Opportunity for Groundbreaking Technological Advancements in the Nuclear Sector
Rewritten Article:
Embracing the Power of Nuclear Science: A Vision for Kazakhstan's Future
In an impassioned address to scientists, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the significant role science plays in the growth of Kazakhstan's nuclear industry. The president stressed that the unification of science and scholars is imperative to foster high scientific competence, setting the stage for exponential progress across all scientific disciplines - fundamental and applied.
Kanat Baigarin, Chief Officer for Sustainable Development at Nazarbayev University, shares this vision.
For years, discussions have swirled around breaking free from natural resource dependence and advancing to a higher level of production in Kazakhstan. The decision to establish a nuclear power plant and develop nuclear energy is a pivotal step towards cultivating a high-tech, knowledge-intensive industry in the country. This will also fuel the growth of advanced science and engineering.
Historically, nations like the United States, Russia, European countries, China, and Korea have followed this path, showcasing the importance of investing in nuclear energy for progress. Even those countries that built a nuclear power plant faced external challenges to maintain stable plant operation, exuding the need for a strong scientific foundation.
Kazakhstan has witnessed the advantages and drawbacks of nuclear energy, primarily due to historical circumstances. Infrastructure and technological expertise in supporting this sector have been developed, including the National Nuclear Center, the Mangystau Nuclear Power Plant Complex, and the Institute of Nuclear Physics. However, a large portion of the scientific foundation for the nuclear industry was established abroad, where both fundamental and applied research challenges were addressed - in nuclear physics, high-energy physics, astrophysics, and mathematics, including computational and applied mathematics.
Even today, scientific research in space and high-energy physics remains at the forefront globally. The knowledge generated in these fields is accessible to all involved in this pursuit. This research relies on cutting-edge tools from mathematics and computer science, including artificial intelligence, big data processing, and machine learning.
By fostering a solid in-house base of nuclear power expertise, Kazakhstan can develop its scientific and engineering infrastructure, human capital, and ensure a sufficient level of basic and fundamental scientific and technical research to maintain its own qualified experts and evaluate incoming technologies.
Nuclear power plants produce energy with minimal carbon dioxide emissions. The global community acknowledges that, at present, nuclear energy is necessary for sustainable human development. When selecting a technology provider for a nuclear power plant, cost-saving shouldn't be the primary concern. Instead, we must focus on understanding how prepared we are to adapt these technologies according to the development of our scientific, technical, and human potential, preparing for their effective day-to-day use.
The introduction of nuclear energy in a country's energy mix raises several issues related to culture, safety, and geopolitics. We must be cautious and well-prepared to face these challenges.
Just like using mobile phones, refrigerators, and televisions, we may understand how to switch them on and off, but only a few have the skills to repair them. Similarly, in the global market of countries that develop and produce nuclear power plants, we are consumers, but mastering the safety aspects is essential.
However, when it comes to nuclear energy, we cannot limit ourselves to functioning as smartphone operators. Kazakhstan still has time to properly prepare for the implementation of the decision to build a nuclear power plant: to strengthen its national expertise, educate qualified personnel, and establish scientific schools.
A nuclear power plant is not just a nuclear boiler operated by trained specialists; it's also an automated control system with elements of artificial intelligence, equipped with powerful mathematical tools. To successfully manage the control systems, automation, software, and artificial intelligence components that accompany this complex engineering and technical facility, we must develop the ability to adapt and oversee its operation effectively. This is a crucial factor for its safe operation without harm to people.
Nuclear energy demands a high level of industrial and scientific culture, as well as highly qualified personnel. And regardless of what some may claim about the potential benefits of applied scientific research and the commercialization of scientific advancements, without the full development of our own fundamental science, success will not be achieved. By neglecting fundamental research, we risk weakening the entire national economic system.
When the disaster occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scientists and specialists from various fields of science, including those focused on fundamental research, were called upon to address the aftermath. In this situation, our team's experience in fundamental research enabled us to develop instruments for remote visualization of radioactive sources and measuring high radiation doses at a distance, saving many lives and ensuring the health of those involved in the disaster response.
It is this experience that sheds light on the importance of fundamental scientific research, particularly in the context of international cooperation in fields such as space and nuclear physics - research that provides unexpected, heuristic solutions to complex practical problems.
Only through the development of fundamental science in a systematic and continuous manner can breakthrough high-tech innovations emerge, propelling the advancement of industry and the country as a whole.
Kazakhstan must progressively develop fundamental science, and the government budget must allocate a share specifically for conducting such research. By nurturing a scientific community and collaborating with the world's brightest minds, innovation will flourish, and the next generation of students will be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of a rapidly evolving world.
Today, at our university, we are discussing the creation of a collaborative center that will bring together scientists from various fields to offer comprehensive expertise in a new industry, drawing on fundamental knowledge and applied research in the fields of nuclear and space science and engineering.
The world has transitioned once more. The era of universal globalization is being replaced by a period of rational pragmatism aimed at safeguarding national interests and ensuring societal stability.
(Note: The enrichment data's insights have been selectively integrated into the article where they further clarify or explain situations, and they do not dominate the content)
- The nuclear power plant development in Kazakhstan, a step towards a high-tech, knowledge-intensive industry, requires a strong fusion of finance and innovative insights from the nuclear industry.
- The geopolitics of nuclear energy are complex, and Kazakhstan must be vigilant in addressing safety, cultural, and political challenges that arise with its introduction.
- As Kazakhstan readies to establish a nuclear power plant, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive scientific and engineering foundation, encompassing both basic and fundamental research, to cultivate a competent workforce and secure effective utilization of the technology.
- To overcome complex challenges posed by nuclear energy, Kazakhstan will necessitate groundbreaking innovations in the domains of artificial intelligence, big data processing, and machine learning, relying on a robust base of fundamental scientific research and funding.
