A stellar line-up of local and international experts in nuclear applications will make presentations at the Scientific Research Council’s 31st National Science and Technology Conference this week at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

The conference, which is being held under the theme “Harmony in Innovation: Unleashing the Power of Nuclear Applications for Sustainable Development”, will over four days beginning Tuesday, October 29, provide a platform for discussions exploring how Jamaica is positioned to benefit from scientific advancements in nuclear technology.

Science and Technology Minister Daryl Vaz will deliver the keynote address in which he will speak about Jamaica’s intentions around nuclear applications and nuclear energy.

Among the international speakers are Dr Taj S Mattu, Technical and Commercial Director of UK-based Thermachange, and Saied Dardour, Energy Specialist and Learning Experience Designer at Greoux Research in Austria, who will address nuclear energy for small island development states; Jason Harris, Chairman and CEO of TREDIC Corporation in the UK, who will present on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and the private sector’s role in the nuclear energy shift; Dr Justin Spencer, Research Scientist at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, who will share a Canadian perspective on future microreactors; US-based radiation oncologist Dr Kadir Mullings, of Prime Medical, who will speak on nuclear medicine in cancer treatment; and academic technology transfer expert Arundeep Pradhan, Deputy Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of Wyoming, who will engage the audience on accelerating innovation ecosystem development.

Presenters from Jamaica include Professor Charles Grant, Director General of International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), who will speak on Jamaica’s nuclear infrastructure; Dr Cliff Riley, Director General of the Hazardous Substances Regulatory Authority (HSRA), who will discuss the role of HRSA in ensuring safe nuclear technology deployment; Haile Dennis, Reactor Manager at ICENS, who will address Jamaica’s readiness for nuclear energy, as well as the challenges and opportunities; Dr Kern Pemberton, Radiologist at the Kingston Public Hospital, who will speak on harnessing the power of nuclear technology for cancer treatment in Jamaica’s public health sector; and Farrah Hansel Murray, Science and Technology Development Planner, Planning Institute of Jamaica, who will talk about integrating nuclear innovation into Jamaica’s development goals.

Over the course of four days, participants will engage in insightful discussions, explore groundbreaking advancements, and collaborate on practical solutions that harness nuclear technology’s power for sustainable progress, the SRC said, adding that the conference will also provide a platform for youth engagement and creativity through special sessions, including the Innovation Summit and the STEM Olympiad Debate competition, further nurturing Jamaica’s culture of innovation and scientific excellence.

Additionally, there are eight hours (including one hour ethics and 1.5 hour mental health) of Continuing Medical Education credits available for doctors in attendance at the event.

Conference Highlights:
• Day 1, October 29: Nuclear Energy – Governance, Safety, and Small Modular Reactors (SMR)
• Day 2, October 30: Nuclear Applications in the Medical Field
• Day 3, October 31: Nuclear Applications in Agriculture, Mutation Breeding, and SIT for Vector Control
• Day 4, November 1: Non-Destructive Testing and Expanding Nuclear Applications in Health and Industry

Registration is US$50 per day for Jamaican nationals, who are also eligible to apply for a waiver via conference@src-jamaica.org; US$50 for international students; US$120 for Caricom nationals; US$150 for residents of Canada and the USA; and US$150 for other foreign nationals.