From May 26 to 29, Sofia (Bulgaria), hosted the latest annual regional conference of the Black Sea Women in Nuclear (BSWN) Network, which was attended by members of the WINCA Network and WIN Kazakhstan.
The conference, titled “The Nuclear Workforce: Building Security, Driving Progress” was organized by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, in partnership with the Black Sea Women in Nuclear (BSWN) Network (BSWN) and the University of National and World Economy (UNWE). The event was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE NNSA), the Nuclear Security Women Initiative, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and other key stakeholders.
The event itself was held at UNWE and served as an important regional platform for strengthening human resource development in the nuclear industry, enhancing leadership skills, and fostering meaningful cross-border cooperation among representatives from academia, industry, government agencies, international organizations, and civil society from across the Black Sea region and beyond.
Through a series of panel discussions, expert presentations, and interactive sessions, the conference facilitated the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices to address current and emerging challenges in the nuclear sector. Particular attention was paid to strengthening professional networks, expanding opportunities for capacity building, and supporting the next generation of professionals in the nuclear industry. The program also included a strong youth component highlighting the contributions of students and young professionals, as well as a technical tour of a permanent radioactive waste repository.
The conference concluded with one of its key events: the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between the Black Sea Women in Nuclear (BSWN) Network and the Women in Nuclear of Central Asia (WiNCA) Network.
