Women working in the nuclear field visited Canada last week as part of an IAEA initiative to boost their career development. During the third and final visit of the 2025 IAEA Lise Meitner Programme, participants took part in a two-week training focused on research reactors.
The visit comes on the heels of the first 2025 Lise Meitner Programme (LMP) visit in May dedicated to nuclear power programme development in Argentina. A visit to Japan in June focused on advanced nuclear technology and Fukushima recovery efforts.
The LMP is an IAEA flagship initiative supporting the career development of women in the nuclear field through technical visits and professional training. The latest LMP visit took place from 14 to 25 July in Ontario, Canada, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada. Participants from 13 countries took part in the career development programme geared toward research reactor technologies with a focus on the cutting-edge facilities of hosts McMaster University, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (owner of CNL's Chalk River campus).
"McMaster University's advanced research reactors provided the Lise Meitner Programme 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.
Canada, which is home to four operational research reactors and 17 power reactors, provided the mid-career professionals with hands-on training and insight into its advanced nuclear technologies and tools, including an overview of nuclear reactor operations at the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR), a 5 megawatt thermal open pool reactor located on campus and the Zero Energy Deuterium reactor at the Chalk River Laboratories.
McMaster University houses the MNR, a multi-purpose research reactor that produces medical isotopes and provides neutrons for scientific research. (Photo: McMaster University).
"It's inspiring to see these women shaping the future of the global nuclear sector, where women's perspectives have historically been underrepresented," said McMaster University's Provost and Academic Vice-President, Maureen MacDonald. "The future of nuclear science and engineering is not only bright, but also inclusive, and that is truly transformative."
Led by experts from the IAEA and host facilities, the programme provided participants with comprehensive knowledge of research reactors, including physics, design, operation, safety and regulations, while also exploring their key applications in research, medicine and materials testing. The professionals took their training from the classroom to the field, with facility visits and hands-on drills.
LMP participants act as an MNR Emergency Response team during an emergency preparedness drill activity under the guidance of the Health Physics team at McMaster University. (Photo: McMaster University).
"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," says Gina Strati, CNL's Director of the Academic Partnership Program.
LMP participants had a chance to visit the ZED-2 research reactor during their visit to CNL. Currently, there are more than 225 research reactors operating around the world, including four in Canada. (Photo: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories).
Beyond the technical tours of nuclear facilities, the visit included sessions focused on professional development, covering project management, leadership and communication skills, as well as the value of mentorship in the nuclear sector.
"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," said participant Cici Wulandari, a post-doctoral researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency in Indonesia, a country with three operational research reactors. "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 LMP: From Launch Until Now
To date, about 80 women from 38 countries have taken part in the LMP across six visits since its launch by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in 2023. By organising the 2025 LMP visits Argentina, Canada and Japan now join the United States of America and the Republic of Korea as LMP hosts dedicated to nurturing the talent and careers of women in the nuclear sector.
The LMP builds upon the ongoing success of the IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP), which provides scholarships for master's programmes in nuclear related studies and internship opportunities facilitated by the IAEA. Both programmes work to address the growing need for a nuclear workforce with diverse expertise by tackling the underrepresentation of women in the nuclear field.
"Canada is proud to support the next generation of women leaders in nuclear science," said Canada's Permanent Representative to the IAEA, Troy Lulashnyk. "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."
Details of the next LMP visit will be made available here.
Participants and experts from the 2025 LMP cohort onsite in Ontario, Canada. (Photo: McMaster University).
The IAEA Lise Meitner Programme
The IAEA Lise Meitner Programme (LMP) provides early- and mid‑career women professionals with opportunities to participate in a multiweek visiting professional programme and advance their technical and soft skills. The professional visits may focus in various areas and typically last between two to four weeks, gathering 10 to 15 visiting professionals per cohort. The visiting professionals are not expected to bear any financial cost for participation in the programme.
