With global energy demands forecasted to increase dramatically over the coming decades, international leaders are seeking ways to develop new power sources that also meet their net-zero carbon emission targets.
At the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) held in the United Arab Emirates, delegates agreed to pursue and encourage efforts to triple nuclear energy capacity globally by 2050. Such a rapid expansion of the nuclear industry will require a significant increase in new talent to build the workforce.
With these major trends in mind, the Ontario Tech University chapter of North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) advocates for professional development and networking opportunities to help the nuclear industry meet its demand for new labour.
On January 31, Ontario Tech NAYGN organized an Industry Night for Energy and Nuclear Engineering students and other students also in degree programs with the university’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Nearly 100 Ontario Tech students connected with nuclear industry professionals and heard from a series of leading speakers, including:
- Sean Donnelly, Senior Director, Licensing and Advanced Reactors, Kinectrics
- Sarah Lawson, Portfolio Manager, NPX
- Owen Marshall-Glen, Project Manager, Aecon
- Robert Martin, Senior Systems Engineer, GE Hitachi
- Alexandra Therrien, Manager, Integrated Engineering Mechatronics, Westinghouse
The nuclear industry is one of the most multidisciplinary engineering industries, where specialization from a broad spectrum of engineering disciplines is constantly required. Ontario Tech NAYGN makes it a high priority to inform the broader engineering student body about the wealth of opportunities that lie in nuclear.
Established in 1999, and now consisting of more than 100 chapters across North America, NAYGN is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for a young generation of nuclear professionals to develop strong leadership and professional skills, create lifelong connections, engage and inform the public, and inspire today’s nuclear technology professionals. Networking is one of the core pillars of NAYGN, as mentorship is a key component of the knowledge transfer cycle.
Quotes
“The nuclear industry is embarking on a period of unprecedented growth and requires proportional growth in its workforce. This event is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about emerging career opportunities directly from key industry leaders.”
–Marc Miville, President, Ontario Tech NAYGN
“This is an exciting time to be joining the nuclear sector. This event is a great opportunity for students, not only in nuclear engineering programs but across the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, to learn about career opportunities open to them in the industry. That the event was organized by the NAYGN Ontario Tech chapter is a great example of our students’ leadership abilities and initiative.”
–Dr. Jennifer McKellar, Professor and Acting Chair, Department of Energy and Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Jennifer McKellar, Professor and Acting Chair, Department of Energy and Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, speaking at Industry Night (January 31, 2024).
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