Welcome to AFRI NEWK podcast. This is the podcast about nuclear technology in Africa
using the African voice. And on today's episode, we have Miss America Grace Tanki from the United
States of America. We want to talk about nuclear issues and the nuclear delegation at COP28 in
Dubai. So let's listen up and get the situating views she has. And yeah, you might get a chance to
also ask some few questions to her. And it's a rare privilege. So yeah, take it from here.
Nneka will be also giving some aspects of the discussion and as a co-host as well. So yeah,
Nneka, please can you take it from here? Thank you. Hello, good morning, everyone. Welcome to the
AFRI NEWK podcast on this special edition with Miss America. Nice to meet you Grace. It's a pleasure
to have you on this show. Oh, thank you so much. It's so wonderful to be here and to be speaking
on the AFRI NEWK podcast. Thank you. So may we meet you officially? Yes. So I am Miss America 2023
actually, and also a nuclear engineering student. So I finish up my degree actually within like the
next week here. So as soon as I get back to the States, I'm taking my final for my last class.
But ultimately, yeah, I'm a nuclear advocate and I do a ton of different outreach and education
work to help shift the public perception surrounding nuclear science worldwide. Oh, that's nice.
That's nice. It's good to see someone from a different world advocating for science.
So how did you become interested in nuclear energy and by extension nuclear advocacy?
For me personally, I have, okay, I always say I have a really bad origin story with how I got
involved in nuclear. Oh, wow. It's like just very not what you expect, right? So I was a 16 year old
teenage girl and I'm like, all right, what do I want to do with my life, right? What do I want to
what do I want to be when I grow up? All of those good important questions, right? And I always knew
I like math and science. I've always loved the study of patterns and things like that and knowing
that I'm either right or wrong. There's no in between math or science. So I knew I really liked
engineering and I was touring colleges and I was going through the list of majors and I saw nuclear
engineering and honestly, I just thought it sounded really, really cool. Like I was like a man, a man
in what a flex it would be to say I'm a nuclear engineer. So that's what started it. And then I
go back home after visiting these colleges and I'm talking with my dad and I'm like, listen, dad,
I'm thinking either nuclear or aerospace engineering for my major. And yeah, well, it's it's
exciting and I'm very honored to have those opportunities. But it was really funny because
my dad looks at me and he goes, Grace, don't go into nuclear. There's no future there. And now a
typical teenage reaction to when her dad tells her not to do something is to go and do it. So
that's exactly what I did. Yeah, yeah. So I got into this field out of spite. But I always say
what kept me in it is what I learned in that first semester of school. And then I learned how much
nuclear can continue to contribute to our society. So that first semester in school, I learned about
how nuclear power is 20% of America, 10% of the globe, how it continues to help cure cancer. You
know, my dad is a two time cancer survivor. So that was a really big, a really big thing learning
about that and going back home and having those discussions. It was really, really incredible.
And I hope your dad knows your future in nuclear. Yes, he is very much so very pro nuclear now.
So thank you very much. You did that. Yeah, so one person at a time. Okay. Yeah. So how has the
journey been so far? It has from your from your high school days to today. Yeah, it has been
incredible. So as as a high schooler, you know, I didn't know a lot about nuclear and I didn't
really get into it until I got into college. And once I once I was in college at the University
of Wisconsin, Madison, it was it totally changed my perspective. And I started competing in the
Miss America competition, you know, we had the global pandemic happened during my freshman year.
So I've had a lot of a lot of different life experiences and stuff. So it's been incredible
though, because my main focus has been educating the general public surrounding nuclear energy and
nuclear science overall. So I do a lot of work with young children ranging from kindergarten,
all the way up to university students who are, you know, interested in learning and a lot. The
biggest thing is young people today care about climate change. They care about accessible and
reliable energy. And nuclear energy is one of the few forms of energy that checks all of those boxes.
And it's truly, truly incredible to have that opportunity to talk about this off of science
and what it can do for the world. That's interesting to know. So you are at COP 28,
you are in Dubai, you you are part of the nuclear community in Dubai. So share with us your
initial thoughts, your emotions when you are going to COP 28 as a nuclear advocate and at the same time,
a beauty queen. Yeah, here at COP 28, it is so so exciting. So for those that don't know,
this is an international climate change conference, one of the biggest, like I would argue the biggest
one, right? Yes. So it is truly incredible. We have a group of over 50 youth advocates here to
talk about nuclear energy and to get it on the table. And this year has been very exciting. 22
countries signed an agreement to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050. So that means by 2050,
we will have 30% of our energy grid is nuclear energy. And that is so, so incredible to know
that 22 countries are on board. And that just I only know will simply that's a good start. I know
before the decade runs out, we will have more countries joining into this agreement. So exactly.
