IAEA and LinkedIn Forge Partnership to Empower Women in Nuclear and STEM Fields

New Practical Arrangement at COP29 to Provide Networking and Training Opportunities for Women in the Nuclear Sector.

At the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and LinkedIn announced a new Practical Arrangement aimed at advancing workforce development, with a focus on women in the nuclear and STEM sectors. This partnership seeks to provide critical resources, including training, networking opportunities, and access to LinkedIn’s global platform to empower women and diversify the nuclear energy workforce.

The agreement was signed on November 12 by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and LinkedIn co-founder Allen Blue, marking the beginning of a dynamic collaboration aimed at tackling global challenges through innovation, diversity, and inclusion in the nuclear and STEM fields.

Strengthening Workforce Development for Women in STEM

The new partnership will enable LinkedIn to offer training sessions to the IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship and Lise Meitner Programme fellows, along with IAEA staff. These sessions will focus on how to leverage LinkedIn’s social media platform for career advancement, covering profile development, networking, thought leadership, and women’s empowerment in STEM fields—particularly in nuclear energy and the broader renewable energy sector.

“We need the right people to address the unprecedented global challenges we face, and we need diverse perspectives and skills,” said Director General Grossi. “LinkedIn’s global network will help us connect with qualified experts, particularly women, to bring more diversity and innovation to the nuclear field.”

The IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship and Lise Meitner Programmes have already supported hundreds of women from around the world, providing them with scholarships, internship opportunities, and career development pathways in the nuclear field. With the new partnership, these fellows will benefit from ongoing mentorship and a dedicated LinkedIn group for current participants and alumnae. The group will serve as a platform for networking, professional growth, and the exchange of knowledge and opportunities.

Key Focus Areas of the Collaboration

Under the Practical Arrangement, the IAEA will gain access to LinkedIn’s valuable workforce insights, helping the agency better understand trends in the nuclear energy sector and identify challenges facing the global nuclear community. LinkedIn will also provide data and research that will inform the IAEA’s strategies for promoting gender equality and inclusion within the nuclear workforce.

This collaboration aligns with the IAEA’s broader goals to diversify and enhance the global nuclear workforce, particularly in response to the growing need for skilled professionals in clean energy sectors. The partnership will also support the agency’s commitment to achieving gender equality and fostering leadership roles for women in energy and technology.

A Step Toward a More Inclusive and Resilient Nuclear Sector

As the world works toward achieving climate and energy goals, including the transition to net-zero emissions, a diverse, highly skilled workforce is essential to advancing clean technologies. Through this partnership, the IAEA and LinkedIn aim to foster innovation and increase the number of women in leadership roles within the nuclear energy sector.

The partnership is also seen as a response to the urgent need to close the gender gap in STEM fields and nuclear energy, sectors traditionally underrepresented by women. By enhancing visibility, providing valuable training, and offering networking opportunities, this collaboration will contribute to building a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable nuclear workforce capable of addressing the challenges of tomorrow.

Through this collaboration, both the IAEA and LinkedIn are poised to make lasting changes that will shape the future of the nuclear energy sector and inspire the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.