The fourth Obninsk NEW‑2026 International Youth Forum has concluded in Obninsk, Russia. The event focused on building a skilled workforce for the global nuclear power industry.
More than 700 participants from 85 countries took part in person, alongside high‑level delegations from 10 nations. Thousands more students joined online through 25 partner broadcasting platforms, making this year’s forum the largest to date.
The speaker line‑up underscored the forum’s growing international prestige.
Attendees heard addresses from Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi, Director General of the World Nuclear Association Sama Bilbao y León, and Chairman of the Russian Government Mikhail Mishustin.
A high‑level plenary session featured IAEA Deputy Director General Mikhail Chudakov, as well as heads of national nuclear agencies from partner countries, including Almasadam Satkaliev (Kazakhstan) and Azim Akhmedhadzhaev (Uzbekistan).
The programme was split into two parts. The morning sessions explored youth engagement: how young communities are reshaping the nuclear industry, what joint projects can emerge from international cooperation, and what role Obninsk could play in building a global network of young nuclear leaders.
The afternoon was given over to expert panel discussions with representatives from various nuclear organisations.
The forum also welcomed the winners of the Atoms Empowering Africa video contest – a Rosatom educational initiative held in partnership with the BRICS Nuclear Platform.
This year’s winners took part in Obninsk NEW 2026, combining participation in the forum with a specialised summer school for international students. Among the winners was Noble Pete‑I Gotolph Eiaseb from Namibia.
“For me, this competition represents more than personal achievement, it is a platform to contribute to the future of nuclear science, innovation, and sustainable development in Africa,” said Eiaseb.
“I decided to participate because I strongly believe nuclear technologies can play a transformative role in addressing energy security, climate resilience, education, and industrial development across our continent.
“Of particular value was the opportunity to engage with international experts and young professionals in Russia, exchange knowledge, and gain deeper insights into advanced nuclear technologies and global cooperation.
“This experience also proved to be an opportunity to strengthen youth leadership and international collaboration within the global nuclear community,” noted Founder and Executive Director of the Association of Young Generation in Nuclear of Namibia (NAMYGN) Noble Pete‑I Gotolph Eiaseb.
The forum’s focus on young talent extended beyond the contest. A separate highlight was the meeting between Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and the new members of the Impact Team 2050 International Youth Council – 13 young leaders from 13 countries, including representatives from Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Africa.
They discussed ways to promote peaceful nuclear energy among younger generations and to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Another notable event was the presentation of the book Principles in Action – a collection of real‑life stories and practices showing how the ideas of the Youth Declaration of Nuclear Cooperation have been applied in education, science, medicine and environmental protection.
“Our mission is to meet the global challenge of training qualified specialists for the nuclear industry,” emphasised Alexey Likhachev.
“The world’s growing reliance on nuclear power requires not only new technologies, but also a robust international education system. In Obninsk – Russia’s first science city – we are building exactly that kind of open, modern, forward‑looking environment.
“The Obninsk Tech international education cluster is already taking shape here with IAEA support, and the agreements signed today will help us scale up Russian nuclear engineering education abroad.”
Tangible outcomes included two agreements signed in the presence of Rosatom, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, and Kaluga Region Governor Vladislav Shapsha.
The documents are designed to promote Russian engineering education in nuclear technologies abroad and to give further momentum to the Obninsk Tech project, which is being developed with IAEA support.
Russia continues to expand cooperation with all interested countries, and major international projects are moving forward, with Rosatom and its divisions playing an active role.
Relations with Namibia are developing steadily: the two nations are strengthening their nuclear partnership as global demand for nuclear fuel grows.
The participation of a Namibian winner in the Atoms Empowering Africa contest and the Obninsk NEW-26 forum reflects this deepening of bilateral ties-and demonstrates that Namibia is investing in the human capital needed for the nuclear industry of the future.
In the photo: Noble Pete-I Gotolph Eiaseb receiving a certificate in recognition of being a winner of the Atoms Empowering Africa 2026 video competition.
