In co-operation with the Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency of Romania the NEA organised a mentoring session with Romanian high school students on 2 November 2021. During this half-day event, participants exchanged with NEA technical experts who shared with the students insights on their career paths and answered questions about nuclear power applications as well as about managing work-life balance in STEM careers.
The event also featured a video tour of the Radiopharmaceuticals Research Center in Romania. The tour was presented by Dana Niculae, Head of the Research Centre, Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Romania, who had previously participated in the NEA Joshikai mentoring workshop as an international mentor and shared her expertise and insights with Romanian and Japanese female students.
NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV and Director-General of the Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency (Ministry of Energy, Romania) Ramona Popescu shed light on the current gender balance situation in the nuclear energy field and encouraged Romanian students to pursue STEM careers.
The NEA is actively working with its member countries to promote gender balance and the development of female leaders in the nuclear energy sector. As part of these efforts, the Agency organises mentoring events to connect young women interested in STEM careers with nationally and internationally accomplished women in this area. The NEA will continue co-hosting mentoring sessions in 2022.