The World Nuclear University Summer Institute is back – and I am just so happy

I recently returned from making my modest contribution to the World Nuclear University (WNU) Summer Institute (SI) in Spain.  I was so excited to be able to attend in person!!  I wrote about this great program after the last summer institute in Romania back in 2019.  At that time who knew we were about to enter a global pandemic that would make in person events impossible for the next two years? 

It has been a dark time for us all.  Crisis after crisis – pandemic, war, inflation and economic uncertainty, political upheaval.  It has been easy to have a negative outlook. No sooner does it appear that one major world event is finally in the rear-view mirror than the next one takes hold.

A reminder of what the WNU SI is as stated on its website.  “Built on a foundation of instruction from the world’s leading nuclear experts, World Nuclear University’s annual immersive, five-week leadership development programme brings together nuclear professionals from around the world to share knowledge and broaden horizons. Through a mix of taught lectures, mentored group work, industry-focused projects, and technical site visits, Summer Institute Fellows will improve their leadership capabilities and team effectiveness.”

This year the SI included 70 fellows from 30 countries.  These are young bright people who are not only expert in their own areas of the nuclear industry, but who are kind, hard working and most of all, respectful of each other.  I saw people from different backgrounds and cultures helping each other learn as they make friends for a lifetime.  Asking deep penetrating questions to the experts providing the lectures and working together with their mentors in groups to discuss interesting issues that make this industry what it is.  The most important part of the WNU SI is community building – a strong global community of nuclear advocates who want to collaborate to build a better future for us all.

This is not the first time in the last year we see the future of this industry.  We reported following the COP26 meetings in Glasgow last year how the young generation truly made a difference.  Now we can see this generation working together to continue to hone their skills as they prepare themselves to be the industry’s future leaders. 

I want to thank all the fellows who welcomed me to this year’s SI and took the time to listen, ask questions and generally build a long-lasting relationship.  I am so proud to have been a small part of the WNU for the last 15 years and hope to continue well into the future.  Most of all I am happy to know this industry attracts the world’s best and brightest, those needed to make sure our shared future is a world with a sustainable environment and abundant clean economic and reliable energy.  As this year’s program comes to a close, we can be confident that the future is in very capable hands. 

(Note:  The “I” in this post is Milt Caplan.)