IAEA Lise Meitner Programme Concludes First Visit to Russia

The first visit to Russia under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Lise Meitner Programme recently concluded in Moscow. The two-week visit brought together 14 female nuclear industry professionals from 14 countries, focusing on Russia's nuclear technology, nuclear facilities, and research platform operations, along with training and exchanges on professional competence and leadership.

During the visit, the delegation toured the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant, the Rosatom Technical Academy in Obninsk, the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), and the Machine-Building Plant under Rosatom's fuel division. Participants also learned virtually about the technical features of the "Akademik Lomonosov" floating nuclear power plant and the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant.

The programme featured a practical project component. Participants worked in groups to develop comprehensive nuclear industry development strategies for three hypothetical countries with different economic, energy, and geographic conditions. The proposals covered reactor technology selection, nuclear medicine development, workforce training, and stakeholder communication. Project presentations were held at the Atom Pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition of National Economic Achievements in Moscow.

Maria Naidenova, an IAEA expert, stated that the Lise Meitner Programme offered participants the opportunity to visit major nuclear industry facilities, learn about advanced nuclear technologies, and exchange with international experts, helping them build the knowledge, confidence, and professional networks needed for career advancement and future leadership roles in the industry.

Sana Bilal, head of the UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), noted that what impressed her most during the visit was the participants' deeper understanding of the importance of a national research base for introducing or applying nuclear technology. She believes that research is not merely an academic activity but also helps a country develop its own technical capabilities, enabling it to more comprehensively assess, license, and regulate nuclear technology, and effectively utilize information and expertise provided by technology suppliers.

The Lise Meitner Programme, implemented by the IAEA since 2023, aims to promote women's career development in the nuclear industry. The programme combines technical training, leadership development, and international experience exchange. To date, including this visit to Russia, the programme has organized 8 visits involving 118 female professionals from 48 countries. The Russia visit programme was developed jointly by the IAEA, the Rosatom Technical Academy, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.

The Rosatom Technical Academy is Rosatom's educational, scientific, and methodological support institution, primarily responsible for continuing education, retraining, and personnel qualification certification for managers and specialists in the nuclear energy and industry sectors. The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, located in Dubna, Moscow Oblast, Russia, is an international intergovernmental scientific organization whose research areas include particle physics, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, and high-energy physics, covering both fundamental theory and experimental fields.