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Black Sea Women in Nuclear (BSWN) and Women in Nuclear Central Asia (WINCA) Networks Technical Exchange Visit

Black Sea Women in Nuclear (BSWN) and Women in Nuclear Central Asia (WINCA) Networks participated in a technical exchange visit to the United States on April 2-12, 2024.

The visit was organized by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and supported by  the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s (DOE/NNSA) International Nuclear Security Office and Nuclear Security Women Initiative (NSW).

The visit was divided into two modules: the Washington, DC module on April 2-6 and the New Mexico module on April 7-13.

The Washington, DC module included a series of briefings with U.S. government officials and the NGO community, and it was hosted by the CNS office in DC.

In Washington, DC, the delegation had the opportunity to talk in person or virtually with representatives from CNS/MIIS, LANL, Stimson Center, Women in International Security (WIIS), Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), CRDF Global, DOE/NNSA (Office of Global Material Security), International Nuclear Security (INS), Office of Radiological Security (ORS), Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD), American Nuclear Society, INS Nuclear Security Women Initiative, DOE/NNSA Women in Strategic Trade Initiative, Institute of Nuclear Material Management Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility Committee, and the U.S. Department of State.

Both networks shared their status updates through the voices of Nataliia Klos, president of BSWN, and Zarina Saifyeva, WINCA coordinator. BSWN General Secretary Madalina Stefanic shared her experience of establishing and running a very successful mentorship program. 

Members of BSWN and WINCA also presented on their countries’ and organizations’ activities, focusing on advancing women in nuclear security and related fields.

In appreciation, the BSWN delegation had the honor to express their gratitude to the most ardent supporters and sponsors from the U.S.: Margarita Kalinina-Pohl (CNS), Olga Martin (LANL), and Christine Bent (DOE/NNSA Global Material Security).

During the second part of the BSWN-WINCA Technical Visit to the U.S., the group headed to New Mexico. The New Mexico module included visits to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Sandia National Labs (SNL), as well as a diverse cultural program to get to know the region and its history better.

The program at LANL on April 8-9 included an overview of lab work focusing on Nuclear Security Programs, Safeguards, and Security Technology Training Center tours, and an overview of LANL Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Programs. The program also featured working lunches with LANL early-career Women in STEM, nuclear security experts, and the nuclear engineering division; a tour of Manhattan Historical Park; and the Bradbury Science Museum with a focus on LANL nuclear security programs and women in science.

The program at SNL from April 10 to 11 included the Technology Training and Demonstration (TTD) Tour, National Security Technology Gallery Tour, Mod/Simulation Overview and Capabilities, working lunches with SNL experts, and a visit to the Museum of Nuclear Science Albuquerque.

We thank the teams of the respective national laboratories for hosting our members. An experience to always remember!

Materials prepared by

Madalina Stefanic & Yelyzaveta Khodorovska