Young academics and professionals will have the opportunity to share their views on the role of nuclear power technologies in helping achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a major international conference next year, part of efforts to prepare the next generation of leaders in the industry.
‘Next Generation Nuclear Systems: The Force Awakens’ is an IAEA-organized youth event held in conjunction with the International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles (FR17), to take place from 26 to 29 June, 2017 in Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation. The event will feature a competition in which applicants have until December 12, 2016 to submit a research proposal or a speech on a theme related to innovative nuclear technologies and their contribution to SDGs 7 (affordable and clean energy), 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) and 13 (climate action).
The competition is organized into two parts: The Young Innovator challenge gives applicants the chance to submit a preliminary research proposal highlighting an original idea on nuclear power technology and how it can help to achieve one or more of the SDGs mentioned above. The Young Global Leader challenge, on the other hand, is an opportunity for applicants to prepare a speech and a related presentation on the theme, ‘Next Generation Nuclear Systems for Sustainable Development’. Applicants may only participate in one of the two challenges.
“The FR17 Conference will not only provide a platform for the scientific community to share ideas, but will also involve the young generation,” said Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and head of the Department of Nuclear Energy. “It is our duty to prepare the next generation to take over the responsibilities and invest in their development.”
The event is organized in cooperation with the International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC) and the European Nuclear Society – Young Generation Network (ENS-YGN), which bring together young professionals from across the world.
The competition is open to applicants from IAEA Member States who are below 35 years of age.
Winners will receive a certificate signed by IAEA Director General, Yukiya Amano, financial support to attend the FR17 conference in Yekaterinburg and a chance to visit the largest operational fast reactor in the world - the BN800 type Beloyarsk-4 in Yekaterinburg
Winning entries will be posted on IAEA web site.
Additional details about the competition are available here.
