Prospective appraisal of a formative nuclear and radiation physics at Nairobi

Abstract

We provide a prospective appraisal of the evolution of the graduate nuclear and radiation physics program at the University of Nairobi underscoring its unique growth in the framework of relevant knowledge networks and a nascent nuclear power program. Due to the distinctive characteristics of the nuclear fuel cycle, there arose in Kenya especially nuclear security educational requirements for a proliferation-free nuclear power program as well as the need for provision of a broad spectrum of technical capacities to plan, regulate, and safely handle a nuclear power infrastructure. We detail how the graduate program centres on our newly established research line in nuclear forensics. Learning from this experience we propose, as a result, moving into nuclear photonics enabled by accelerators so as to play more key roles in accelerating capacity building embracing both nuclear and laser physics.