International Women Day
In a stirring celebration of International Women's Day at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the contributions of women in nuclear science and technology, participating from all around the world, were honored and highlighted. Among the esteemed speakers and guests were the recipients of the prestigious Marie Sklodowska Curie and Lise Meitner fellowships, who are themselves the emblematic figures in the field of nuclear research.
The presence of WiN Global Young Generation at VIC Vienna successfully captivated the audience, shedding light on the diverse role of young women in shaping the future of nuclear energy. WiN Global Young Generation, a branch of Women in Nuclear (WiN) Global, was invited for this two-day event to showcase their activities during the commemoration event. Their presence, with its 10 members at the WiN YG stand, not only underscored the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the nuclear sector but also served as an inspiration for aspiring female scientists and engineers from all around the world.
In order to mark this day, among the key activities that were presented were a colorful roadmap, designed by the very talented artist Julietta Romero, which was completed by the names of 171 women. These women interacted with the members of WiN YG and shared their rich stories and experiences in the varied fields of the nuclear sector.
The first day ended up with a cocktail and was eventually followed by an interactive quiz session on the nuclear domain. This quiz, which consisted of about 20 questions, invited nearly 50 women participants. They were divided into 9 groups where the two groups ended-up bagging the first prize. The two days were marked by the numerous conferences of some notable speakers like Mariantonietta GABRIELE - Project Manager Walter Tosto, Callum THOMAS - CEO Thomas Thor, Jacqueline O’NEILL - Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security Canada, Dan PERRY - Head of Talent Acquisition, Urenco, Nadia BINGGELI - Head of Training and Education Unit, ICTP and resident representative of Korea, USA, France, China, Canada, EU, Japon and Spain, among others.
To close the activity, representatives of the two fellowship programmes shared their experiences about their decision to pursue a career in the nuclear field, their educational and professional achievements in this field, as well as their future aspirations, inspiring other women to follow their example. The activity was followed by the reading of a pledge by representatives of the fellowships MSCFP and LMP to Rafael Mariano GROSSI - Director General IAEA.
All in all the International Women's Day commemoration served as a reminder of the untapped potential within the next generation of female leaders in nuclear science and technology.