Exactly. So what I have been the challenges and the opportunities discussed for the nuclear
community as COP 28. Yes, we know the world is targeted at zero and there is this agreement to
triple nuclear energy production. But this also comes with its challenges. Of course,
there is this positive side of it that is the opportunity. So what is it like? What was the
discussion to cater for the challenges and opportunities that is going to come out of this
agreement to triple nuclear energy production across the world?
The biggest challenges are the cost, the initial cost, and then the time it takes to build them,
right? Yeah. And honestly, it's been really incredible because here in Dubai, we've had the
opportunity to go to the Baraka nuclear power plant, which is that one. Yeah, it is it is about
five hours away from Dubai. And Baraka is a perfect example of a nuclear power plant built on time
and on budget. And that is something that shows that it can be done in modern day and age. And
now that power plant produces 25% of the UAE's energy, which is incredible when you think about
it at the end of the day. So there is there is plenty of successful cases of reactors being
built on time and on budget. There are so many countries that within the next five years that
are going to be breaking ground on building new nuclear. And I'm so excited to watch that continue.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I am too. I am because I also see it from the African perspective that it is
also opening ways for Africa when this Western and older countries and more financially stable
countries do this and achieve it. It becomes way more easier for us in Africa to replicate.
Yesterday, I had the news of China commissioning the first generation for reactor, a high temperature
gas code reactor. And it gives me this so much positive emotion that China being one of Africa's
major business partner, we are on the right track. Africa is on a very right track and
it's PD1 to achieve its nuclear energy targets. So tell us more about the role of nuclear energy
in climate change mitigation and why it is very important that we are represented at COP 28.
I noticed I don't know if this is right for me to say so, but I noticed that the nuclear community
at COP 28 are the most vocal ones. Yeah, I see a whole lot of social media engagement from the
nuclear community talking about climate change and all of that. So I don't know if there were other
communities at COP 28. So we are the nuclear, even the nuclear community, I've probably seen the world
a more safe and net zero energy generation. I don't know what the other guys are offering, but
let's how do we achieve this more? How do we achieve that? Or why are you looking for like why
we're looking at that? Why is it important? Why exactly why is it important? And one rule, what exact
rule does nuclear energy play in the whole climate change mitigation? Okay, perfect. Yeah. So the
biggest thing with climate change mitigation is we want to prioritize this change to zero carbon
or emissions free energy, that sort of thing to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere
ultimately. But what we struggle with with this as well in this consideration of this energy
transition is reliable energy. It's something that we are a society that now kind of is starting
to rely on energy and electricity overall. And because of that, it's got to be available. It's
got to be accessible as we continue to build new sources of energy. And nuclear is one of the most
reliable forms of energy. It's also emissions free. So it checks both of those boxes sustainably.
So when it comes to that, that base load source of power, the type of power that needs to always
be on and always be available, nuclear can fill that role. And then from there, we can continue
building more renewables to continue supporting the grid. And then we can continue building,
you know, potentially even fossil fuels with carbon capture with the ability to remove the
carbon that's produced. It's all about building a healthy, diverse energy portfolio. We can't
rely on just one form of energy to produce our grid. But nuclear has to be in the consideration
to have that base load source of power that's reliable and always available.
Interesting. Interesting. Nuclear energy has come so far. Yeah, this is almost six decades or
more than six decades from the days of the first power reactors connected to grid to the...
We've seen a lot of evolution in the industry when it comes to nuclear energy from new reactors,
from more safety features, and all of this evolution. So how does this evolution come
affect climate change? How do you think possible technology advancement and
everything that comes with it, how does it help fight against climate change?
The biggest thing is reducing the amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, right?
