1 August 2019, Johannesburg, South Africa. The submissions are open for 5th annual online video competition which is dedicated to finding solutions for sustainable economic and social development in Africa through the use of innovative nuclear technologies. Students and young professionals from Sub-Saharan African countries are invited to participate and stand a chance to win an all-expenses paid fact-finding trip to Russia. This year participants are required to research how nuclear technologies can assist in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) in Africa.
Anthonie Cilliers, founder of the platform EnerConnect, noted that UNSDGs are aimed at stimulating action in the areas of critical importance for the planet and humanity. “These vitally important goals address poverty, hunger, human health, clean water, affordable and clean energy, industry and innovation as well as climate change, to name but a few. We urge young African students and professionals to research the UNSDGs and demonstrate how nuclear science and technology can benefit them”.
The contest is organized by the African office of Russian state atomic energy corporation ROSATOM, educational platform EnerConnect as well as youth organizations African Young Generation in Nuclear (AYGN) and South African Young Nuclear Professionals Society (SAYNPS).
The contest will run up until September 30, 2019. Young people are encouraged to film a short video about their findings and promote it on Facebook. The competition is open to everyone aged 18-30 residing in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is not limited to engineering and science students. A two stage judging process will be used to select the winning teams, an independent jury made up of nuclear professionals and experts on sustainability topics will select the top ten videos and the general public will be invited to vote for the best video on the Rosatom Africa Facebook page.
The award ceremony will take place within 2nd African Nuclear Youth Summit to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa in early October 2019. The participants who created the top two videos will win an all-expenses paid trip to Russia in November 2019. The winner of the 3rd place will receive valuable prizes, and the participants of seven other shortlisted videos will be rewarded with commemorative certificates and gifts.
Gaopalelwe Santswere, AYGN Interim President and SAYNPS Executive Chairperson highlighted that over past 10 years, more and more African countries began to explore various nuclear technologies as viable options that contribute to sustainable development. “Countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia are all currently actively exploring various nuclear technologies to solve a number of issues hampering development. Opportunities like “Atoms for Africa” competition allow young generation to truly understand the immense benefits that nuclear technologies can bring to their countries and the wellbeing of their people”.
The trip to Russia for winning teams will include visits to well-known Moscow landmarks, Russia’s state-of-the-art nuclear facilities, top nuclear universities as well as other scientific and technological facilities. The winners will also meet African students currently studying various nuclear disciplines in Russia.
Mr. Dmitry Shornikov, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa highlighted the company’s commitment towards supporting the development of young nuclear professionals. “One of our key missions at ROSATOM is to assist the brightest young minds from across the globe to work together in solving global challenges that will shape the future of energy and the world as we know it”. He added: “This is a great opportunity for young people from very different walks of life who share a common passion to build a bright and sustainable future for Africa to discover more about various nuclear applications and their vast benefits for the region”.
Detailed information and terms and conditions of the competition are posted at Rosatom Africa Facebook page.
The competition was announced during an online webinar “UN Sustainable Development Goals and Nuclear: Beyond Energy”. The webinar can help applicants to increase participants chances of winning. To access the video and presentation from the webinar are available at https://www.ener-connect.com/new-events/2018/08/01/nuclear-sustainability.
Notes for editors
About ROSATOM
ROSATOM is the only company in the world to offer integrated clean energy solutions across the nuclear supply chain and beyond, including design, construction and operation of nuclear power stations, uranium mining, conversion and enrichment, supply of nuclear fuel, decommissioning, spent fuel storage and transportation and safe nuclear waste disposal. With 70 years’ continuous experience, the company is the world leader in high-performance solutions for all kinds of nuclear power plants. It is also working in the segments of wind generation, nuclear medicine, energy storage and others. Headquartered in Moscow, the company brings together over 300 enterprises and organizations and over 250,000 employees. Globally, the company has the second biggest uranium reserves, has more than a third of the world’s enrichment market, and is the world's biggest builder of the latest generation nuclear power stations and US$133 billion 10-years export order book. The company is represented in the region by Rosatom Central and Southern Africa (Pty) LTD. Global website: www.rosatom.com.
About EnerConnect
EnerConnect promotes the rapid expansion of nuclear education through worldwide knowledge sharing and collaboration without borders. Their motto is: “We believe the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology are best achieved when the world’s greatest minds — regardless of location or resources — are linked in ways to promote sharing and collaboration”. To this end, the platform develops connections between researchers, academics, and students in Europe with their peers in Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. EnerConnect provides the foundation for bringing like minded people together to create new and exciting scientific opportunities, help transform and grow the nuclear industry, and positively affect the world. Website: www.ener-connect.com.
About AYGN:
AYGN is a non-profit organization bringing together national networks (YGNs) for young professionals in nuclear field and other related disciplines. It is a continental affiliate body to the young generations offering a platform to share, exchange ideas and network on issues related to nuclear science and technology in Africa and globally. Website: http://africanygn.org/.
About SAYNPS
SAYNPS is a non-racial association, where members are bound by their passion for nuclear science and technology, and its ability to bring about social transformation on the African continent. The society further plays an advocacy and advisory role to policy makers in determining the future of the youth of South Africa. Website: http://saynps.org/.
