THE PROSPECTS FOR YOUNG NUCLEAR SPECIALISTS IN THE NEW EUROPE - WORKSHOP ON PIME CONFERENCE AND COMMUNICATION OF YOUNG NUCLEAR SPECIALISTS IN HUNGARY - WINNER OF FIRST PIME AWARD FOR COMMUNICATION EXCELLENCE

BORIS SUCIC
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing
Unska 3, HR - 10000 Zagreb - Croatia

and

KATALIN KULACSY
KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute
Konkoly Thege Miklos ut 29-33, H - 1121 Budapest - Hungary

ABSTRACT

In fast changing Europe European Young Generation Network (YGN) organised workshop “The prospects for young nuclear specialists in the new Europe” at ENS PIME 2005 conference in Paris. Purpose of the workshop was to reveal employment possibilities for young nuclear specialists and nuclear energy prospects in new Europe. On the workshop four young and four senior nuclear specialists from different organisations and different countries present their view on possibilities for professional career in nuclear field. Year 2005 is known as International year of Physics but also as tenth anniversary of European Young Generation Network. Nevertheless year 2005 in YGN world will be also remembered because of the fact that first PIME award for communication excellence was won by Hungarian YGN for their presentation about communication of young nuclear specialists in Hungary.

1. Introduction

In year 2005, International year of Physics, European Nuclear Society Young Generation Network is celebrating its tenth anniversary. With the aim to emphasise this important anniversary ENS YGN has been preparing many activities throughout the year. The first action was organisation of YGN workshop on the topic “The prospects for young nuclear specialists in the new Europe” at international conference ENS PIME 2005 in Paris. Since May 1^st 2004, European Union has 25 member states. European market is now much bigger and more nuclear specialists have arrived on the market. The aim of workshop on PIME was to help young nuclear specialists to find the answer on the question: What kind of future, young nuclear specialists can expect for themselves in this fast growing and fast changing Europe? To get answer on this and similar questions four young and four senior nuclear specialists from different organisations and different countries were invited to present their views on this topic. Independently from this workshop two members of Hungarian YGN registered their paper on another workshop on PIME 2005 conference. They wanted to present the way how young nuclear specialists communicate in Hungary.

2. YGN Workshop

The first part of the YGN workshop was dealing with knowledge transfer from experienced nuclear specialist toward young generation.

First speaker was Miss. Marta Ferrari from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) who presented her view on the topic: "Towards knowledge-based economies: How research institutes can play a role." According to this presentation new environment for researchers offers new challenges and opportunities. They can no longer assume that enough financial support will come from the state subsidy. However, this can be an opportunity if less legislative constraints mean that other, greater sources of funds become available. The need to go out in the market and compete for funds is making the old stereotype of the scientist closed in his laboratory outdated. A closer relationship with stakeholders and end-users is again a mixed blessing. It could bring ideas and stimuli to the research but it requires scientists, especially the ones that have managerial responsibilities, to develop new skills to be able to understand clients’ needs and to market their product and service. Among these skills, communication is probably the most important. The IAEA, through its Technical Cooperation programme, assists the nuclear RDIs in its Member States to build human and technical capacities to contribute to the well-being of their countries. It will continue to provide education and training to ensure that scientists are well equipped to face the new challenges of the knowledge economy.

Second speaker was Mr. Sami Tulonen from FORATOM with presentation named "Comeback of nuclear energy in the European Union." The outlook for the European Union in next 25 years is that the energy demand will rise for 19% between year 2000 and 2030. Rising dependency on oil, natural gas and coal supply is not desirable solution. Europe will face with the risk of security of supply and huge negative environmental impacts which will be the result of nuclear phase-out in several member states, insufficient growth of renewables and replacement of a significant part of nuclear generation by fossil fuels. According to Mr. Tulonen this outlook is politically, economically and environmentally unacceptable! There are many positive political indicators which will support nuclear comeback. Nuclear phase-out policy in several Member States will be reversed. Nuclear energy outlook for EU-27 by the end of the 2004-2009 legislative period probably will be:

• 15 nuclear Member States, and,

• 4 Member States (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland) will most likely be building, or planning to build, nuclear reactors.

"Nuclear Power Plants May Well be Dinosaurs" were title of the presentation of Dr. Philipp Hänggi from Swissnuclear. His conclusions were:

• The Nuclear industry needs to hurry to be prepared in time for a comeback.

• Synergies between the old and the young generation are more important than ever.

• New ideas and a lot of energy are necessary to trigger a chain reaction of motivation within the young specialists.

• The Young Generation Network is ready to engage in the future!

The last speaker in first part of the workshop was Prof. Mihály Makai from Hungarian Atomic Energy Research Institute (KFKI) with the presentation "To whom belongs the future?" Professor Makai state it that the future belongs to the youth, but there will be a sharp competition among Asia, America, and Europe. In the energy sector, Europe may face a crisis. Young people must be encouraged to face the challenge and to resolve emerging problems with support from senior generation.

In the second part of the workshop four young nuclear specialists presented their view on the proposed topic. First presenter was Mrs. Isabelle Philippe from French YGN with the presentation "The prospects for young nuclear specialists in the new Europe". Mrs. Phillipe emphasised the importance of communication between young nuclear specialists which is according to her view the most important factor for new bridges in new Europe.

