In a landmark moment for nuclear engineering and international collaboration, Cosmin Ghiță, CEO of Nuclearelectrica, attended the Inaugural World Nuclear Forum – Excellence through global collaboration – nation to nation and in the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Ashraf Islam engineering building of at Tennessee Technological University on October 15. Created by Michelle Amante-Harstine, CEO of Congressional Energy Engagement, for Tennessee Tech, this forum is designed to showcase a different nation each year while welcoming representatives from around the world to discuss global nuclear progress and cooperation.
The 2024 World Nuclear Forum will highlight the relationship between the US and France, with other nations participating to engage in dialogue and explore opportunities for collaboration. Romania was invited to be the lead nation in 2025, continuing the Forum’s mission to promote excellence through international partnerships.
The Ashraf Islam Engineering Building symbolizes Tennessee Tech’s commitment to advancing nuclear education and research by providing students with state-of-the-art facilities to gain hands-on experience.
“This forum and the dedication of the Ashraf Islam Engineering Building reflect Tennessee Tech’s commitment to fostering innovation and training the next generation of nuclear professionals. We are honored to partner with industry leaders like Nuclearelectrica to help make this vision a reality,” said Dr. Philip Oldham, President of Tennessee Tech.
“The World Nuclear Forum brings nations together to drive cutting-edge solutions in the nuclear industry. We are excited to launch this annual event at Tennessee Tech and look forward to highlighting Romania in 2025 as we continue to advance global collaboration in nuclear energy,” added Michelle Amante-Harstine.
“It is an honor to take part in this important event. The creation of this nuclear engineering program is a testament to Tennessee Tech’s dedication to building a sustainable future through investment in education and training. As the industry evolves, it is essential to support initiatives like this, which will inspire and train the next generation of nuclear engineers,” said Cosmin Ghiță.