Emilio Mínguez
President of the Spanish Nuclear Society"There is a future and there are job opportunities for young people in the nuclear field"
Emilio Mínguez has recently been appointed President of the Spanish Nuclear Society (SNE). From 2914 to 2018 he headed the scHigher School of Industrial Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). This Professor of Nuclear Technology also held the position of Vice-Rector of Academic Planning and Doctorates at the UPM from April 2004 to February 2014. Throughout his career as a researcher and educator he participated in projects for the European Union Framework Programmes, and has been invited to lecture at various universities and research centers around the world. Currently he is Rector of the University of the Caribbean (Unicaribe) in the Dominican Republic.
In this interview with Foro Nuclear, he speaks about the upcoming 50-year anniversary that the SNE will be celebrating in 2024 and discusses the current state of the market as well as the future of nuclear energy, highlighting the greater interest of young people in this technology with many professional opportunities.
What goals and proposals do you bring to the SNE as President?
Taking the position of President means having spent two years as Vice President; so our goal, what we really aim for, is a continuity effect but with a series of activities focused on increasingly promoting the activities of the working committees, as well as international relations and communication. We also want to attract new members. All the commissions' activities are relevant, especially the Annual Meeting, the conference on operational experiences from the nuclear power plants and other technical conferences that we celebrate. These days we are also working on next year's celebration of the SNE's 50th anniversary.
What activities are you planning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SNE?
Initially we created a working group, and in June next year we are planning an initial celebration with a final event in November. We will announce more details at the SNE's Annual Meeting to be held October 3-6 in Toledo.
What does it mean for an organization of nuclear science and technology professionals to celebrate half a century of existence?
Although nuclear energy in Spain has actually been around for longer, having an organization such as SNE, for 50 years, is something to be proud of. It has contributed and will continue to contribute many professionals who are proof of how capable the Spanish nuclear sector really is.
"Heading an organization of nuclear professionals with 50 years of history is a reason to be proud"
The Spanish Nuclear Society has maintained the monthly magazine "Nuclear España" for 40 years. Previously on print and now in digital format, it provides us with a large newspaper library with very important information that serves as a source of literature, knowledge and history of the reality of the nuclear sector.
"The 'Nuclear España' magazine published by SNE every month, contains a valuable source of knowledge and history of the nuclear sector"
I think that the nuclear sector is proud to maintain an organization like SNE for 50 years carrying out a large number of activities, thanks to its members and to the members of the different commissions, who offer their work voluntarily.
As an academic, how do you value the education given and the relationship between the academia and the industry?
Apparently, one could think that the SNE is strictly composed of professionals working in the electrical energy generation industry, but we also contribute in other areas such as, for instance, non-energy applications.
Companies talk more and more about searching for talent, and that talent is found in universities. That is where the majority of professionals currently working in the nuclear sector have always come from, and not only in Spain but abroad as well.
"Talent is at the universities, and the university-company relationship is absolutely fundamental"
Despite having almost always been in academia, I have been very obsessive, so to speak, about the fact that the university-company relationship is absolutely fundamental. During the nuclear moratorium we had a greater relationship with the different companies so that young people could see that there really was a future in the nuclear sector, regardless of shut-down decisions.
"There is a generation of young people with a growing interest in nuclear energy these past three or four years"
Currently we have seen that in the last three or four years the interest of young people in nuclear energy has been growing, and we must take advantage of it; we cannot miss this path.
Are young people finding job opportunities in the nuclear field?
Without a doubt. This, among other things, is due to how demanding the degrees are. Thanks to this, and to their extensive knowledge, they not only find work in the nuclear field but in related sectors such as robotics, electronics or artificial intelligence.
"There is a future and there are career opportunities for young people in the nuclear field and other related fields such as electronics, artificial intelligence or robotics"
Speaking of the nuclear sectorin Spain, what changes do you predict in nuclear energy, and how do you see its future?
I am optimistic on that subject. I believe that, regardless of the result of political elections, nuclear energy could never be excluded from a group of energies that do not emit CO2, and it also guarantees supply every day of the year.
"Nuclear energy cannot be excluded, because it does not emit CO2 and guarantees supply"
Therefore, I believe it will be moving forward. It would be a mistake for the country, with the number of professionals and experts we have and with an industry that not only contributes to the nuclear sector in Spain but also internationally, for all that knowledge to be lost.
In addition to your recent appointment, you have previous experience in professional associations as President of the European Nuclear Society. What would you highlight about your mandate?
It was a very difficult mandate because I started in 2020, with the pandemic. It was a complicated period because all the activities of the European Nuclear Society are carried out in collaboration with all the members and many of them had to be suspended, which affected it financially.
I would highlight that, during those two years, thanks to the SNE and the support of ENUSA organizing Top Fuel in Spain, a lot of impetus was given not only to the SNE but also to the European Nuclear Society.
Moreover, my mandate coincided with the taxonomy issue; we sent many letters requesting that nuclear energy be included in the European Union's taxonomy. We also participated in the Climate Summit (COP25) and Nuclear for Climate (N4C). In short, it was a complicated period, but also with positive results.
Wrapping up now... how will you balance your position at SNE with that of Rector of Unicaribe?
Well, I thought it was going to be worse for me. Despite the time difference between Spain and the Dominican Republic, I attend the Board of Directors every month, and at SNE we have a permanent commission where we keep a perfect and steady connection. This gives me peace of mind because if I as President do not respond, the Vice President or the Expert Commission can respond to the request - for example, from the media. There is always a transmission line.
Would you like to add anything?
In Spain we need to grow industrially and, to achieve this, it is very important to have a very consensual and stable energy policy in which supply, CO2 reduction and the cost of energy are guaranteed or sustainable. This, of course, cannot be achieved if nuclear energy is not included in the energy planning.
"Nuclear energy must be part of our country's energy strategy"
And, since next year we will be celebrating our 50-year anniversary, I would like all currently operating nuclear power plants to also celebrate 50 years in operation, or even more.