With nuclear specifically, it's a massive amount of power just to be able to provide to an energy
grid. You know, I look at here in the UAE, I mentioned the Baraka nuclear power plant nearby
that powers 25% of the country. It's not a very small amount of land. Our population is going to
continue to grow, which means our electricity demands and our agriculture demands are going to
continue to grow. And agriculture, we need land. We need access to that land to be able to farm it,
to feed these people. And then from there, we need to be able to continue to use electricity in a
sustainable way. So we need this electricity to be available in massive amounts, but on small amounts
of land. And that's where we'll be able to use nuclear as well in terms of helping with affecting
climate change broadly. Okay, that's nice. So what are your hopes and aspirations for the future
of nuclear energy and its role in combating climate change? I hope that this agreement that came out
of COP28 to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 does come to fruition. You know, that is an ambitious
goal. It is an exciting goal, but it is very, very possible. It's a very real possibility and exciting.
So I would love to see ground being broken on building more new nuclear within the next five
years in all of the countries that agreed in that agreement. So I am super excited for the future
of nuclear energy. I hope it will get to the point where it powers. Yeah, yeah, it's going to be
exciting. Provides high-paying jobs, good, good reliable energy for people and is an emissions
free form. Thank you. So let's come to you being Miss America. So earlier you had said when you
were 16, you were considering what do you want to do with your life? Do you ever think you would
go into duty pageantry then? Well, Miss America is, you know, I'm not the most beautiful woman in
America. We're not really a beauty pageant anymore. It's a scholarship organization. So I
competed to help earn scholarships towards my degree in nuclear engineering. But it's also
still has a great platform. Still is all about women leading and making change in their community.
Hence why, you know, as Miss America, I'm talking a lot about nuclear energy. It's been so incredible
to have this opportunity. I'm very, very thankful. I've loved my time as Miss America. I wrap it
up in about a month. Oh, okay. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So that's that's interesting. So what's the interception
of beauty and science? And, you know, there's this whole lot of stereotype and misconception about
beauty queens and their intellectual ability. And now we are seeing a beauty queen who is
a nuclear engineering major and advocating for nuclear energy. It's kind of, I don't know,
I don't know, it's not something we are used to around the world. So what's the interception?
What made you think that bringing beauty, which of course I am very, very happy you chose that
path? Because when I first came across your profile on the internet, I was like, okay,
does this does this tally does this match? Is it real? Is this a bot? Exactly. So I was like,
okay, is she just using this as a front? But then I found that you are a nuclear engineering
student. I'm like, no, this is different from from what we used to know. Because I know beauty
queens pick up some form of advocacy, I guess it comes with a part of the program, I don't know.
But you picking nuclear advocacy, what is the interception between beauty and science? And
you chose nuclear as a beauty? Well, you know, honestly, there was very little to no interception
between the Miss America program and nuclear energy overall prior to this year. But but but the
important thing is is that it's exposing these two entirely different demographics to entirely
different groups of people to each other. You know, that's one thing about nuclear. I always say,
I think one of our fatal flaws is we love to talk, but we only seem to talk to each other
within the industry, we stay very internal and we don't face outwards a lot. And as Miss America,
the yeah, as Miss America, it's this really unique opportunity to talk about nuclear on an
external facing front. Yeah, and so many other advocates. Yeah, it's really incredible. And so
many other advocates are utilizing social media to continue to do the same thing. It's this whole
team of people that are really changing that perception of making sure that nuclear
is communicating externally and educating people. You really made a comment that I share the same
sentiment with you on we are in the nuclear industry are so focused on us. We don't seem to
to spend so much time on orders on other industries. We are so related to other energy
industries and then talking to them about why they should adopt nuclear. But you came from a whole
different angle. So the people in the beauty pageantry, they are I think they are less concerned
with the energy of the world. And now you are telling them about the energy of the world and
then taking it a step further by saying nuclear energy is the most sustainable. We will get more
sustainable energy from from the atoms and be good to us to that. Honestly, I would tell you
wanting when I first came across you on the internet, honestly, I, it was so exciting. It
was catchy. I couldn't just scroll past. I needed to know more about this person who is merging two
parallel lines together. I was like, okay, beauty and science, please. Thank you very much for
coming through this angle. And I'm very sure you're doing a great deal of work. So share with us what
your role as in America, who is leveraging, who is raising awareness about nuclear. What is it like?
How has it been the challenges, the opportunities, the stereotype you have to address, the
confrontations and misconceptions you have to address? How has it been like?
