BRICS International School: Regional Dimension. Day Two - Nuclear Sovereignty and Youth Initiatives

September 22, the regional program of the BRICS International School dedicated to energy cooperation and sustainable development — one of Russia's key priorities within BRICS — was launched in Nizhny Novgorod. The event is organized by the BRICS Expert Council-Russia at the Nuclear Industry Information Center in partnership with Rosatom State Corporation and Rosatom Corporate Academy, with the support of Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R.E. Alekseev and HSE University — Nizhny Novgorod.

At the opening ceremony, the Head of the city, Yuri Shalabayev, emphasized the role of the BRICS International School in forming new professional contacts and building a foundation for future cooperation between BRICS nations. The program began with an introductory lecture by Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, on the role of BRICS in the modern world. Industry experts presented the BRICS Energy Research Platform, discussed Russian experience in nuclear power plant construction, and explored prospects for scientific and technical cooperation with Global South countries.

The second day of the BRICS International School in Nizhny Novgorod focused on practical technologies, youth diplomacy, and strategic planning for the energy future. Participants from 20 countries gathered in Nizhny Novgorod to discuss BRICS role in the global energy transition.

On September 23, the program started with an educational quiz by the Rosatom Student Community, allowing participants to refresh their knowledge of nuclear physics and industry history.

The intellectual highlight of the first half of the day was the TED-TALK format. Victoria Moiseeva, Project Manager at Rosatom Corporate Academy, shared her experience presenting the "Obninsk Tech" project. She spoke about the legacy of the world's first nuclear power plant and modern approaches to training engineers for international projects. Elsie Pule (South Africa), Head Coordinator of the BRICS Nuclear Platform, delivered an online lecture. She noted that "one in four nuclear industry workers will retire over the coming decade, presenting a unique opportunity for BRICS member and partner countries to attract a new generation of nuclear technology specialists, ensure their training and professional development, and create conditions for long-term careers in the industry."

Special attention was paid to human capital. Maria Zotova, CEO of the Mayak Academy, presented the results of the drafting process for the "Youth Declaration on Nuclear Cooperation." This document will serve as a basis for dialogue among young specialists at the upcoming BRICS Youth Energy Summit. The declaration reflects the new generation's demand for transparency in nuclear technologies and the expansion of academic mobility programs between the association's member states.

In the afternoon, participants moved from theory to practice. A master class by the Rosatom Student Community focused on modeling reactor control systems. The educational block concluded with a team game show ("Jeopardy!"), hosted by international ambassadors of Russian nuclear education (RNEA): Miguel Angel Araniva Martinez (El Salvador) and Mukherjee Soumodjit (India).

The two-day program culminated in a solemn closing ceremony. 100 young leaders joined the global community of "BRICSologists" — BRICS ambassadors ready to build a better future for all nations.

The regional program of the BRICS International School, dedicated to BRICS energy cooperation, confirmed the status of the Nizhny Novgorod region as one of the key competence centers in the field of international scientific and technical cooperation.