On September 5, 2023 in Ust-Kamenogorsk (East Kazakhstan region) on the basis of KAFU will be held an international round-table discussion “The Role of International Cooperation in the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy”, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan Association (NSK). The NSK comprises about 40 enterprises of the country’s nuclear industry, which includes almost 35,000 individuals.
The Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan (NSK) – is an independent non–profit organization, a voluntary association of legal entities, whose goal is to achieve broader knowledge in the field of the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. The NSK carries out active popularization and educational activities among the population in the field of the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes for the development of productive forces in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the growth of the welfare of its citizens.
The NSK regularly organizes and carries out:
- round tables, conferences and other types of meetings both for industry specialists (including international meetings) and meetings with specialists and experts for the public, media and NGOs;
- educational and training events in various regions for young students in order to improve the image of the industry and popularize technical education. It also organizes career guidance contests, Subject Olympiads and other forms of competitions for schoolchildren and students to attract young personnel to the industry;
- organizes technical tours to nuclear industry facilities;
- organizes activities to combat radiophobia.
The Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan has signed Memorandums of Cooperation with the Nuclear Societies of the USA, Russia, France, Japan, and China. Since 2004, the Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan has joined the World Nuclear Association (WNA), and since 2006 – the Association of WIN-Women in Nuclear. A WiN Kazakhstan branch has been established on the basis of the Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan, as well as a regional public organization of women specialists in the nuclear industry of the Central Asian region.
One of the activities of the Nuclear Society is information support of the population: a website has been created, an industry magazine, a collection of scientific papers of the Association's youth branch, thematic brochures for schoolchildren and adults covering the activities of the country’s nuclear industry enterprises are being published, and active work is being carried out on social networks.
The information and explanatory work of the Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan also deserves special attention. Field lectures are held in villages located near uranium mines, meetings with residents of the regions, interactive lessons in schools and special educational institutions. An independent environmental assessment has been initiated in the uranium mining regions. Water, soil and air samples are regularly taken in the places indicated by the villagers. The results of the research are brought to the attention of local residents.
In addition, environmental tours are organized for representatives of environmental organizations. Their participants have the opportunity not only to ask questions to specialists working directly at the mines, but also to visit the landfill itself, making sure that uranium mining is carried out in compliance with all necessary norms and rules.
Events for industry specialists include both international events – where Kazakhstani and foreign colleagues take part; and regional events – for example, seminars-meetings on actual topics.
The Association does not forget about industry veterans, involving them in career guidance work with young people. Veterans of the industry have the opportunity to meet regularly at veterans’ congresses held by the NSK.
Active work is being carried out to attract young people to the industry, and a Youth Department has been organized. The annual conference of young specialists of the industry “Nuclear Potential of Kazakhstan” is held, to which leading nuclear specialists from neighboring countries are invited.
Special attention should be paid to the International Information Center for Atomic Technologies (ICAT) opened in 2015 at the NSK on the basis of the Republican Palace of Schoolchildren, which has become a popular venue for scientific events for schoolchildren, students and their teachers.
The event is planned to be attended by representatives of enterprises included in the Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan, such as NAC Kazatomprom JSC, RSE National Nuclear Center, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Department of Nuclear Energy and Industry, as well as nuclear societies and organizations of a number of foreign countries - WANO, International Scientific and Technical Center (ISTC), Nuclear Society of Russia and others. In addition, representatives of regional universities and related enterprises will come to congratulate the Association.
The Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan Association continues to work successfully, in accordance with the goals and objectives of the Charter, both for industry specialists and for all interested persons and organizations, at the Kazakh and international levels.
Colleagues from the nuclear industry congratulate the Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan on its 30th anniversary, noting the high level of its work, and wish the entire staff of the Nuclear Society further realization of scientific and creative potential, new interesting ideas, professional achievements, implementation of all conceived plans and projects, health, well-being and happiness.
At the end of the Round-table discussion, a technical tour to the enterprises of the Ulba Metallurgical Plant is planned for the participants of the event.