Well, it's been really incredible, I would say overall in all honesty. So I've been advocating
for about four years and now this year since becoming Miss America, we've had about this year
of tremendous wins within the nuclear industry. There are so many different countries that are
looking to build new nuclear, Ghana included. And it's been awesome because when I approach people,
people are open to learning about nuclear, especially with the young generation. Gen Z is,
Gen Z's generational issue is climate change, right? Like that's the doom and gloom problem that
Gen Z has. So young people now more than ever are open to learning about new types of energy
sources to help fight climate change, to help mitigate climate change, and to help continue to
treat our planet respectfully and fairly. That's interesting. That's interesting. So how has it
been being a female advocating for nuclear in a traditionally male dominated industry? How has
it been? Well, it's interesting. You know, it's definitely interesting because there have been
times where it doesn't feel good, but overall ultimately, my favorite part was that I know
that I'm inspiring the next generation of young women to go into this field. I look at the women
who have been in this industry for 40 years already. And I always say that the women before me,
they removed boulders, right? Hopefully, I'm only removing rocks. So my daughters only have to remove
pebbles, you know, at the end of the day. I know I was like, oh, poetry, sign me up, you know, I'm
totally there. But it's something that is really incredible because things are changing day by day
and the nuclear industry is welcoming. It's inviting. It's always looking to develop and grow
and build a more inclusive and diverse workforce overall. Yeah, that's interesting. So as a beauty
thing, and at the same time, in nuclear engineering students, can you address one or two misconceptions
and stereotypes that we have or reservations that a lot of us have towards beauty things when
you talk about their intellectual capacities? Yeah, I guess one of the stereotypes that I have
a lot is that people just don't expect Miss America to be an engineer. I wouldn't say people expect.
Yeah, I was going to say, I mean, I think there's obviously some stereotypes that go with being
Miss America and people don't expect it to be a STEM intensive role or something like that. But I
honestly have had very good experiences where typically most of the time when I tell people I'm
a nuclear engineering student and Miss America or when I talk about my role as an advocate within
the nuclear sector, people are usually very, you know, it's changing their minds and all
around is for people. Exactly. Well, at the end of the day, all I ask is that people, you know,
just don't judge somebody based off their looks, don't judge somebody based off their physical
appearance, just get to know them, have a conversation because all of a sudden, these
people's perception of me changes within literally 30 seconds of talking to me. So one of the things
I talk about is Miss America as I represent the women who can because I've had that stereotype
kind of created in both ways, both as Miss America, but also, you know, prior to when I
became prior to becoming Miss America, when I would tell people I'm a nuclear engineer,
I would have people all the time be like, Oh, so you just sit in your room and code all day, right?
But that's not true at all. Like it's not true at all, you know, it's something that I, you know,
I'm a human being with depth with hobbies, with emotions. I'm a competitive water skier. I'm a
classical violinist. I love to hike, spend time outdoors. Actually, one of the first things
I want to tell you is one of the first things I'm doing after Miss America in February, I'm going
to Tanzania, going to go to Mount Kilimanjaro, spend time in the same place. So I am super excited.
Yeah. So like all of these things that, you know, it makes a human being taking the time to have
conversations to get to know them and have that have that friendship is so, so important. So that's
one of the biggest things that I really have been trying to represent throughout my years, Miss America
is treating people fairly in that respect.
Nice.
Tell us about your going to Tanzania sparked my interest. Maybe if we can get some
nuclear advocates in Tanzania to come along with you, if that makes sense.
Oh my gosh. That would be awesome. That would be awesome.
Yeah, it's nice.
We can make it happen on the same day.
You can slide the flag over there.
Yeah. Yeah. That would be awesome. That would be awesome.
Okay. Okay. We can discuss this for the outflowers.
So what message do you have for young women who are interested in pursuing careers in science
and technology, especially those in nuclear related field?
Yeah. The biggest thing, first of all, is find your passion. I find that most of the time within
nuclear, you know, nuclear engineering is my major, but we don't need just nuclear engineers.
We need lawyers. We need doctors. We need firefighters on site.
We need security. We need technicians. We need operators.
Like nuclear is a place that genuinely anybody can be there.
Anybody can work in this industry.
No matter your passion, find that passion, what you can do for the next 40, 50 years of life,
and hold on to it. Love it. Enjoy it.
