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This seminar explores the renewed interest in nuclear energy and raises critical questions about its role in a green future, drawing on insights from a research project that examines the complex dynamics shaping nuclear energy policymaking. It identifies key enabling and constraining factors and analyzes how these interact, distinguishing between elements that are individually necessary and those that are jointly sufficient to influence national nuclear policy choices.

Given the limited number of studies on the causes and effects of civilian nuclear programs, the seminar offers a deeper look into selected cases to better understand how nuclear expansion unfolds in practice. The presentation concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for policymaking in complex and uncertain environments such as the MENA region, where nuclear energy decisions are not only technological or economic, but also deeply strategic and political.

Dr. S. Duygu Sever-Mehmetoglu is an energy policy expert with specialization in nuclear energy. She analyzes the socio-technical, economic, and political drivers and constraints shaping national pathways toward nuclear power generation, with a particular focus on energy security and decarbonization. She is selected for the Rising Stars Program by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency in 2025, in recognition of her work in the field. Her broader research agenda addresses energy transition and sustainable development in MENA at the intersection of climate change, geopolitics, and policy-making, providing decisionmakers with insights to support informed and impactful choices.
She holds a PhD in Political Science and International Relations and is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ in Qatar. Her professional background includes positions at leading institutions including Geneva Graduate Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI), as well as at major international research projects funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 program. She has published extensively with leading publishers (e.g. MIT Press, Springer, Palgrave Macmillan, Routledge), high impact academic journals (e.g. Energy Research and Social Science, Sustainability), and research institutions (e.g. IFRI, ISPI, Global Relations Forum and Middle East Council on Global Affairs).

Duygu is a frequent speaker at high-level international forums, government roundtables, and flagship events, including COP28 and COP29. She also delivers executive trainings on sustainable development, just energy transition and climate change and is known for translating complex energy debates into accessible, policy-relevant insights for diverse audiences.