27/11/09

A shopping list for nuclear energy skills

South Africa has one nuclear power station and some are trying to assess the science needed for more Copyright: Flickr/coda

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<h1>A shopping list for nuclear energy skills</h1>
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<p><span>The South African government may be keeping its nuclear energy plans under wraps but that hasn’t stopped a research organisation from drawing up a wish list of science skills needed to expand the country’s nuclear industry.</span></p>
<p><span>The Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (NIASA) plans to issue a document at the end of this month (November) that lays out how tertiary institutions should prepare for nuclear expansion and the research and teaching required to drive a large-scale nuclear industry.</span></p>
<p><span>It presents different scenarios for a nuclear programme and outlines the number and type of scientists, engineers, technicians and other workers that would be needed for each one.</span></p>
<p><span>Gert Claassen from NIASA’s secretariat said: "We need to do as much as we can to support the preparation of a possible nuclear roll-out."</span></p>
<p><span>NIASA believes a substantial nuclear expansion in South Africa is inevitable and as well as the skills scenario is planning a large-scale project connecting universities and technical institutions around the country.</span></p>
<p>NIASA’s plans have their challenges. For example, organising a collaborative budget could prove tricky as universities are funded on an individual basis. And there are key decisions yet to be made such as from which university a student will receive their nuclear-related degree if classes were taken at multiple locations.</p>
<p>Still, it’s a crucial step. "Everybody sees nuclear as growth and everybody’s trying to get a competitive advantage in the industry," said Jeff Victor, who compiled the document.</p>
<p><span><a href="http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20091113142652444" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span>Link to full article in <em>University World News</em></span></a></span></p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/features/a-shopping-list-for-nuclear-energy-skills/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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The South African government may be keeping its nuclear energy plans under wraps but that hasn’t stopped a research organisation from drawing up a wish list of science skills needed to expand the country’s nuclear industry.

The Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (NIASA) plans to issue a document at the end of this month (November) that lays out how tertiary institutions should prepare for nuclear expansion and the research and teaching required to drive a large-scale nuclear industry.

It presents different scenarios for a nuclear programme and outlines the number and type of scientists, engineers, technicians and other workers that would be needed for each one.

Gert Claassen from NIASA’s secretariat said: "We need to do as much as we can to support the preparation of a possible nuclear roll-out."

NIASA believes a substantial nuclear expansion in South Africa is inevitable and as well as the skills scenario is planning a large-scale project connecting universities and technical institutions around the country.

NIASA’s plans have their challenges. For example, organising a collaborative budget could prove tricky as universities are funded on an individual basis. And there are key decisions yet to be made such as from which university a student will receive their nuclear-related degree if classes were taken at multiple locations.

Still, it’s a crucial step. "Everybody sees nuclear as growth and everybody’s trying to get a competitive advantage in the industry," said Jeff Victor, who compiled the document.

Link to full article in University World News