On December 3, Nuclear energy information center (NEIC) was opened in Astana (Kazakhstan). It is located in the Schoolchildren’s Palace.
At the opening ceremony there were the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Vladimir Shkolnik, the president of “Rosatom – International network” Aleksandr Merten, the chief director of operations and nuclear-fuel cycle of National Joint Stock Company “Kazatomprom” Baurzhan Ibraiev, the deputy of the head of Rossotrudnichestvo (Russian cooperation) of the Russian Federation Aleksei Frolov, representatives of nuclear sector of Russia and Kazakhstan, and also pupils of Astana schools.
The tasks of the information center are education in the sphere of nuclear power and popularization of technical education. Pupils, students, teachers of secondary and higher educational establishments, representatives of the authorities and public communities, and mass-media are all the targeted audience of the center.
The information center was created at the expense of ROSATOM, the operator of the project is ANO “Nuclear sector information center”. The center in non-commercial and all the educational events are free for visitors of the center.
Astana NEIC is fitted out with modern multimedia equipment – unique video programs in both Russian and Kazakh, model “Universal radiometer” (everyone can measure the radiation level in his body), the interactive model of nuclear power station, touch-screen booth with specific software equipment, educational banners. “Owing to the center, young people will understand what is energetics, they will engage themselves with technical professions”, said Vladimir Shkolnik, the Minister of energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. “All this will contribute to the development of science, technology, and consequently, it will improve living standards of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan”.
Aleksandr Merten, the president of “Rosatom – International network” emphasized, “According to the data of interviews, young people more often choose technical professions if they live in the cities with information centers. The main purpose of the center is still to inform residents about the principles of power energy use so that it could be easily understood. It is very important that the center will combine modern and traditional educational events, ones that are clear and interesting for different groups of visitors – from the very young to the older generation”.
“The information center provides visitors with extremely useful information that will help them in choosing their life journey. And this is a real chance to obtain a much-in-demand profession and work. Thus, the center is a chance for our youth to fulfill themselves in scientific and technical sphere and to reach self-actualization in their favorite occupation”, mentioned Aleksei Frolov, the deputy of the head of Rossotrudnichestvo of the Russian Federation.
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The nuclear energy information center in Astana was created within realization of the Memorandum, signed in September 2014 between SAEC “Rosatom” and NJSC “Kazatomprom”.
Nuclear energy information centers are created in the regions with the present nuclear enterprises. The first nuclear energy information center was opened in Tomsk (Russia) in November, 2008. In six years, 17 nuclear energy information centers were opened in Russian cities. There is a plan of expansion of the network of nuclear energy information centers in the countries that use Russian technologies of building nuclear enterprises. Foreign information center are opened in Hanoe (Vietnam), Mersin (Turkey), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Istanbul (Turkey) and Minsk (Belarus).
Every month, 2000-2300 people visit every center. According to the data of the poll conducted in 2015, 62% of visitors are confident in the safety system of modern nuclear stations. 87% would recommend visiting the information center to their friends and colleagues.