IAEA program for women in nuclear visits Canada
A cohort of women working in the nuclear community visited Canada recently as part of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Lise Meitner Program (LMP) to boost their career development. During the third and final leg of the 2025 LMP, the women took part in two weeks of training focused on research reactors.
O Canada: This latest LMP trip received funding support from Global Affairs Canada and was led by experts from the IAEA and the host facilities: McMaster University, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (owner of CNL’s Chalk River campus).
The visit was geared toward research reactor technologies with a focus on the facilities of hosts. The participants—women from 13 countries—were provided with comprehensive knowledge of research reactors, including physics, design, operation, safety, and regulations, and explored their applications in research, medicine, and materials testing.
The visit also included sessions focused on professional development that covered such topics as project management, leadership and communication skills, and the value of mentorship in the nuclear sector.
Canada is home to four operational research reactors and 17 power reactors, which provided the participants with hands-on training and insight into advanced nuclear technologies and tools, including an overview of nuclear reactor operations at the McMaster nuclear reactor (MNR), a 5-MW thermal open pool reactor located on campus, and the Zero Energy Deuterium reactor at Chalk River Laboratories.
“Canada is proud to support the next generation of women leaders in nuclear science,” said Troy Lulashnyk, Canada’s permanent representative to the IAEA. “As the global nuclear sector grows, ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential-not only for innovation, but for the safe and secure use of nuclear technologies.”
About the program: The LMP supports women’s career development in the nuclear community through technical visits and professional training.
To date, about 80 women from 38 countries have taken part in the LMP across six visits, since its launch by the IAEA in 2023. The initiative builds on the IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Program (MSCFP), which provides scholarships for master's programs in nuclear-related studies and internship opportunities facilitated by the IAEA. Both programs work to address the underrepresentation of women in the nuclear field.
Quotable: “McMaster University’s advanced research reactors provided the Lise Meitner Program participants with a unique, hands-on experience to explore how these reactors drive developments in nuclear technologies,” said Gloria Kwong, head of the Decommissioning and Environmental Remediation Section and chair of the LMP Technical Selection Committee at the IAEA.
Maureen MacDonald, McMaster University’s provost and academic vice president, added, “It’s inspiring to see these women shaping the future of the global nuclear sector, where women’s perspectives have historically been underrepresented. The future of nuclear science and engineering is not only bright, but also inclusive, and that is truly transformative.”
Gina Strati, CNL’s director of the Academic Partnership Program, noted, “Sharing our knowledge, expertise, and capabilities is central to the work we do at Canada’s national nuclear laboratory, and it feels even more special when it supports women advancing in the nuclear sector.”
Cici Wulandari, an LMP participant and a postdoctoral researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency in Indonesia, said, “I connected with several inspiring women leaders from both host organizations and fellow participants. What made these connections meaningful was their openness in sharing not only their successes but also the challenges they had overcome. Their stories reminded me that persistence, collaboration, and a clear sense of purpose are powerful tools for growth, especially for women striving in male-dominated fields.”
The next MSCFP application cycle will be announced here, and the next LMP application cycle will be announced here.
More details: The LMP provides early- and mid‑career women professionals with opportunities to participate in multiweek visits to advance their technical and soft skills. The visits typically last between two to four weeks, with 10 to 15 visiting professionals per cohort. Participants are not expected to bear any financial cost for participation in the program.
The visit to Canada followed a trip to Argentina in May dedicated to nuclear power program development, and a visit to Japan in June focused on advanced nuclear technology and Fukushima recovery efforts.
The program is funded by extra-budgetary and in-kind contributions from IAEA member countries and other donors.