And that's something that then you can help. I always say I help people find their passions,
and then I try and convince them to serve the mission of nuclear, right?
Helping fight climate change, helping create reliable energy, and help give people high
paying and reliable jobs. And that's something that is really awesome.
So my biggest piece of advice, find your passion. And then the second part, stay curious.
You know, never stop learning. There is so much incredible stuff in the world that never stop
learning. It's awesome.
Never. That's true. That's true. So inclusion and diversity is a thing
in the nuclear industry. The industry generally is trying every possible day to be open to everyone.
So in the course of your advocacy, how have you addressed this?
Yeah. You know, one thing to address is that nuclear right now, our percentages are not great,
right? Like even just looking at women to men, 14% of the industry is women.
So that's a very small amount. It's very, very small. But the thing is, is that
it's a growing industry. It's a changing industry. And unfortunately, change doesn't happen overnight.
And I think about my experience as a woman. And like I mentioned earlier, you know, there has
been challenges or has been struggles. But ultimately, there is improvement. I compare
my experience to women who got into this industry 40 years ago, and I have had a much,
much better experience. So it's about continuing to, continuing to teach people, you know, how to
treat others with respect, how to make sure that we're treating women, minorities, you know,
different backgrounds with equality in the workplace as well. I always talk about how
I personally believe the best teams of people in a workplace are made up of people from different
backgrounds, from different socioeconomic statuses, from different, you know, different ways that they
were raised because they have different abilities and different processes that lead to creating the
best products. That's what makes the best teams. And that's what delivers great nuclear power for
people to use. Okay. That's interesting. So are there specific women you look up to in the nuclear
industry? Well, I specifically, I admire a lot of different women. I admire a lot of different
people overall, I would say actually. And I really look up to Susan Eisenhower. She's one of my
mentors and everything. She is a phenomenal, phenomenal woman. The granddaughter of President
Dwight D Eisenhower from the United States. So it's been an incredible experience and
kind of awesome women that are absolute rock stars in the nuclear sector overall.
Okay. Okay. That's nice.
We're coming in an icon too. Yeah. So we could look up to you and
the younger generation to look up. We're actually looking up to you already.
Thanks. I appreciate it. I said, third, it's interesting because I'll have girls like message
me on social media and they'll be like, you know, I never really considered a career in nuclear and
now I am because of you. And I always sit there and it's so strange because like I'm 21 years old,
like I'm just out here living life. Like I'm just like the rest of us, right? Where I'm just having
fun and trying to do good in the world. And it's really crazy to know that you can make that impact
on people. And I personally don't believe, you know, you don't have to be Miss America to make
that impact on people. You don't have to be a nuclear engineer to have that impact on people.
Being a role model just comes from being a good person. Yeah, that's correct. So let's talk about
you are while you in an industry that it's do not not old but old enough. So how is it be?
How has it been being a youth in the nuclear industry? What is the hope? What is the future
of youth and youth leadership in shaping the future of nuclear energy across the world?
Yeah, the biggest thing that we need more youth getting involved, right? We need more youth.
Yes, working in this industry, helping, you know, to kind of fight this fight
towards supporting nuclear because right now we are in this circumstance where the building blocks
of having this huge nuclear expansion is in place. You know, here at COP28, we've seen that agreement
be signed. We're seeing different reactors across the world be opened up. And that's something that
is huge, but we've got to have the workforce to support it. And it's up to us as young people to
supply that workforce to be that workforce and to help make sure that these power plants have
the right staff and good staff to operate them. Okay, that's nice. So what as a nuclear engineering
student? Share your thoughts on the role of technology and innovation in advancing the
nuclear industry, considering that this industry is one that is a lot of automation and innovation
will do us more good. There is AI and machine learning and it's like the wave now. And there
was this whole discussion on crypto coming into the nuclear industry and the crypto technology.
We are having nuclear batteries and all of this. So as a nuclear engineer, what are your thoughts on
the role of technology and innovation in advancing a nuclear industry, considering how far we have
come? I mean, technology and innovation pretty much is the nuclear industry, right? Looking at
these generation four reactors that are opening up across the world and looking at this next
generation of small modular reactors and micro reactors that are in this construction and
licensing process as well. It's been exciting because there are so many ways to get involved.
