Where do we use nuclear technologies?
Nuclear is not only used in the energy sector but also in many other areas, these range from agriculture to medical, and space exploration to water desalination. In the health sector nuclear contributes to all stages of cancer patients’ care, including early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care. Significant research is also ongoing on fusion, the nuclear reaction that powers the sun and the stars, a potential energy source.
Why are young professionals needed?
As mentioned in the video-interviews, young talents are needed in the field to ensure knowledge transfer between generations, making sure that no knowledge is lost but also to bring in new and innovative ideas.
Young talents are crucial for Europe to maintain world leadership in nuclear safety and waste management and the highest level of protection from radiation. Maintaining nuclear competencies at EU level requires a coordinated approach and cross-border mobility of students and workers, as well as establishing close links between academia and industry.
What profiles are needed?
The nuclear sector will benefit from many different profiles: from researchers to engineers, health professionals, lawyers, economists to policy and communication experts, among others.
What are the possibilities?
At the European level, there is the Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021-2025). The Euratom Programme is a is a nuclear research and training programme with an emphasis on the continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection, thanks to research and innovation. It has a funding total budget of €1.38 billion, and that is complementary to the Horizon Europe funding programme.
Together with EU Member States, the Euratom Research and Training Programme’s helps to maintain high level of competences, through mobility, education and training. Euratom Work Programmes ensure Europe’s nuclear expertise and competences by regularly including topics on education and open access to research infrastructures. Since 2021 nuclear researchers are, thanks to the Euratom Research and Training Programme, eligible for Postdoctoral Fellowships of the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions to enhance the mobility of nuclear scientists.
Are you looking for more inspiration?
Are you interested in pursuing studies in the nuclear field and curious about future opportunities?
Watch our latest videos with young professionals working in the field to get inspired.
Davide Silvagni and his colleagues at Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics are doing research on fusion with the goal to create a small star on Earth.
Sven Q. Korving who is a PhD. Student at Eindhoven University of Technology tells us about his work at ITER, the world's largest fusion experiment.
Check out our latest video with Dario Andres Cruz Malagon at FuseNet, the European Fusion Education Network.