Seminars & conferences

Organised by SPIN at the invitation of Prof. Gianluca Cavoto, with the welcome of Prof. Cesare Bini, head of teaching, the seminar marked the launch of the new "Physics for Advanced Technologies" specialisation of the Master's degree in Physics. Its message: the growth of the nuclear sector in France and Italy needs physicists too. SPIN outlined how the French nuclear sector works and the opportunities that an industry of this kind can offer to future physicists. The session drew numerous students and researchers, whose interest fostered a lively exchange.

Organiser:  G. Cavoto (Sapienza University of Rome)
Speakers: M. Ciambrella (SPIN), A. L'Abbate (SPIN)

Organised on the occasion of the Italian Research Day in the World (GRIM) by the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute, in collaboration with SPIN. The event explored the technological and strategic choices behind nuclear fuel supply and management: available options, required industrial infrastructure, benefits, challenges and geopolitical implications. Drawing on the French experience, it compared Generation III and IV reactors and the complementary roles they can play, and highlighted the Italian expertise supporting the French nuclear sector, from research to industry. It also discussed how French fuel cycle infrastructure can serve as a reference and catalyst for renewed nuclear programmes in Italy and Europe. [Abstract and Agenda]

SPIN organisers: M. Ciambrella, D. Costa, E. Martinolli
Speakers: D. Costa (EDF, SPIN), G. Grassi (OECD NEA, SPIN)
Panelists: J.F. Martin (ORANO), L. Messina (CEA, SPIN), S. Pastoris (Framatome, SPIN)
Panel moderator: D. Costa (EDF, SPIN)

Organised by the Société des Professionnels Italiens du Nucléaire en France (SPIN) and sponsored by Ask For The Moon, a French startup, the event featured an introductory talk and a panel discussion with speakers from Ask For The Moon, Edvance, CEA-List and Framatome. The discussion explored how artificial intelligence can be reconciled with the absolute safety requirements of an industry where error is not an option. Two areas were addressed: engineering support for reactor commissioning and operation, where digital twins and predictive monitoring enable early anomaly detection, provided excessive automation is avoided; and knowledge management, where AI helps preserve and transfer expertise in the face of an ageing workforce, while keeping decisions reliable and traceable. [Poster] [Agenda]

SPIN organisers: R. Cocci, F. Vitillo
Keynote speaker: B. Tilloy (Ask for the Moon)
Panelists: B. Tilloy (Ask for the Moon), D. Attali (Edvance), D. Cancila (CEA), M. Segond (Framatome)
Panel moderator: F. Vitillo (SPIN)

Organised by SPIN together with WiN France (Women In Nuclear), with the support of EDF. The French nuclear industry has designed new large-capacity reactors such as the EPR, the EPR2 and the EPR1200, and building these new power plants raises many challenges. How can projects of such magnitude be successfully delivered? What are the key factors for completing such complex industrial objects on time and on budget? How are the large teams working on site managed on a daily basis? Which activities are the most critical? And what are the prospects abroad? The seminar featured a keynote by the Flamanville 3 project manager, followed by a roundtable with experts from industry, engineering, research and law. [Poster and Agenda] 

SPIN organisers: Massimo Ciambrella, Claudia Picoco, Lucia Sargentini
Keynote speaker: I. Poncet (EDF)
Panelists: E. Galichet (Le Cnam, WiN-France), D. Masini (Egis), L. Roy (Assystem), C. Santucci (CEA)
Panel moderator: X. Vásquez-Maignan (White & Case LLP) 

Organised in collaboration with Alumni PoliMi Parigi, Alumni PoliTo Paris and RéCIF, under the patronage of the Embassy of Italy in France and the Consulate General of Italy in Paris, as part of the Italian Research Day in the World (GRIM) 2023. Held on the 80th anniversary of the first nuclear reactor, the seminar explored the context in which the idea of the Chicago Pile germinated, how Enrico Fermi's vision shaped the evolution of nuclear energy, and how his intuitions led to modern numerical computation. A passionated introductory talk traced his path from Via Panisperna to Chicago and the birth of the atomic age. A round table then addressed two themes: from the Chicago Pile to Generation IV reactors, and numerical simulation from Fermi to "digital twins". [Poster] [Agenda] 

SPIN organisers: all SPIN team for the first association event!
Keynote speaker: A. Zoia (CEA, SPIN)
Panelists: G. Bruna (NucAdvisors, ex-IRSN, SPIN), F. Carré (CEA), A. Marincic (Framatome)
Panel moderator: E. Martinolli (SPIN)