Opportunity for Groundbreaking Technological Advancements in Nuclear Sector
Hell yeah, let's dive into the world of nuclear energy, shall we? The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, ain't no slouch when it comes to connecting science with the development of the nuclear industry. He knows that uniting scientists and creating top-notch scientific competence and expertise is gonna be a game-changer for the country, launching a knockout multiplier effect across all fields of science, whether fundamental or applied.
Kazakhstan's got business on its mind, kinda fed up with raw material dependence. Building a nuclear power plant and developing nuclear energy is a serious move towards crafting a tech-savvy, knowledge-powered industry in the region. It's gonna make science and engineering go bonkers!
Through history, countries that now dominate the nuclear scene - the US, Russia, Europe, China, and Korea - all took a similar path. And even countries that jumpstarted their nuclear power game later on had to confront some hefty external challenges to keep their plants firing like a dream.
Kazakhstan ain't a stranger to the pros and cons of nuclear energy. What with historical events and all, the country's got certain infrastructure and technological expertise, like the National Nuclear Center in Kurchatov, the Mangystau Nuclear Power Plant Complex (MAEK) in Aktau, and the Institute of Nuclear Physics. But the fact remains that much of the scientific foundation for the nuclear industry was established outside of the country. The heavy lifting on research challenges in nuclear physics, high-energy physics, astrophysics, and mathematics was done abroad.
Now, fundamental research in space and high-energy physics remains some of the most advanced on the planet, and the knowledge generated in these fields is available to all. This science relies on tools based on the cutting edge achievements in mathematics and computer science, including artificial intelligence, big data processing, and machine learning.
A strong in-house team of nuclear energy experts is a crucial piece of the puzzle for developing the scientific and engineering infrastructure, as well as creating a lively pool of human capital surrounding a nuclear power plant. Our country needs to keep a sufficient level of basic and fundamental scientific and technical research, ensuring our own qualified expertise and the ability to assess the technologies that will be integrated into the economy.
Nuclear power plants produce energy without much carbon dioxide emissions, and the global community agrees that nuclear energy is crucial for ensuring humanity's sustainable development. Choosing a technology provider for the operation of a nuclear power plant should focus on safety, not just promotional brochures or prices. We gotta be able to absorb these technologies, and prepare for their effective day-to-day use. The presence of this type of energy in the country's energy mix brings up a mess of culture, safety, and geopolitical issues.
Take mobile phones, refrigerators, and televisions, for instance. Most of us can operate them, but only a handful really comprehend the underlying physics. We're consumers, and perhaps we don't need to compete in reactor design. But developing a deep, expert-level understanding and the ability to ensure and control their safety is undeniably essential.
Kazakhstan still has time to get ready for the decision to build a nuclear power plant: to strengthen its national expertise, train qualified personnel, and establish scientific schools. Building a nuclear power plant ain't just about operating a nuclear boiler with highly-trained specialists - it's about an automated control system with elements of artificial intelligence, equipped with powerful mathematical tools. To what extent can we adapt the control systems, automation, software, and AI components that come with this intricate engineering and technical facility, and maintain full control and oversight for safe operation without causing harm to people?
Nuclear energy necessitates a high level of industrial and scientific culture, as well as highly-skilled personnel. And regardless of what some populists may trumpet, without the full development of our own fundamental science, we ain't gonna succeed. Taking such an approach would potentially weaken the stability of the entire national economic system.
When the Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred, scientists and specialists from various fields were called upon to help address the aftermath. Kanat Baigarin, Chief Officer for Sustainable Development at Nazarbayev University, had the opportunity to participate in testing instruments developed by a lab team for remote localization of radioactive emissions at the plant and in the surrounding areas. Despite the fact that his field - the use of plasma and powerful particle pulses - had nothing to do with nuclear science or its technical components, his experience in fundamental research enabled him to develop instruments for remote visualization of radioactive sources and for measuring high radiation doses at a distance, without direct contact with the sources. This saved lives and preserved the health of disaster responders.
It's this kind of experience that makes Baigarin understand the importance of fundamental scientific research, particularly in the context of international cooperation in fields such as space and nuclear physics - research that offers unexpected, heuristic solutions to complex practical problems. It's just the tip of the iceberg. With a systematic and long-term approach to developing fundamental science aided by state funds, Kazakhstan will birth breakthrough high-tech innovations, driving the development of industry and the state as a whole.
By establishing a collaborative center that brings together scientists from various fields, Kazakhstan has set its sights on providing a high level of expertise for a new industry, leveraging fundamental knowledge and applied research in the fields of nuclear and space science and engineering. It's a bold new world out there, baby! The global landscape is shifting from universal globalization to an era of rational pragmatism aimed at safeguarding national interests and ensuring societal stability. And Kazakhstan is right smack dab in the middle of all that, proving that it can hold its own when it comes to fundamental science and education in nuclear energy.
- Kazakhstan's journey towards a tech-savvy, knowledge-powered industry includes developing nuclear energy, with the President's focus on uniting scientists to create top-notch scientific competence and expertise.
- The development of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan will not only advance the nuclear industry but also spur innovation across all fields of science, whether fundamental or applied.
- Countries that are now dominant in the nuclear scene faced similar challenges in their nuclear power development, and Kazakhstan, despite its technological expertise, still faces the challenge of acquiring a sufficient level of basic and fundamental scientific and technical research.
- The presence of a nuclear power plant in the country's energy mix brings up a mess of culture, safety, and geopolitical issues, and the effective use of technology requires a deep, expert-level understanding and control.
- Nuclear energy necessitates a high level of industrial and scientific culture, highly-skilled personnel, and a strong in-house team of nuclear energy experts. Kazakhstan's future success in this field is contingent upon the full development of its own fundamental science.
