14 Mar 2011
Pat Kieran, Senior Control & Instrument Engineer, Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) has received the third Cogent SSC Award for Outstanding Leadership in Nuclear Skills. His passionate commitment to promoting the Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) agenda, in the local community, saw him shine through.
The prestigious Award was one of several handed out at an Awards Dinner organised by The National Skills Academy for Nuclear and Cogent SSC, on March 10th at the Palace Hotel in Manchester.
The Cogent Outstanding Leadership in Skills Award recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to ensuring that the UK nuclear sector has the skills it needs to continue to be a world-class industry. The judges were looking for someone who had gone beyond their job description.
Pat has worked on the Dounreay site for over 7 years and is currently supporting the decommissioning of the Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR). Prior to this he was employed as a lecturer at North Highland College for 9 years.
Pat’s commitment to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths began with a series of Science Engagement activities, which started back in 1990 with a Young Engineers’ Club at Thurso College, where he also lectured for 20 years.
Committment
When Pat returned to Dounreay in 2002 DSRL were forward-thinking enough to support him to help build up a network of around 120 registered STEM ambassadors in the local area both from DSRL and other local science and engineering firms.
An example of his commitment is the organisation of a number of events to train STEM Ambassadors. This has resulted in around 100 STEM Ambassadors in the Caithness area alone. Most of these have been recruited as a result of Pat’s work and encouragement. Without this drive from Pat, there would be significantly fewer STEM Ambassadors in the area.
Pat, who was awarded an MBE for Services to Science in the 2010 New Years’ Honours, as a result of this work over the years, said he was delighted with the accolade, “I am extremely grateful for this latest award, coming as it does from a panel of my peers in the nuclear industry. It really means a lot to me.”
Cogent CEO, Joanna Woolf said, “Cogent received many deserving nominations for the award and the judges were challenged to find just one winner. Kieran deserves this Award, he has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to ensure the nuclear industry has the skills it needs to continue to be a world class industry by stimulating young peoples’ interest in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects. STEM is the foundation of nuclear skills."
National Skills Academy for Nuclear Chief Executive, Jean Llewellyn added, “the Cogent Outstanding Leadership in Skills award highlights the activities of people who go beyond the call of duty on the skills agenda. Individuals like Pat, whose commitment to developing skills is hugely important for our sector. Pat’s commitment to developing skills has led him to develop a network of 120 STEM ambassadors in the Caithness area. I would like to congratulate Pat on this achievement he should be extremely proud of this prestigious accolade.”
For further information regarding the Awards Dinner, please go to: www.cogent-ssc.com/Nuclear_Dinner
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