association of Turkey, Vladimir Shevchenko, Rector of the National Nuclear Research University MEPhI, and others took part in the plenary session titled “Strong Education as the Foundation for Sustainable Development of the World”.
“Nuclear power engineering is an integral part of the environment-friendly power balance of the future and also a symbol of decarbonisation. It is essential for protection of the environment and improvement of life quality. Education is the key component promoting formation of a strong basis to understand the importance of nuclear technologies,” noted the WNA Director General Sama Bilbao y León.
“It is assumed that the Akkuyu NPP will cover the need for 10 percent of electricity in Turkey. We are working to improve our competence in the field of nuclear energy in order to take a more active part in international nuclear projects in the near future, Nuclear Industry Association of Turkey President, Alikaan Ciftci, said.
The forum was part of the Nuclear Education Week and was organized jointly by Rosatom, the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, and Obninsk Institute for Nuclear Power Engineering, a branch of MEPhI.
Rosatom said the discussions focused on addressing global challenges, the prospects of nuclear science, emerging technological trends, the role of youth organizations in furthering education in nuclear technology, fostering an environment that makes the industry accessible to everyone, and establishing Obninsk, home to the world’s first nuclear power plant, as an important hub for training personnel for the nuclear industry.
The Obninsk forum has been envisaged as an annual event, the statement added.
