Sixteen staff members of the UAE’s Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulation (FANR) today completed a nuclear studies programme at Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII) at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi. The graduation ceremony was attended by senior UAE nuclear officials as well as officials from several nuclear-related entities from the United States, GNEII’s leading sponsor.

The graduation ceremony capped a two-day GNEII Symposium 2016 that highlighted the research efforts of its latest student class, consisting of FANR staff as well as members of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority.

The graduating class includes a group of Emirati engineers whom FANR hired in early 2016 as part of its innovative strategy to build long-term sustainability by developing Emirati talent in the nuclear sector. The group is undertaking a year-long nuclear regulatory development programme that will provide its members with the fundamental knowledge they need in order to understand the technical concepts applicable to nuclear engineering and regulation. Next, the group members will begin rotating assignments through different operational departments at FANR.

"We are all proud today of what GNEII has become and what GNEII has accomplished," said Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Atomic Energy Agency, who spoke at today’s event. "The programme demonstrates the commitment that the UAE and the United States have made to an integrated approach to safety, security and safeguards."

Senior U.S. nuclear officials also participated in today’s events, led by Ms. Anne Harrington, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, who expressed continuing U.S. support for the GNEII programme.

Two groups of FANR students were honoured by having their research findings selected as the best in the class, and they presented their work to the visiting officials. Ms. Sarra Al Hasani, Ms. Shurooq Al Messabi and Ms. Hessa Al Marzooqi presented their work on Evaluation of Cosmic-Ray Dose in the UAE. Ms. Meera Al Mheiri, and Ms. Nourah Makhmasi and Ms. Huda Al Tamimi presented their work on Investigating the Possible Impact of Linguistic Diversity on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.

Source:WAM