Message from the President
UNENE has steadily grown in the last eight years since inception (2002) both in scope and activities till today where it has reached a sustainable and fully functional level. Industrial Research Chairs (IRC’s) and Collaborative Research and Development projects were established as the platforms for nuclear research in Universities while developing Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) to meet industry needs.
To date, it is worth noting below many of the achieved outcomes.
- Expansion of the R&D base with twelve universities involved in nuclear related research and education. This framework of university/industry cooperation aligns Canada with other nuclear countries such as the US, France, Russia and South Korea.
- UNENE funding has effectively leveraged additional federal and provincial research and innovation funds enabling university research to expand both in scope and size of research teams.
- Integration/alignment of research programs among universities and other nuclear research institutions.
- Training and development of HQP available for recruitment by the industry, the number of HQP reported recently (2009) by member universities has been over one hundred (100) HQP (Ph.D., M.A.Sc., PDF). A number of them have also been successfully recruited by the industry, regulator, government and universities.
- National and international collaborations are ongoing between different universities and with industry on specific research programs. International collaborations are established with many US universities and US DOE national labs and some EU universities.
- Many technical consultations and technological exchanges are taking place between industry and universities enabling effective resolution of regulatory issues and further optimization of inspection and maintenance support of life cycle management of nuclear power plants.
- Some of the leveraged funds are assisting in establishing state of the art research facilities and equipment. A notable facility is the nuclear material testing lab that is being planned at Queen’s University with commissioning expected in 2012.
Another key UNENE facet is its nuclear education mainly in the area of offering M.Eng. Program for knowledge enhancement and competence building for industry professionals. That program is gaining recognition by utilities and has been growing both in number of enrolled and graduating students.
Distance learning has now (since November 2009) become part of the M.Eng. course delivery in format. Assessments of advanced video conferencing facilities are ongoing for future enhancements in distance learning enabling students from distant sites to be part of the program without the need for travel.
Other notable items are the collaboration agreement between UNENE/ENEN (European Network for Nuclear Education) which was signed in 2010 enabling ENEN and UNENE to explore graduate student exchanges between Canadian and EU universities.
Two new universities have joined UNENE during 2009/2010; the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Windsor. One industry member Cameco has also joined UNENE in 2009.
Initiatives were launched this year to document/improve UNENE governance. New officers have joined UNENE (on a part-time basis) to strengthen our ability to meet members` expectations. The new officers are; myself replacing Dr. Bill Garland who retired from McMaster University, however, is still involved with UNENE mainly as a UNENE’s webmaster, Dr. Victor Snell who is currently Program Director for the Education Program, Dr. Ben Rouben who is the Secretary/Treasurer. Ms Lori Cole continues to be our full-time Administrator at the UNENE office at McMaster University. The leadership and hard work of my predecessor’s (Dr. Mohan Mathur, Dr. Bill Garland) has been instrumental in making UNENE what it is today. The ongoing commitment of the IRC’s, Associate IRC’s and the CRD leaders continue to be felt throughout the research community with its publications, results and technology transfer to the industry.
We look forward to many more successful spinoffs to all stakeholders and the industry at large.
Basma.A.Shalaby
B.Sc., M.A.Sc., D.Eng.(Hon), P.Eng
UNENE, President
