Encouraging greater cohesion of social sciences and STEM to push the nuclear sector forward

The NEA Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science Technology and Policy (the NEA Global Forum) held a country-specific workshop on 17-18 October 2023 at Seoul National University (SNU), Korea. Since 2021, the NEA Global Forum aims to build sustained co-operation among academic institutions in nuclear science and technology through the use of creative problem solving to confront pressing challenges in nuclear education and human capacity. The focus of this particular country-specific workshop centred on further developing curriculum to advance strategies for sustainable nuclear fuel cycle and ways forward in creating a national deep geological repository (DGR) programme.

Effective radioactive waste management (RWM) and development of DGR facilities requires foundational interdisciplinary education programmes that span many areas of expertise, such as earth and physical science, engineering (civil, nuclear, chemical, and mechanical), economics, law, social science, and political science. This third edition of the NEA Global Forum workshops involved local stakeholders from Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD), Korea Institute of Nuclear Non-proliferation and Control (KINAC), Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) Nuclear Fuel, Seoul National University (SNU), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Kyung Hee University, Hanyang University, Pusan National University and Chosun University. International participation included expert contributions from Belgium (SCK-CEN), France (Andra), Japan (Tohoku University), Sweden (SKB), United States (Sandia National Laboratories; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of California, Berkeley; University of Michigan), and United Kingdom (University of Manchester).

Some of the key recommendations discussed during this workshop included:

• Encourage clear communication on energy policy and the role of the nuclear sector at the national level;
• Continue joint efforts of government, nuclear stakeholders and academia to rebuild the attractiveness of nuclear education and careers to mobilise new talents through investments, innovation and inclusion in the nuclear sector;
• Through these joint efforts with key stakeholders, establish a comprehensive and innovative multidisciplinary curriculum; and
• Expand training and education in an international context as a means of leveraging resources, including experimental infrastructure and supporting a connected workforce.

For more information on the NEA Global Forum, or to inquire about conducting a country-specific workshop in your country, please visit: NEA Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology and Policy.