Nuclear Education. How Russia and Africa get closer to each other

The International Youth Forum “Russia-Africa: Nuclear Education – Potential for Successful Regional Development” at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University) brought together 300 experts from 30 countries.

The specialists discussed radiation safety in mining, application of artificial intelligence in nuclear medicine, ecobiotechnology, mining, and geological information systems.

Pavel Shevtsov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, noted in an exclusive commentary to TV BRICS that Russia is implementing a large number of nuclear technology projects on the African continent.

"We have talked a lot today about the nuclear industry as a driver of the region's development, but we realise that there are a number of other areas that are also capable of developing the continent. Among them are agriculture, mining, water management, and many other areas. [...] This forum is a good occasion to keep the discussion always in tone, because new technologies, ideas and projects appear," he noted.

At the profile section "Geology and Mining" specialists presented reports on the influence of structural features on the stability of open pits, creation of geoinformation models of technogenic deposits, geometallurgy, optimisation of ore flows, and sustainable mining methods taking into account environmental aspects.

RUDN Master's student Okonkwo Stanley Chukwuebuka from Nigeria told TV BRICS about geological and environmental mapping of Ozara Ukwu in Ebonyi State. In his research, the student emphasised the need to adopt sustainable practices to further develop the region.

"This region is known for its sedimentary deposits and is very rich in minerals such as leaves, uranium, copper, and limestone. It's one of the highest producers of limestone in Nigeria. I did a project on this particular location called Ozara Ukwu, and the project involves mapping out the several locations and getting the geological features of the location, such as the environment, the economies, the technical activities, and also the history of the position environment to know this geological context," the researcher shared. 

In turn, PhD student of National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI) Melkamu Anjulo from Ethiopia noted the country's interest in nuclear technologies, especially in the context of cooperation with Russia, whose advanced developments in this field are known worldwide.

Ksenia Komissarova, Editor-in-Chief of TV BRICS and author of a series of documentary films about the Russian mining industry, presented the new project "Uralian Anomaly" to the session participants. It tells about gold mining methods and the profession of a geologist.

"Today, Russian geology is all about modern technologies, computer programs for creating 3D models, the Internet even in the remote taiga, cosy warm tents and precise powerful instruments that help you search – and find. The progress is colossal, we have seen it with our own eyes. Even compared to the beginning of this century. What used to take three years, today happens in a month: I'm talking, for example, about counting stocks. The next step, as the characters in our film say, is space geology. When that happens, we would certainly like to make a film on this subject as well"

Ksenia Komissarova Editor-in-Chief of TV BRICS

Following the results of TV BRICS' participation in the forum, agreements were reached that the film “Uralian Anomaly” will be shown to Moscow students and schoolchildren.

The International Youth Forum “Russia-Africa: Nuclear Education – Potential for Successful Regional Development” has been held since 2020 and is aimed at popularising and promoting Russian nuclear education abroad.

Photo: TV BRICS