The first Annual Meeting of Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network
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- Published: Monday, 31 October 2022 11:32
The first annual meeting of Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network took place in Malta between 17-21 October 2022 with the participation of members from all over the world, especially the Black Sea Region. This event became possible thanks to the joint efforts of James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (the USA), Odesa Center for Nonproliferation (OdCNP), Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Malta, Department of International Studies, Faculty of Art, University of Malta, and the support of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM).
Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network (BSWN) is a regional professional organization that unites experts in nuclear fields from the Black Sea region and creates barrier-free and diverse opportunities for women from the Black Sea region to excel in nuclear-related fields and increase their presence in leadership. The Network consists of mainly women from the Black Sea countries representing civil society and academia, national governments, and industries in nuclear safety and security, nuclear nonproliferation, advanced nuclear technologies, CBRN security, and gender equity in the nuclear field.
At the opening ceremony, Neville Aquiline, from the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade in Malta, emphasized the importance of supporting and promoting women in such a crucial field, which is timely and important these days. During opening remarks, the prominent members of the BSWN spoke up about the crucial role of women and the Network: Nataliia Klos, BSWN Coordinator; Margarita Kalinina-Pohl, Senior Program Manager/Research Associate at the CNS/MIIS; Polina Sinovets, Director of the Odesa Center for Nonproliferation and Olga Martin, Program Manager, Global Engagements and Material Security at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, who summarized “in diversity, there is a strength and beauty. We are here to strengthen the Network and Women in Nuclear”.
Most of the sessions were dedicated to gender equity in the nuclear field: Initiatives Promoting Women in Nuclear, conversations with Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy, Best Practices in Advancing and Supporting Women in Nuclear, Tools, and Programs Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Members of the Network and gender champions made presentations and shared their experiences, and gave a piece of advice to the BSWN members: Gabi Voigt, Director of r.e.m., Radiation, Environment, Management; Jack Brosnan, Program Officer, Nuclear Threat Initiative; Elena Sokova, Executive Director, Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation; Lars van Dassen, Executive Director, the World Institute for Nuclear Security; Rick Cupitt, Senior Fellow & Director, Partnerships in Proliferation Prevention Program, the Stimson Center.
Most of the sessions were dedicated to gender equity in the nuclear field: Initiatives Promoting WoDuring the first annual meeting, the second round of the Black Sea Experts NucTalk, a new initiative of the BSWN, was conducted during the “Impact of War in Ukraine on Regional Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation Regime” session. The Black Sea Experts NucTalk initiative aims to increase awareness about the most relevant issues, news, and recent research and to share ideas and expertise in nuclear fields, nonproliferation, and nuclear security. The four speakers made their presentations: Polina Sinovets, OdCNP; Tamar Pataraia, Civil Council on Defense and Security; Ali Alkis, Hacettepe University, and Natalia Melnyk, Ukrainian Civil Society Hub, moderated by Valeriia Gergiieva, OdCNP. The open discussion after presentations witnessed a deep involvement of all participants due to the significance of the topics presented.
Other sessions on gender equity in the nuclear field were the following: Initiatives Promoting WoDuring the first annual meeting, the second round of the Black Sea Experts NucTalk, a new initiative of the BSWN, was conducted during the “Impact of War in Ukraine on Regional Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation Regime” session. The Black Sea Experts NucTalk initiative aims to increase awareness about the most relevant issues, news, and recent research and to share ideas and expertise in nuclear fields, nonproliferation, and nuclear security. The four speakers made their presentations: Polina Sinovets, OdCNP; Tamar Pataraia, Civil Council on Defense and Security; Ali Alkis, Hacettepe University, and Natalia Melnyk, Ukrainian Civil Society Hub, moderated by Valeriia Gergiieva, OdCNP. The open discussion after presentations witnessed a deep involvement of all participants due to the significance of the topics presented.
The significant contribution to the nuclear security discussion and new threats and challenges was made by representatives of Ukraine: Svitlana Kulchytska from the Department of Nuclear Energy and Atomic Industry, Ministry of Energy, Ukraine, Valentyna Odynitsia from the Department of International Cooperation and Information, Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Alona Samsonenko from National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Institute for Nuclear Research, Iryna Cherednichenko from Public Organization Eco Generation.
The meeting was concluded with active discussions about developing strategies for partnerships with other professional networks of women, expanding the Network, attracting new members, and an assessment of the progress made so far.