⚛️ From the (Conf) Control Room.
On July 20-24, 2026, 40 students, from undergraduate through to PhD, gathered at the UNB Fredericton campus for lectures, hands-on demos, social events, a career fair, and off-site tours. CLEAN 2026 – Meeting the Challenge of Skilled Workforce Development was the first annual conference of the Canada’s Life cycle for Existing and Advanced Nuclear (CLEAN) CREATE program, with students from UNB, Univ. of Calgary, Univ. of Regina, Western, Queen’s, Concordia, Saint Mary’s, and McMaster Universities, and the Royal Military College of Canada.
We were excited to bring CLEAN to beautiful Fredericton, New Brunswick and to showcase all things nuclear across the province, including the Canadian Nuclear Labs’ Cyber Range, Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, the Research and Productivity Council, and UNB’s Centre for Nuclear Energy Research and Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Exellence. CLEAN 2026 was a big endeavour, and we couldn’t have done it without our co-grantee team, who dedicated their time, teaching flair, and technical expertise to this Symposium. We can’t wait to host CLEAN 2027 in Banff, Alberta!
Additional speakers joined us from Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Kinectrics, Laurentis Energy Partners, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, New Brunswick Power’s Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, and more! One Symposium highlight (among many) was the radiation monitoring demo offered by Radiation Safety Institute of Canada and Nuvia (who joined us all the way from Sweden), where learners used various monitoring equipment to find a simulated classroom radiation source.
CLEAN CREATE also focuses on professional skills training. While teaching us about the do’s of networking, Lynn Exner, COO of the Canada Action Coallition, showed us the “Awkward Hover”, a must-have tool for squeezing into any conversation, no matter how intimidating.
👩🏾🎓 Student Corner.
We asked CLEAN 2026 participants to tell us a bit about themselves and their experience with the Symposium. What level of familiarity did they have with the nuclear industry going into this event, and what they found the most surprising or intriguing?
Q: What are some takeaways from CLEAN 2026 that have stuck with you?
Lindsay Thomas, MSc student, Concordia Univ.
“I thought I had a good understanding of the career opportunities within the nuclear field… I was surprised to learn that the nuclear industry is much more diverse… safety, education, cyber security, research, operations and more. The PLNGS tour gave me an appreciation for the planning and collaboration that goes into operating a nuclear plant.”
Elham Ali, MSc student, Univ. of Regina
“It was such a pleasant surprise when the panel from the Point Lepreau sat down and demonstrated how we have top-shelf Canadian nuclear expertise even beyond Ontario. The Additive Manufacturing sessions were also intriguing; especially the promise of being able to continually keep a reactor supplied via exact replacement components.”
CLEAN 2026 Event Gallery
From left, back: M. Behazin (NWMO), A. Armstrong (Synergy Onc.), C. Campbell (Laurentis), S. Sanford (RPC). Front: L. Grandy (RMC), O. Palazhchenko (UNB), P. Yakabuskie (CNL). RSIC and Nuvia radiation monitoring demonstration. Symposium banquet speed dating networking with RSIC and Nuvia table. MAMCE visit group photo. NWMO spent nuclear fuel storage canister lecture by Dr. Mehran Behazin. Carolyn Campbell from Laurentis Energy Partners presents intermediate level waste storage. CNSC’s Andy Daley presents on the CNSC structure and mandate in Canada. Research and Productivity Council’s Scott Sanford shows a demo of ultrasonic testing for corrosion inspection. RMC faculty and students posting with Queen’s students. University of Calgary students pose on the top floor of UNB’s student union building. Concordia University students speak to Madison Turnbull from New Brunswick Power at the career fair. Franz Dambo (Nuvia) and Natalia Mozayani (RSIC) post in front of the “control room” photo backdrop at the CLEAN 2026 banquet.