Nuclear Security Includes All of Us

Diversity and inclusivity are crucial when addressing systemic inequalities and both play a crucial role in strengthening capabilities in nuclear security. Establishing work environments that are more diverse, equitable and inclusive not only enhances organizational effectiveness but also fosters innovation and resilience.

According to the Nuclear Energy Agency, women represented only 28.8 per cent of new hires in the nuclear sector workforce in 2023. At the IAEA, however, the number of women in professional and higher categories has increased from 30 per cent to almost 46 per cent since December 2019.

“In nuclear safety and security, gender equality is not just an ideal to aspire to — it is a cornerstone of our collective strength. Diverse perspectives enrich our understanding. Inclusion means ensuring and providing equal access to opportunities and resources, as such efforts will contribute to the success of the nuclear safety and security work,” says Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.

Specifically in the field of nuclear security, there is a noticeable lack of diversity in terms of gender parity due to insufficient information, access and opportunities. Women professionals are underrepresented in nuclear security, including in positions and leadership roles related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

To address this issue, the IAEA has set up the Women in Nuclear Security Initiative (WINSI), which actively promotes gender equality in nuclear security. Launched in March 2021, WINSI aims to support gender equality both in the IAEA and in the global nuclear security community.

“Nuclear security is indispensable for the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology that the world needs — to meet urgent challenges such as climate change and a growing cancer burden. A diverse and qualified workforce can bring creativity and innovation to forge technological and scientific solutions, to further enhance the global nuclear security framework,” adds Evrard. In the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security, the number of women in the professional category increased from 35 per cent to almost 65 per cent between 2021 and 2024.

A growing nuclear security workforce

Among the IAEA’s efforts to address the under-representation of women in the nuclear field is the IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme, which awards scholarships and internships to women Master’s level students in the nuclear field, and the Lise Meitner Programme, which provides early and mid-career women professionals with opportunities to advance their technical and leadership skills.

As more countries adopt nuclear science and technology for clean energy, cancer care, industry and research, the role of nuclear security is growing. It is only through harnessing collective strengths that the challenge of creating the necessary nuclear security workforce can be addressed. The IAEA’s programmes and initiatives work towards closing the gender gap in the nuclear field and enabling more women and young people to pursue careers, including in nuclear security.

Alex Barrow, Development Lead for Government, Security and Resilience at Nuclear Transport Solutions, says: “There is evidence that greater diversity improves decision making, and organizations with more diverse workforces tend to perform better. Nuclear is no different — if we want to build a secure future for peaceful nuclear technologies, we must include diverse perspectives to introduce new and innovative ideas and challenge established ways of doing things”.

Nuclear technology is a viable way to drive socioeconomic development and ensure that young people are employed and employable.

Empowering youth in nuclear security

The IAEA also has outreach programmes aimed at students and early career professionals to encourage careers in the nuclear field and foster professional development. One of the most recent initiatives is the Nuclear Security Delegation for the Future, which was announced as part of the IAEA’s efforts to increase youth representation at the 2024 International Conference on Nuclear Security: Shaping the Future (ICONS 2024) and invited young nuclear security specialists to gain real world experience in leadership, diplomacy and international nuclear security. The Nuclear Security Delegation for the Future gave younger participants the chance to learn about, collaborate on and contribute to advancing nuclear security on a global stage, while providing them with opportunities to make connections with peers, industry leaders and policymakers from around the world.

“Including young professionals in important discussions and initiatives can accelerate advancements in global nuclear security by introducing additional novel perspectives and vitality into the conversation,” says Diana Mafie, a member of the Nuclear Security Delegation for the Future from Tanzania.

These initiatives and programmes exemplify the IAEA’s commitment to inclusivity in nuclear security, underscoring that this critical issue transcends gender, borders, sectors and generations.