If you love the engineering side and the design side and the physics side of nuclear science,
great. We need that help on the technology and innovation part of it. It's incredible because
we have reactors that are using totally different materials that are gas-cooled, like lead-cooled,
sodium-cooled, all of these crazy materials that you would have never thought would be possible.
But it's through technology and innovation that we're continuing to improve reactor designs because
that's what we want to do. We want to continue making it better. We want to continue optimizing
nuclear and continue to deliver it to be the best that it can be. Okay. So this is Afrinu podcast
and its major focus is on the African continent. So what do you have for us here on the side of the
world who are in the nuclear industry? Well, it has been so exciting to meet so many people from
Africa here at COP28. I just want to mention that and a lot of them are nuclear advocates.
Oh, thank you. I mentioned that countries like Ghana are looking at building new nuclear within the
next five years, which is so exciting. That's reliable energy, that's sustainable energy,
and that's high-paying jobs for people to work at that power plant as well. So we are, you know,
I'm not a government official, but I know that the United States is working with Africa closely
on developing new nuclear in countries across all of Africa. So it's been so exciting because I know
the people of Africa are looking to explore nuclear and are excited about it. We are excited about
it. We've seen how good it is. We've seen the case studies and major successes and we want to be
part of it. We want to share in the success of this very interesting and intriguing industry.
So exciting. That's so exciting. So can I ask about that though? Because I, like, I obviously, I
haven't been to Africa yet and it's something that it's been on my list. I want to, like I said,
with February and going to the end of the week. You're welcome. You're welcome. So how long, how,
what is the setting like in Africa in terms of supporting nuclear? Has it been like this for
a while where people have been wanting nuclear for a while? I guess what does that timeline look like?
A lot of countries in Africa are adopting nuclear at a very speedy rate. So thinking about
countries like Egypt, Morocco, South Africa is operating through nuclear power reactors and its
contributes almost 10 percent of its energy supply. Ghana is only a very fast one. Ghana and Kenya,
I am very sure, are only very fast ones. But from the North America, we have Morocco and Egypt.
From West Africa, it's Ghana and Nigeria. Nigeria, yeah, we are trying our best. I think that's the
best way to put it. We are trying our best. But Ghana seems to be ahead. But yeah, we are coming.
We are just right behind. We are optimistic. The government here in Nigeria, I can say for
certain, are making every effort to join in the league. We had representatives and delegates at
COP28. I am not sure if they joined the pledge, but yeah, I'm sure Nigeria is on the way to join.
But when it comes to advocacy, a lot of work still needs to be done. I was at a conference last week
where I had to talk to these professors, actually to interest you, they were all professors of
physics. Yeah, so they were mostly majored in geophysics and solid state physics. So I had to
talk to them about nuclear energy and men, the opposition was just too much. So it goes beyond
them not understanding how the nuclear industry works. It has to do with, there's this Nigerian
thing that we have, and they haven't gotten over it. I want to say trust issues or something like that.
So I'm sure when they're able to get over their trust issues, which they have against the government,
not particularly the nuclear industry. This is a trust issue they have against the government.
So when they're able to conquer that, I'm very sure that we embrace nuclear energy and nuclear
technology by extension. The problem, it's not really nuclear, the problem is people not having
faith in the government and the government's ability to handle such sensitive and delicate
industry. If I may add to that, I was in Ghana last week, yeah, I'm crossing into this week as
well, some parts of this week. So the system of government in Ghana right now is quite stable,
and that tells you why they are way advanced in their process of getting the nuclear power plant.
I was in a Bitcoin conference and we are just only two advocates, nuclear advocates there.
