The NEA Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology and Policy has developed a qualitative survey to explore how and why individuals decide to join the nuclear field and how their experiences impact decisions to stay in or leave the field.
This survey is intended for anyone who is currently a student in the nuclear field, or has graduated in the last 20 years. The “nuclear field” is defined as nuclear science and engineering and related areas of science, technology, law, policy, and education.
The responses will be used to formulate recommendations for making the nuclear field more welcoming to students from all backgrounds. The responses to this survey are anonymous.
The survey is open until 30 November 2024. For any general queries or issues, please contact gf-wg1@oecd-nea.org.
Complete the anonymous survey here
"We are in a moment of growth and renewal for the nuclear sector globally. Young people from around the world are choosing to pursue education and careers in nuclear engineering, technology, law, and policy fields. Universities often serve as gateways to the nuclear sector. Our goal through carrying out this survey is to better understand the formative educational and research experiences of young people at universities as they enter the nuclear field so that we can make our field and sector welcoming and supportive to all — and build the nuclear workforce of tomorrow." - Aditi Verma, Co-chair of the NEA Global Forum Working Group 1 on Achieving Gender Balance in the Nuclear Engineering and Technology and Academic Workforces
The NEA Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology and Policy is a framework for sustained co-operation and for enabling a long-term dialogue among academic institutions, policymakers and key stakeholders in the nuclear energy sector and civil society worldwide. Since 2021, the NEA Global Forum has used creative problem-solving to help confront some of the most significant challenges in nuclear education and human capacity. The NEA Global Forum has formed a working group on Achieving Gender Balance in the Nuclear Engineering and Technology and Academic Workforces to address issues relevant to the gender gap in the nuclear workforce and educational institutions. In this context, the NEA Global Forum and University of Michigan have developed a qualitative survey to explore how and why individuals decide to join the nuclear field and how their experiences impact decisions to stay in or leave the field. Based on the empirical data collected, the working group will develop a set of guidelines for universities and nuclear departments to use to better support and welcome students from all backgrounds.
