McMaster University & CNL to Host Program for Women Nuclear Leaders in Canada

• The 2025 IAEA Lise Meitner Programme (LMP) will take place in Canada at McMaster University and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has launched the Lise Meitner Programme
• Supporting and motivating the upcoming generation of female leaders in nuclear science and technology is the event's main goal

McMaster University and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) will welcome in Canada this month the 2025 cohort of the IAEA Lise Meitner Programme (LMP).

Canada is delighted to support the next generation of women nuclear leaders," said Canada's Permanent Representative to the IAEA, Troy Lulashnyk. With the international nuclear industry growing, a diverse and inclusive workforce is important—not only to drive innovation faster, but to ensure safe and effective application of nuclear technologies."

Established in 2023 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Lise Meitner Programme offers early- and mid-career women professionals working in the nuclear sector opportunities to deepen their technical expertise and leadership competencies through a multi-week immersive programme.

This year, 15 students from nations such as Argentina, Kenya, and Vietnam will be in residence for one week at McMaster and one week at CNL with firsthand exposure to nuclear research, innovation, and professional development by some of Canada's leading nuclear experts.

With Canada's largest nuclear research reactor, McMaster will provide participants with a distinctive learning opportunity. "McMaster and CNL's research reactors afford participants the chance to delve into how reactors power innovations in nuclear technology," stated Gloria Kwong, Head of the IAEA's Decommissioning and Environmental Remediation section.

The tour is part of the LMP's mission to inspire women to lead, innovate, and prosper in the global nuclear sector. CNL's Chalk River Laboratories—the nation's biggest nuclear research complex with more than 500 researchers—will feature in the second leg of the program, providing access to work in clean energy, health, safety, and the environment.

McMaster President Susan Tighe stressed the importance of this partnership: "McMaster is proud to host the IAEA LMP and contribute to the ongoing initiative to enable women in nuclear to have the opportunities they require to advance their careers and make meaningful contributions to the industry."

Experiential and lecture-style learning will be part of the two-week program, led by IAEA, McMaster, and CNL experts. "Nuclear requires more women," stated Karin Stephenson, McMaster's Director of Nuclear Research and Education Support. "Initiatives such as the IAEA LMP offer the valuable hands-on training and career advancement necessary to drive positive change in the changing nuclear industry."

At McMaster, they will be trained in radiation protection, neutron radiography, emergency preparedness, and the production of medical isotopes. An on-campus exercise for emergencies will be conducted on July 16 at 1 p.m. with the collaboration of McMaster's Health Physics team.

During week two, students will make the visit to Chalk River Laboratories to interact with multidisciplinary research used in enabling Canada's nuclear future. Themes will address development of next-generation reactors, fuel development, hybrid energy systems, and advanced detection of nuclear materials.