Dr. William Cook
Director, Centre for Nuclear Energy Research University of New Brunswick
Dr. Olga Palazhchenko
Director, Canada’s Life Cycle for Existing and Advanced Nuclear (CLEAN) CREATE
As nuclear power’s role in Canada’s energy grid grows, the University of New Brunswick is helping close the industry’s critical skills gap.
When it comes to clean energy, Canada is mostly green, with an 80 per cent clean grid. But with the growth in electricity demand across Canada over the coming decades, nuclear power is poised to be a carbon-free backbone for our energy needs. While nuclear promises a reliable supply of clean energy, there are significant challenges facing the sector.
Foremost is the huge gap between the available workforce and what will be needed to facilitate the unprecedented construction, operation, and maintenance of new power plants.
“Our current nuclear workforce is able to meet today’s requirements,” says Dr. William Cook, Director of the Centre for Nuclear Energy Research at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). “But if we are to build a dozen or more new nuclear plants in the next several decades, many more trained and skilled people will be needed.”
The impact of talent development
UNB has long been a critical contributor to Canada’s nuclear sector through workforce development, research, and innovation. Over the years, the Centre for Nuclear Energy Research has engaged with the nuclear industry on commercial and academic projects that have developed technologies that help ensure the safe operation of the nuclear power fleet. A key example is the HEPro corrosion monitoring technology that was developed at the university in collaboration with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, and with support from government and industry partners. Over the past five years, it has been deployed at six CANDU stations in Canada and been a key contributor to their return to service after plant refurbishment or major component replacement.
UNB offers the only substantive nuclear education program outside Ontario, combining nuclear power specialization, applied research, and direct industry engagement.
While research drives innovation in the nuclear sector, a skilled workforce is needed to bring those innovations to life. Dr. Olga Palazhchenko, Director of Canada’s Life Cycle for Existing and Advanced Nuclear (CLEAN) CREATE, shares more about research and talent development at UNB.
What is the impact if we don’t develop nuclear talent in Canada?
Without a skilled energy workforce, Canada risks falling behind on its energy transition goals. We will struggle to build new reactors, refurbish existing plants, or to electrify the grid at the pace required. If we struggle to meet some of these target timelines, serious consequences like rolling power outages could occur.
How does UNB’s CLEAN CREATE program support the nuclear workforce of tomorrow?
UNB offers the only substantive nuclear education program outside Ontario, combining nuclear power specialization, applied research, and direct industry engagement. Our program supports technical and professional skills training for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students in nuclear engineering and nuclear-related fields. With access to experiential learning opportunities, including research laboratory exchanges, specialized co-ops, workshops, and micro-credentials, trainees benefit from an enhanced learning experience to ensure workforce readiness.
What can government and industry partners do to better support talent development?
From an academic perspective, we need government and industry to work with us to help close the workforce gap. Education institutions in the nuclear field welcome industry participation in activities that give students exposure to practical, real-world experience.
Partner with UNB to help build Canada’s nuclear workforce through education, research collaboration, talent development, and industry partnerships by visiting unb.ca.
