The youth forum “Russia–Latin America: A Dialogue Among Future Leaders of the Region’s Nuclear Industry” was held at RUDN and brought together more than 200 representatives from 14 countries in Central and South America. The moderators and participants included representatives from the expert community, leading universities, and Rosatom’s partner universities.

The main topics of the event were the application of nuclear technologies in the energy sector, their use in medicine and environmental projects, as well as the development of the Latin American region through youth cooperation and interaction with graduates of Russian universities.

“Nuclear power plants are reliable sources of energy. They drive industrial and economic development, which improves the standard of living for the population. Currently, the Rosatom State Corporation is constructing 35 high-capacity power units and 6 low-capacity units in various countries—that’s 41 regions with a stable electricity supply. We are ready to share our experience and help our partner countries master nuclear technologies. “We are not only developing the energy applications of nuclear achievements—we are supporting research and development for their use in medicine, agriculture, chemistry, and environmental science,” said Valery Karezin, Director of the Project Office for Education Development and International Cooperation at Rosatom State Corporation.

Strategic Goal

Thanks to initiatives by Rosatom State Corporation, more than 100 students from Latin America are receiving higher education at leading Russian universities. "Rosatom State Corporation works with 65 countries around the world in the field of education. The Latin American continent is very important to us. More than 60 graduates have already returned to their home countries and are working in Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Brazil. Developing university cooperation is our strategic goal. When universities find common interests, it benefits science, our countries, and the whole world,” said Valery Karezin, Director of the Project Office for Education Development and International Cooperation at Rosatom State Corporation.

Talented Latin Americans who have decided to devote themselves to the challenging fields of nuclear technology and who have come to study in distant Russia become intellectual leaders in their countries after graduation. They hold important positions in nuclear science, medicine, agriculture, and industry.

“The students who participated in the forum today are leaders. They were not afraid of difficulties and chose the path of developing the nuclear industry. They are physicists, doctors, agronomists, and environmentalists. They are young scientists and professionals who will return to their countries and work for the benefit of all humanity,” said Larisa Efremova, Director of the Center for Initiative Projects and Interdisciplinary Partnership at RUDN University and Chair of the International Coordinating Council of Graduates of Educational Institutions “INCORVUZ-XXI.”

Among the speakers is Wanda Natalia Camacho Vásquez from Bolivia, a student in the “Medical Physics of Nuclear Medicine” program (MEPhI).

“Nuclear technology holds a very personal significance for me. It was thanks to nuclear medicine that my mother was able to overcome cancer. I want to be a part of this scientific miracle, which is why I decided to become a physicist and advance the medical applications of peaceful nuclear energy. I understand that there is a lot of work ahead to explore all the possibilities, so I want as many smart young people as possible to enter professions that use nuclear technology for healthcare. I especially welcome interest from young women—I believe the nuclear industry should have a female face,”—Wanda Natalia Camacho Vásquez.

Nuclear Technologies

At the forum “Russia–Latin America: A Dialogue Among Future Leaders of the Region’s Nuclear Industry,” presentations were given in four sections on the energy and related applications of nuclear technologies: “Energy Applications of Nuclear Technologies,” “Nuclear and Radiation Technologies in the Non-Energy Sector,” as well as “Youth/Civil Society Movements and Organizations” and “Graduates’ Contribution to Regional Development.”

The topic of nuclear technologies in medicine was the most widely represented.

“Nicaragua and Russia are allies who share knowledge to move forward together into the future. Rosatom is an example of how knowledge of the atom, in responsible hands, is an instrument of peace. Nicaragua welcomes with deep gratitude the knowledge imparted to its citizens in Russia. They will become the builders of a new future for the country. The forum is held not only to discuss technology, but also to talk about well-being and health. The forum’s goal is to show that science without conscience is not progress. The true victory of nuclear technology is seeing our people healthy and happy,” — Oscar Vásquez Vado, Director General of Health Services at the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health.

The forum brought together representatives from 14 countries in Central and South America. Participants and experts represented Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru, Ecuador, and other countries in the Latin American region.

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