NEANEA Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science,
Technology and Policy
Rising Stars Workshop, 25-26 November 2024
European Union Joint Research Centre, Karlsruhe, Germany
Context
Over the years, the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has
worked to increase direct engagement with academic
institutions that are responsible for developing the next
generation of nuclear science and technology experts. In 2021,
the NEA established the Global Forum on Nuclear Education,
Science, Technology and Policy in partnership with academia toprovide a platform for sustained co-operation among academic
institutions, policymakers and key stakeholders in the nuclear
energy sector and civil society.
As part of the NEA Global Forum, the Rising Stars Programmeputs the weight of the Agency and the Global Forum’s academic
institutions behind efforts to mentor and encourage female
leaders in the nuclear field. Rising Stars does this by connecting
participants with resources, people, and support that helps towelcome and integrate them into the global nuclear community.

Mission and objectives
The Global Forum Rising Stars Programme’s mission is to reach
within the nuclear field, adjacent disciplines, and beyond towelcome female rising stars in science, technology, educationand policy into the global nuclear community. The programmeachieves these goals through an annual workshop and additional
activities to:• Offer professional development and resume-building
opportunities for female undergraduate, graduate andpostgraduates in the nuclear and nuclear-adjacent fields;

The workshop featured:•Keynote and plenary speakers;•Invited talks by selected participants;•Poster session for participants;•Awards for the best posters;•Career development panels;•Networking opportunities; and•Certificate of participation for attendees.

2024 Rising Stars Workshop
The 2024 edition will be hosted at the European Union Joint
Research Centre (JRC) in Karlsruhe, Germany on 25-26
November 2024. The programme will also involve a half day tourof the research facilities for all participants.

Nominations
Each department head or academic programme head may
nominate one female Rising Star from their department or
programme for the workshop. Universities do not need to be
Global Forum members to nominate a candidate. Nominees may
be undergraduate students, graduate students, or early career
postdoctoral scholars. The nomination package consists of fourelements:
1. 1-page letter of support from the department or programmehead;
2. 1-page statement of purpose from the nominee;• Introduce participants to mentors and advocates who
can discuss strategies and opportunities and help withnavigating career paths in the nuclear field; and3. Nominee’s CV or resume; and• Create cohort groups that provide opportunities for peerto-peer networking and support that can last an entire career.

The nomination package should be sent as a single PDF to thee-mail address risingstars@oecd-nea.org with the name of thefile as: “nominee’s_family_name_Rising_Stars_2024.pdf ”

Inaugural Rising Stars Workshop
The inaugural Rising Stars workshop was attended by 40 Rising
Stars from around the world and was hosted by the Departmentof Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), United States, on 20-21
September 2023.
Following on from the event, there are plans for a special issueof the Nuclear Technology journal to be published featuring
papers from the Rising Stars workshop participants. This issue
will be marked with a proposed launch webinar in June 2025.

4. Proposed title and abstract for the presentation (noting if aposter or talk is preferred).

The nomination deadline is 3 September 2024.
Travel and accommodation for all selected participants must be
self-funded by the individual, their institution, or other externalfunding source.
Daily local travel between Karlsruhe and the JRC site, as wellas lunches and coffee breaks will be provided.

Contact the Rising Stars Programme: RisingStars@oecd-nea.org; www.oecd-nea.org/risingstars

OECD/NEA, July 2024