Latin America's STEM Women Unite for Nuclear Nonproliferation & Security

A historic symposium titled "Nuclear Nonproliferation and Security for Women in STEM in Latin America and the Caribbean" took place in So Paulo, Brazil and was co-hosted by the Centre for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) and the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN). The purpose of the gathering was to advance female equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the domains of nuclear security and nonproliferation in the area.

Argentina, Brazil, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru were among the countries that sent representatives to the conference, which was held at the University of So Paulo. It gathered visitors with a love for nuclear and related subjects from a range of industries, including government, business, academia, and research.

The event's planners invited applicants of both genders and offered Portuguese and Spanish interpretation services for people with varied levels of English language ability in order to create an inclusive event. Senior officials and well-known specialists from international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and national laboratories were able to participate remotely thanks to the decision to make it a hybrid event.

Technical panels on nuclear weapons, nuclear nonproliferation, and nuclear security measures were included in the programme. There were also debates on how science, technology, and nuclear security are related. The policies and practises of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) were also the subject of panels. Notably, the conference included a panel discussion on how men might support women more effectively in nuclear disciplines, underlining the significance of encouraging gender cooperation in these crucial subjects.

During the session, useful briefings on initiatives and programmes that help women in STEM were also delivered. Speakers from a range of institutions and organisations, including the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), Women in Nuclear (WiN) Brazil, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), offered their perspectives and experiences.

Participants got the chance to tour three IPEN facilities during the symposium, including the Radiation technology Centre, the Radiopharmaceutical Centre, and the Research Reactor, in order to learn about and get more familiar with nuclear technology.

Dr. Isolda Costa, the director of IPEN, and Dr. Wilson Calvo, from the National Nuclear Energy Commission of Brazil (CNEN), attended the symposium's inauguration. Both presenters supported women in STEM and emphasised the importance of the event in encouraging diversity, fairness, and inclusion in the workplace.

The IAEA Director General, Mr. Rafael Grossi, made a taped welcoming speech that further emphasised how the symposium's goals and the IAEA's goals are aligned. The keynote speaker and panellist for the event, Costa Rican Ambassador Elayne Whyte, praised its significance, particularly in light of the region's involvement in the negotiations for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). She emphasised the necessity for ongoing initiatives to encourage the inclusion of women in executive roles during nuclear negotiation and decision-making processes.

Overall, the symposium gave attendees a transformational and powerful experience. It improved their technical knowledge of nuclear security and nonproliferation while also encouraging debates about women's involvement in typically male-dominated areas. In order to foster the development of an inclusive and engaged community, participants indicated their interest for continuing to interact as a community through social media and by drafting a paper on best practises in DEI policy.

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation all contributed financially to the symposium's success, which was made possible by the support of numerous organisations. A safer and more inclusive world is what the organisers, lead by CNS and IPEN, seek to achieve by building on this momentum and continuing to promote women in the nuclear industry.