Serdar Yildiz, graduate student in the field of high energy physics, has achieved first place in the prestigious ENEN2plus BSc and MSc Nuclear Competition and Summer School 2024.This esteemed event, organized by the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN), took place at the Slovenská technická univerzita v Bratislave (STU) in Bratislava, Slovakia, and gathered top students and professionals from the nuclear industry across Europe.
During the competition, participants were evaluated based on their ability to present innovative research and their knowledge of nuclear science through various quizzes.Serdar Yildiz excelled in both areas, earning an impressive final score of 91%, which included a 96% score on the presentation and a 71.2% score on the quizzes.
Serdar Yildiz's winning presentation was based on their thesis, "Heat Load and Inventory Simulation of the Proton-Beam Halo Monitor at ISOL@MYRRHA Under Different Scenarios."The research was conducted during an internship at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) in collaboration with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), under the guidance of Dr. Donald Houngbo and Prof. Jorgen D'Hondt.The thesis focused on developing an algorithm to calculate the residual nuclide inventory inside the halo monitor after irradiation by beams with varying parameters.This innovative algorithm was then transformed into a user-friendly tool, allowing researchers to compute activity inventories with Monte Carlo simulation accuracy in seconds.
Reflecting on the event, Serdar Yildiz expressed, "I had an amazing experience during this event.Meeting like-minded individuals in the nuclear industry and networking with people who share my passion for nuclear science was truly fulfilling.I really felt at home in this environment."
The ENEN2plus Nuclear Competition and Summer School provided participants with not only a platform to showcase their research but also an opportunity to attend lectures and exercise sessions led by industry experts.The daily quizzes on these sessions accounted for a portion of the participants' final scores, further emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the event.
Serdar Yildiz's achievement at the ENEN2plus competition highlights their dedication and expertise in the field of nuclear research.This accolade is a testament to their hard work and the high-quality guidance received from SCK CEN and VUB.