NC State Department of Nuclear Engineering was well represented at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Women’s Day celebration. Alumni Shana Johnson (middle in top left picture) and Ciara (Rice) Sineath (furthest right in top right picture) as well as current doctoral students Nusrat Karim (bottom left picture) and Wonkyo Cho (bottom right picture) were on hand.
Nusrat Karim & Wonkyo Cho are 2023-24 IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme recipients. Nusrat Karim is conducting research on isotopic analysis of nuclear fusion material using Laser Produced Plasma (LPP) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Her faculty adviser is Dr. Elizabeth Kautz. Wonkyo Cho completed her Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering at Chung-Ang University (2023) and is currently completing her PhD in Nuclear Engineering under Drs. Maria Avramova and Kostadin Ivanov. Shana Johnson (BS in NE ’22) is a Probabilistic Risk Assessment Engineer at Entergy’s Waterford 3 nuclear power plant in Killona, LA. Ciara Sineath (BS in NE ’19) is a SMR Mechanical Systems Engineer at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy in Wilmington, NC.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) established the Lise Meitner Program (LMP), a new initiative to focus on the development of women’s technical and leadership skills in 2023. The inaugural partner, through the U.S. Department of Energy, was the United States, and NC State University Department of Nuclear Engineering provided the first LMP workshops, co-led by Tatjana Jevremovic, Team Lead, IAEA Water Cooled Reactor Technology Division and Lisa Marshall, Assistant Extension Professor and Director of Outreach, Retention & Engagement.
From “IAEA Marks International Women’s Day by Celebrating More Women in Nuclear” article
March 12, 2024
Over four hundred women, current and future nuclear professionals, gathered at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna for dynamic talks and interactions with senior nuclear experts, industry, and recruitment agencies. Over the two days filled with panels discussions, presentations and career talks, the IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) students and alumnae, and Lise Meitner Programme (LMP) participants from more than 100 countries, also exchanged their experiences and aspirations, forming a strong community of women in the nuclear field. Livestreamed sessions can be accessed here.
The IAEA 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 organizations and members of the nuclear industry to address the gender disparity of women in the nuclear sector.
“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,” Mr. Grossi said.
Full article is available here.