One guy from Canada, Ryan McLoid and I, so we're like one of the greatest highlights of that program,
because they've not heard anything like nuclear and when we started talking to them, like when he
was in a panel talking about the impute and what nuclear can do, we got the news like, I think,
a day after, a day before his panel, we got the news about the 22 countries and Ghana being one of
them signing up to the triple in the nuclear capacity. And being what it is, Ghana has been a
stable country for quite a while now, politically stable, economically advancing as well. And it
was quite a very easy buying for them to get nuclear and coming to Africa maybe. Africa is kind
of very hungry for progress, if I may say, and we are receptive of anything that will make us advance
from anywhere. And we also have nuclear reactor, research reactors operating in different parts
of Africa, like in Nigeria, we've been operating nuclear reactor for research for more than a decade
and also in Ghana and also in other parts of Africa. So the knowledge about nuclear technically is
there in Africa, technical knowledge, yes, but getting it to be a nuclear power plant is a little
bit not meeting up to power with the progress in the rest with the rest part of the world. And
there are different things that contribute to that. But doesn't discount the fact that we are
making progress, we are getting the Egyptis, as she said, getting it online. And South Africa,
they are already leading the whole of Africa and also hoping to add to that fleet. And yeah,
Kenya is making good progress. Tanzania is also like, edging towards Uganda as well. So you can see
that there is a lot of kind of awareness. There's also a lot of hopes for different parts of Africa
to get into the nuclear power plant kind of operating business. And we can't wait really,
like a lot of technical guys who have been trained in Africa in different parts of the world, in US,
in Canada, just name it. Some of them are already working in those companies, in startup companies
in US. And some of them are kind of contributing to the brain drain in Africa, you know, like you
get trained and you don't have what to work with. You just have to maybe either become Miss America
or become Mr. American, stuff like that. You have to go for something else or wear to apply
your knowledge. You get what I'm saying. There is, the knowledge is there, but we need to like talk
to the policymakers to like move faster than just talking to get policies in place so that we can
get this nuclear power plants to work. Or I don't know if I'm like making justice to the question
you asked. Hello Grace, are you there? Yeah, no, yeah, that's valid. That's completely valid. I,
that answers the question. It's just so fascinating to learn because I, like I said, I'm like, it's
something that I, it's incredible to know that the people are hungry, the knowledge is there,
like it's wanted. And what I've said for so long is what we need at this point in time is like
overwhelming public support for nuclear. And I feel like the place that that's going to exist is,
is definitely going to start within Africa. And I think that's incredible.
Okay, so I think this is the time to get questions from the audience. And I don't know
among those who are with us, this is the first of its kind life audience participation podcast
in this endeavor. So I don't know if anybody in the audience has something to say, maybe a question
or a comment to Miss America. This is a rare privilege. Please shoot your shoots. Anyone?
Kindly unmute and ask your question. Okay. Okay, since nobody had a question, which means we are all
kind of very, very engrossed and very interested in the connection of being well and sad. So to
conclude, I don't know if you want to have any last words and maybe the future, like if you want to
say anything, kind of to cap what we have. Someone speaking. Hello, Dr. Flavius, you want to say
something? Yeah. Okay. My problem. I just want to express my appreciation, though I joined in
Verily Lead, such a rare privilege to have you live with Miss America and your moderator.
The future is nuclear. The future is nuclear. Yeah. I love it. Thank you so much.
You should stick about it. It's a pleasure having you all. Thank you so much.
Thank you. I appreciate it. It's my pleasure. I love it. Okay, we get, we get that you are trying
to express how excited you are to join the conference or to join the podcast this time.
So yeah, your voice is not clear, but we get that you are trying to comment on your participation.
So yeah, you're welcome always. Like, yeah, I think we just have to conclude now or if any other
person has a comment or question, please unmute and chime in. Sorry, my prof. Can I say a word or two?
Yeah, you said already, but yeah, you can say again if you want.
I just want to add another one. I hope you will still organize more of these sessions again for
our young people who are getting more and more interested in the nuclear field.
Sure, sure. We will do that. Yeah. Yeah, you got me looking forward to that. Thank you very much.
Thank you so much, my prof. All right. Perfect. Yeah. Okay. I give it to Geraldine,
please continue and conclude. Thank you. Thank you, Grace, for honoring our invitation.
It was a great pleasure having you on this live podcast. I am sure every of our listeners today
and those who will listen to the recording afterwards, we will be very, very appreciative
of your time and the knowledge you have shared with us. Thank you very much and thank you for
representing the nuclear community in COP28. Thank you for being a beauty queen in the
nuclear industry, addressing biases and stereotypes. Thank you so much for what you do in advocacy.
Thank you so much for being a human we can look up to in the nuclear industry. We hope it keeps
getting better and better and better. So enjoy your time at Dubai. Thank you for being part of
this podcast section. Well, thank you so much. It has been such an honor to be here. You're welcome.
All right. So thank you, everyone who made it to this podcast. We are happy. We appreciate your
presence and your time despite being an early morning podcast section. Thank you for making
our time to join us. All right. Bye-bye. Thank you so much. Bye-bye.