Why decommissioning? – Promoting a new generation of competent professionals

Full text: The process of decommissioning a nuclear facility is the last step in closing the life cycle of a nuclear power plant. Due to political, economic and technological issues, this activity has been significantly increased worldwide, creating demand and opportunities for highly-skilled workers. Therefore, the education of adequate personnel, developing new technologies and improving existing techniques is of utmost importance. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), with its long tradition in nuclear research, already features a broad range of know-how in the decommissioning of nuclear facilities at its different institutes and organizational entities. In order to bundle this expertise, allow synergies within the research activities and intensify joint research, the ^Competence Center for Decommissioning has been established in February 2015 at KIT. Further efforts are now being undertaken to broaden the efforts and intensify the international cooperations. This current development is being covered in the presentation materials, including the good perspectives which are being provided for the current and future young generation. (author)