Sakharov University of Minsk to offer new majors in nuclear energy

In the new academic year, Sakharov International State Ecological University of Minsk will offer two new majors in nuclear and radiation security and in energy-efficient technologies and energy management, Rector of the University Semen Kundas said at the international research conference “Sakharov Readings 2008: Ecological Problems of the 21^st Century.

According to him, the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus will require skilled personnel. “We have a necessary potential to train such specialists at our university,” he said. High requirements will be established for the young people wishing to major in these areas as these professions are very important. For example, only 30 people will be admitted to the major “nuclear and radiation security”.

According to Semen Kundas, at present the issues regarding the use of renewables, the problems of bioethics and radiation security have great importance. These issues are widely considered at the international conference Sakharov Readings which is held in Minsk annually. The number of participants of the forum increases from year to year. This year attending the conference are about 500 researchers from Belarus, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Moldova and Kazakhstan and also representatives of the Belarusian ministries of emergencies, energy, education, natural resources and environment protection, the health ministry.

The participants of the conference will discuss up-to-date research in ecology. More than 470 reports will be made at the forum on medical ecology, bio-monitoring and bioindication, radioecology and radiation security, information systems and ecological technologies, ecological management, ecological monitoring and others. The researchers will also consider the problems and prospects of development of the renewable energy in Belarus and the issues concerning the ecological education and ecological ethics.