Nuclear engineering faculty members Ivan Maldonado and Ondrej Chvala served as experts on a technical mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in early December 2018.
“We were honored by the hospitality and kindness of our Sri Lankan hosts and glad for the opportunity to contribute to their nuclear power development considerations,” said Research Assistant Professor Chvala.
The duo presented 15 lectures over a period of three days on a variety of topics—nuclear energy, modern nuclear reactor types, near-term deployable reactors, and nuclear fuel cycle and waste management strategies. They shared their expertise with around 40 representatives from various Sri Lankan stakeholders, including the Ministry of Power and Energy, the Ceylon Electricity Board, universities’ representatives, armed forces members, and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Council.
“In addition to the amazing hospitality and friendly reception by our hosts and everyone we met, we were fortunate to be able to spend a few hours visiting some of the city sights, temples, and other venues,” said Professor Maldonado. “The natural beauty and the wealth of their culture is truly breathtaking.”