Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - The Tashkent branch of NRNU MEPhI hosted a meeting of Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Nuclear Energy Department Mikhail Chudakov, who visited Uzbekistan as part of a group of experts to review the infrastructure of the country’s nuclear energy program.

The IAEA representative got acquainted with the conditions of education in the first foreign branch of the NRNU MEPhI, noting the modern level of equipment for classrooms and laboratories of the university. At a meeting with the students of the branch, Mikhail Chudakov spoke about how he came to the nuclear industry after graduating from MEPhI, about his experience of working at nuclear power plants, as well as about working at the IAEA. In addition to a lecture on the modern development of nuclear energy in the world and its prospects, he dwelt in detail on the safety issues of modern nuclear power plants, as well as the advantages of nuclear energy.

According to Chudakov, Uzbekistan is not a newcomer to the nuclear industry. Proof of this is the research and scientific experience accumulated since 1956 at the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP), which is located next to the branch of the university.

The meeting with the IAEA representative became motivating for many students. Timur Akhmedbaev, a 2nd year student of the Nuclear Power and Thermal Physics direction, shares his impressions: “I especially liked the fact that he motivated us with his personal example, talking about how he studied at MEPhI and then worked at a nuclear power plant. I also remember his words that higher engineering education opens up opportunities in absolutely any field, develops effective and correct thinking. His words further strengthened the desire to learn and get exactly the engineering education to which I aspire. "

Mikhail Chudakov also explained to the students that they must approach the issues of atomic energy and nuclear technology from a scientific point of view, be able to debunk myths and commonplace judgments that have not been confirmed by practice. It is necessary to deeply study these topics in order to understand the advantages and disadvantages of various types of electricity generation and be able to explain it to people in simple words.

Pavel Pyak, lecturer at the NRNU MEPhI branch: “I think such meetings are very useful. It is quite obvious that there are opportunities in Uzbekistan for the construction of a nuclear power plant, there is the necessary infrastructure, there is a base on the basis of which we can develop nuclear technologies. And this is a very promising area that can attract students. Nuclear energy is the future, with its help we can move to a new level of industrialization of the country. But to make an economic breakthrough in development, we need energy now. "

IAEA Deputy Director General Mikhail Chudakov arrived in Uzbekistan as part of an expert mission on a comprehensive review of nuclear infrastructure. During his visit, an Agreement was signed between the IAEA and INP on the institute’s entry into the Reactor Internet Laboratory (RIL) as a guest participant. This agreement will facilitate the exchange of experience in the safe operation of research nuclear reactors, as well as the training and retraining of personnel for their operation. The opportunity to connect to the system and conduct online training on the operation of nuclear reactors is also available for students of the Tashkent branch of NRNU MEPhI.