In Sweden (1994), the former chair of the European Nuclear Society (ENS), Jan Runermark, was aware of the upcoming challenges the nuclear sector will face: preserving the know-how of retiring nuclear-energy pioneers and perceiving a need for greater efforts to keep young professionals. As the former chair, he was aware of the importance and, therefore, started a Young Generation concept. The concept should attract young people with interest in the nuclear sector to be trained to be future national leaders within the industry.
In 1995, Jan Runermark presented his proposal of the Young Generation Network (YGN) at the General Assembly meeting to all ENS member states. His intention to spread the YGN to all member countries has met with wholehearted approval. As a result, the ENS chair Lars Fredrikson and young representatives from ten countries, showing enthusiasm and diversity, met. Within this meeting, national YGNs and the ENS YGN were created. The ENS YGN was the first regional network. It is supervised by the ENS and monitors the European national YGNs.
A Young Generation Network is to be created within Europe. The network will be affiliated with the European Nuclear Society and national societies promoting nuclear technology.
After Jan Runermark died in the summer of 1995, the ENS YGN along with the ENS Steering Committee honored him by creating the Jan Runermark Award. We presented this award yearly to professionals who have made a firm commitment to the Young Generation (YG).
Now, 20 countries are part of the ENS YGN, meeting regularly, organizing events, providing possibilities to young professionals, exchanging knowledge, and connecting. All current members of the ENS-YGN can be found here.
The list of ENS-YGN chairs starting from 2001 is the following.
- Andrea Kozlowski, Germany (2023-2025)
- Jadwiga Najder, Poland (2021-2023)
- Petros Papadopoulos, Switzerland (2019-2021)
- Nathan Paterson, United Kingdom (2017-2019)
- Eileen Langeneer, Austria (2015-2017)
- Milo Alani, Sweden (2013-2015)
- Andrei Goicea, Romania (2011-2013)
- Edouard Hourcade, France (2009-2011)
- Igor Vukovic, Croatia (2007-2009)
- Kim Dahlbacka, Finnland (2005-2007)
- Alexander Tsibulya, Russia (2003-2005)
- Gaston Meskens, Belgium (2001-2003)