Reflections on Strengthening Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Amongst Nuclear Stakeholders

This paper addresses current deficiencies in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) within the nuclear power sector and the broader nuclear scientific research community. Utilizing data from open sources, the authors’ respective organizations, and a survey conducted of women in the field, the authors reflect on the underrepresentation of women of color in the nuclear field. This includes deficits in leadership roles, identifying gaps between stated goals for DEIA and current practices within the nuclear workforce. Focused on actionable solutions, this paper considers different strategies to increase DEIA and offers recommendations for improvement. To provide context for our claims, our evidence draws on the experiences of the authors, two young women of color in the nuclear field, one a nuclear power plant operator, and the other a senior member of technical staff at a national nuclear laboratory, providing experiential examples of the DEIA gap.