Youth Forum Russia-Africa: Nuclear Education for Sustainable Development was held at RUDN University

Communications Department of ROSATOM, PUBLISHED 30.12.2022

November 24, 2022 Peoples' Friendship University of Russia became the venue for the third international Youth Forum "Russia-Africa: Nuclear Education for Sustainable Development". The forum was organized and held with the support of ROSATOM.

About 240 students, graduate students and young professionals took part in the work of the Forum in full-time and remote formats from 27 countries. 146 full-time participants - foreign students from African countries (Kenya, Madagascar, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Ghana etc), as well as students from Asian countries (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam etc) and Russia.

Moderator of the Plenary session of the Forum L.I. Efremova, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, read out the key-note speech of the Rector O.A. Yastrebov, which highlighted the priority for the university of participation in the project to promote Russian educational programs in nuclear and related professions. "We well understand and feel the global trends and challenges that the peoples of Africa and Russia face, and we strive to use the full potential of our University to establish and maintain long-term international partnerships in the fields of education and technology," said RUDN Rector O.A. Yastrebov

In the welcoming speech of the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation K.I. Kosachev to the Forum participants noted the importance of holding this Forum annually and "creating such a unified educational space that is in demand by the young people of Russia and African countries and that contributes to the strengthening of the best industrial, scientific and educational practices as part of the planet's sustainable development program." In his address, Konstantin Iosifovich noted that "taking into account the speed of technology renewal and the desire of states to take their rightful place in the technological order of the future multipolar world, the issue of personnel training for African countries is a priority."

Deputy Director General for Human Resources of ROSATOM T.A. Terentyeva, in her welcoming speech, emphasized that "nuclear technology is the best solution and the key to success in developing the economy and improving living standards in Africa. This is a choice that determines the vector of the country's development not for decades, but for centuries to come. Rosatom understands the peculiarities and diversity of Africa and is ready to offer comprehensive innovative solutions for the future." Tatyana Anatolyevna emphasized the importance of the forum, as it is "a unique platform for an open dialogue between young students and specialists; It is nice to see here young professionals from the strongest partner universities of Rosatom: National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, TPU, MPEI, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology and others."

At the plenary session, the head of Rossotrudnichestvo E.A. Primakov, Mohamed Yongawo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Russian Federation, Sokolov B.Yu., Head of the Department of Bilateral Cooperation of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Kiloku Lemanken Aramat, Member of Parliament, Vice-Chairman of the Committee for Energy of the National Assembly (Kenya), Quinton Chamunorwa Kanyukamwe, Vice-Chancellor of the Institute of Technology Harare (on behalf of the Ministry of Higher Professional Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development of Zimbabwe), Gabriel Anicet Kochofa, Chairman of INCORWUZ XXI, Sherif Hasan Ged, Chairman of the Egyptian Alumni Association Russian and Soviet universities.

The traditional organizers of the work of the sections were the Russian University of Peoples' Friendship (section "Agrotechnologies"), the Russian University of Peoples' Friendship together with the Russian University of Chemical Technology named after D. I. Mendeleev (section "Ecology"), the National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI" (section "Energy"), Tomsk Polytechnic University (section "Nuclear Medicine"). For the first time in the program of the Forum, the section "Youth/Public Movements and Organizations" was proposed (section coordinator - Peoples' Friendship University of Russia).

As part of the work of the Energy section, issues of sustainable development and advanced nuclear technologies, small modular reactors for the development of hard-to-reach areas, and closing the nuclear fuel cycle were considered. Wasteless production. The speakers of the section were bachelors, masters, graduate students of NRNU MEPhI, Tomsk Polytechnic University - representatives of the countries of Uganda, Zambia, Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya. Section moderators are D.S. Samokhin, Head of the Department of Nuclear Physics and Technology, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI and Ryan Koller, Director General, Rosatom Central and South Africa.

The possibilities of radiation technologies in the production, storage and processing of tubers and root crops and the issues of production of environmentally friendly products within the framework of sustainable development programs were considered at the section "Agrotechnologies". Section moderators are S.N. Elansky, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Agrarian and Technological Institute of RUDN University, Dr. Masamba Kah, expert of the Department for the Development of International Project Activities of RUDN University.

Young and leading Russian and foreign scientists from the Federal Research Center for Potato named after A.G. Lorkha, Russia, Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, All-Russian Research Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, University of the Gambia. The section "Nuclear Medicine" attracted the attention of participants who were interested in the development and production of new generation radiopharmaceuticals (Cu-64), the analysis of neutron capture therapy with boron and gadolinium for cancer treatment, the use of 3D-printed biocompatible polymeric microchamber structures in terranostics, modern computational methods of planning and optimization of radiation therapy, radionuclide diagnostics in oncological practice. Students and graduate students of Tomsk Polytechnic University from Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, as well as Russian and foreign specialists from relevant departments and organizations (Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of Energy of Uganda, Uganda Cancer Institute, Research Institute of Radiology and Medicine, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (UFYF), P. A. Herzen Moscow Research Institute of Radiology - a branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "NMITs Radiology" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation were the speakers of this section.

Moderators of the section "Ecology" - A.V. Popkova, Ph.D., Deputy Director for International Affairs, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Environmental Safety and Product Quality Management, and A.A. Dodonova, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the UNESCO Chair "Green Chemistry for Sustainable Development", curator of the training area "Ecology and Nature Management" of the Russian Chemical Technical University named after. D.I. Mendeleev together with speakers - Russian and foreign scientists from Tunisia, Algeria, Serbia, masters from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, the Institute of Ecology of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, the D.I. Mendeleev, discussed the use of dredged deposits as fertilizers, the study of secondary minerals and technogenic mineral phases of uranium to ensure the environmental safety of the nuclear fuel cycle, wastewater treatment of the leather industry using an electrochemical process and UV photolysis, and other topical issues of environmental protection using ecobiotechnologies.

Moderator of the section "Youth / Public Movements and Organizations" I.I. Zhukovsky, Head of the project "Competence Centers" ANO "Russia - a Land of Opportunities", together with Russian and foreign speakers from Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Cameroon) - graduate students and employees of Russian universities ( Tomsk Polytechnic University, MGIMO, RUDN University), representatives of the International Youth Center and Associations of Foreign Students and Alumni, involved the participants of the section in discussing the potential of the project Ambassadors of Russian Nuclear Education for the development of youth projects between the peoples of Russia and African countries, Associations of Foreign Students and Alumni in development international relations, the current agenda of the International Club of Employers in matters of cooperation with African countries.

According to many forum participants, including leading industry experts, it is the peaceful use of nuclear technology that is the most effective tool for acquiring technological sovereignty, which is so necessary for the economic independence of African countries. In addition to scientific and industrial presentations, the forum also becomes a social platform for the exchange of opinions and best practices in the field of education, which contributes to the creation of a favorable image of Russian engineering education and science in general.

Topics: Russia, Africa, Rosatom

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