McMaster University and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) will welcome the 2025 IAEA Lise Meitner Programme (LMP) to Canada this month.

“Canada is proud to support the next generation of women leaders in nuclear science,” said Troy Lulashnyk, Canada’s permanent representative to the IAEA.

“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.”

Established in 2023 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the LMP provides early- and mid‑career women in nuclear with opportunities to advance their technical and leadership skills through a multi-week visiting program.

Fifteen participants from around the world — including Argentina, Kenya and Vietnam — will spend a week at McMaster and a week at CNL to gain first-hand experience in nuclear research and innovation, as well as guidance on professional development from some of Canada’s top nuclear experts.

McMaster is home to a suite of world-class nuclear research facilities, including Canada’s largest nuclear research reactor.

“McMaster and CNL’s research reactors provide Lise Meitner Programme participants with a unique, hands-on experience to explore how reactors drive developments in nuclear technologies,” says Gloria Kwong, head of the Decommissioning and Environmental Remediation section at the IAEA.

“This visit supports the programme’s mission in empowering women to lead, innovate, and excel in the global nuclear industry.”

As Canada’s national nuclear laboratory, the CNL’s Chalk River Laboratories site is the country’s largest nuclear science and technology research complex, home to over 500 researchers that support the country’s ambitions in clean energy, health, the environment, safety and security.

The LMP visit, sponsored by Global Affairs Canada, is a special honour for McMaster, Canada’s leading academic nuclear research institution, says President Susan Tighe.

“McMaster is honoured to host the IAEA LMP and be part of the movement to ensure women in nuclear can successfully grow and sustain their careers — and make long-lasting impacts in the field,” Tighe says.

The two-week program will feature unique experiential and lecture-based learning activities led by experts from the IAEA, McMaster and CNL, says Karin Stephenson, director of Nuclear Research and Education Support at McMaster.

“Nuclear needs more women, and career development opportunities like the IAEA LMP give women professionals the hands-on experience they need to make a difference in the evolving nuclear sector,” says Stephenson.

During their first week at McMaster, IAEA LMP participants will gain interactive training experience in radiation safety and emergency preparedness, neutron radiography, medical isotope production and more.

The university will also host an emergency preparedness activity for participants, in which they will carry out a radiological incident response exercise on campus, in collaboration with McMaster’s Health Physics department.

The safety drill will be on July 16, at 1 p.m.

For the second week of the LMP, participants will travel to CNL’s Chalk River Laboratories. There, they will be immersed in the innovative, multi-disciplinary research working towards the future of clean energy, nuclear safety and national security in Canada.

Researchers from across CNL will showcase their work exploring what the next generation of nuclear reactors could look like in Canada, including the fuels and materials that could be leveraged and the role that advanced reactors could play in optimized, hybrid energy systems.

They will also dive into the cutting-edge technologies being explored to detect undeclared nuclear materials, characterize and identify unknown nuclear materials in law enforcement investigations and assist with radiological emergency response efforts.

Mentorship will be a key focus point woven throughout their time in Chalk River, with senior and executive leaders spending time each morning connecting with participants to share their experiences in leadership, explains Gina Strati, the director of CNL’s Academic Partnership Program.

“The Lise Meitner Programme is a wonderful opportunity for these professionals to expand their networks and learn new skills,” Strati says.

“We are thrilled to welcome them to the Chalk River Laboratories and be part of their journey exploring new ideas and strengthening their technical competencies in nuclear.”

Named after Austrian-Swedish physicist Lise Meitner, the program helps participants expand their vision and experience, enhance their skillset, build long-lasting professional relationships and create a cross-cultural global community of women professionals in the nuclear sector, particularly the energy field.

The visit to Canada is the final LMP session of 2025, following visits to Japan last month and to Argentina in May.

“The Lise Meitner Programme exemplifies the IAEA’s dedication to empowering women to lead and innovate in nuclear science and technology worldwide,” said Wei Huang, director of the IAEA’s division of Planning, Information and Knowledge Management.

“By nurturing these talented professionals, the IAEA is investing in a stronger future for the global nuclear community.”