Dr. Marko Giacomelli from Slovenian YGN had a presentation about nuclear careers in Slovenia, EU new member state. Dr. Giacomelli informed the audience that Young Generation Network of Slovenian Nuclear Society organised round table with the question: What is the prospect for nuclear career in Slovenia? The title “Nuclear Career” aimed at students or young graduates in various study fields. Purpose of the round table was an investigation of prospects of education, employment, and research in Slovenia and European countries. The representatives from state administration, education, industry, and a Slovenian liaison with the IAEA offered different aspects on professional career in the field of nuclear energy. On the round table was determined that there is a lack of young professionals, which is a consequence of a general decrease of interest in technical sciences combined with traditionally negative opinion on nuclear energy. It was noted that these professions are also on the priority list for state budget funding in the near future. As Slovenia is now member of EU, mobility across Europe will become easier, therefore additional number of scientists and engineers may employ themselves abroad. For those who really take up a challenge of further education or training outside his/her own country, at least comparable conditions to the ones abroad should be offered when coming back in order to prevent a brain drain from Slovenia.

Dr. Enrico Mainardi from Italian YGN presented his view on role of nuclear association and young generation in the energy and nuclear debate in Italy. A reconsideration of the nuclear option in Italy can be beneficial together with an effective discussion performed by expert. Italian nuclear association can therefore play an important role promoting the peaceful applications of nuclear technologies. In the energy debate nuclear power can provide a more balanced energy mix and it can decrease the energy dependence from abroad.

Mr. Martin Luthander from Swedish YGN presented International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC), the world biggest Young Generation Network activity. Martin Luthander is also the General Co-Chair of IYNC 2006 which will be held in Sweden and Finland.

3. Conclusions from the YGN Workshop

The workshop was well attended and audience participated actively in panel discussion. Young nuclear specialists got important answers from seniors. The organisation of this workshop required good cooperation between generations and showed clear route for future cooperation. ENS-YGN proofed that it is well organised and we take our mission very seriously.

The most encouraged facts are:

• There is future for nuclear specialists in New Europe. Still, there are big differences between countries and some young nuclear specialist will have to look for their jobs abroad.

• There are especially positive indicators in new member states, because the majority of them are so called ‘nuclear countries’.

• On the young generation is to find challenges in nuclear field.

• There are many positive political indicators which support nuclear comeback. (Sami Tulonen)

• Nuclear Power Plants may well be Dinosaurs! Kids love dinosaurs! Dinosaurs dominated the world for over 150 Mio. years. (Philipp Hänggi)

Science is not independent from what happens in politics, economy and society. Trends in economics and in society change what is expected of science and how it is organised. Eventually, these changes alter the way scientists work and how they interact and communicate with society.

Economic trends usually manifest in a few developed countries and then spread around the world. After WWII, economic doctrine preached a big role for the government but by the 1980s the economic mainstream demanded primacy for the private sector, with less government direction and funding. More recently, the trend is to a compromise solution in which government is seen as a regulator and a provider of limited services through public agencies that it funds and public and private enterprises that it supervises. The concept of the Public Private Partnership has emerged.

Another influential change during the last 20 years is that, following the example of countries like Finland, more countries pursue growth by converting their productive system into a knowledge economy. The creation and use of knowledge is not necessarily focused on high-technology sectors. All industries need technology to be competitive. Small and medium size enterprises are considered a major source of growth.

4. PIME award for communication excellence – Hungarian YGN

The vital role that communicators play in promoting nuclear energy is sometimes taken for granted...but not by ENS and PIME! The inaugural PIME Communications Award, which was presented at PIME 2005 in Paris, is meant to help ensure that the best communications efforts get the visibility and credit they deserve. ENS-YGN is very proud of Hungarian Young Generation Network who got the first PIME Award for Communication Excellence for their outstanding, unconventional, bold and effective communications campaign at the Island Festival in Budapest. This Hungarian YGN activity deserves special attention and the summary is presented below.

The Island Festival is an increasingly popular international cultural festival held each year in Budapest. It attracts several hundred thousands of mostly young people, who may choose from concerts, ballets, operas, motion and dance theatre performances, exhibitions, sports events, etc. Over 100 non-governmental organisations are present and provide services during the Festival, including several green organisations.

Year 2004 was the sixth consecutive year where Hungarian YGN took part in the programmes of the Island Festival, and the most successful so far. In the Nuclear Tent standing in the so called Civil Village they received visitors with three different-level questionnaires in Hungarian, English and German. Talking about their answers they could exchange views and give up-to-date information concerning interesting and current topics about nuclear energy and technology. Each year, the Festival is a unique opportunity to address young people on their own ground, in a colloquial, however, technically accurate way.

Figure 1. Atmosphere on Island Festival in Budapest

In the course of the Festival, Hungarian YGN also had the opportunity to address the public via the media, namely, they gave several interviews and participated in discussions organised by different radio stations. On one of the stages Attila Aszódi, ministerial commissioner then and former president of the Young Generation Network in Hungary, gave a clear and interesting presentation about the incident occurred in April 2003 at Paks NPP and about the steps taken to remedy the situation.

A video has been made in order to present the atmosphere of the Festival and the activity in the Nuclear Tent.

The activity of the Hungarian YGN has been appreciated several times even on an international level, by members of ENS-YGN. So far, however, this remained a verbal appreciation only. PIME 2005 and the credit of the PIME Communications Award brought about a turning point in this situation, presenting the Hungarian and ENS-YGN efforts to the entire international nuclear community.

Figure 2. Award ceremony at PIME 2005

5. Conclusions

The new environment for young nuclear specialists offers new challenges and opportunities. ENS – YGN clearly showed its presence and in near future it can be expected that YGN will be even more active and more aggressive with its aim to provide a space for young nuclear specialists.

6. References

[1] Papers and presentations from YGN workshop on International conference ENS PIME 2005, Paris, France;
[2] K. Kulacsy, T. Plazmadi "How young nuclear specialists in Hungary communicate.", International conference ENS PIME 2005, Paris, France;