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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Sam Altman steps down as Oklo board chair
Advanced nuclear company Oklo Inc. has new leadership for its board of directors as billionaire Sam Altman is stepping down from the position he has held since 2015. The move is meant to open new partnership opportunities with OpenAI, where Altman is CEO, and other artificial intelligence companies.
Dr. Harold McFarlane has been a member of the American Nuclear Society for over 40 years and is an ANS Fellow, the highest membership grade of the Society.
His years of industry experience includes management positions with responsibility for developing advanced systems for nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel cycle, and space nuclear power.
He was the site manager for a large, remote research and development complex with high-hazard nuclear facilities. He has served as interim Associate Laboratory Director for Nuclear Science and Technology at Idaho National Laboratory and Assistant Laboratory Director at Argonne National Laboratory.
From 1972 to 1990, Dr. McFarlane was a member and leader of a small team that tested 14 zero-power advanced reactors at full scale, mass, and composition representing power ratings from 100-3000 MW.
He led technology development projects for nuclear waste management, as well as overseeing the team that built and tested the nuclear batteries for solar system exploration from 1991 through 2004.
As the senior technical advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy in the Department of Energy in 2010- 2011, he coordinated the DOE national laboratories’ technical support following the Fukushima nuclear accident. Dr. McFarlane acquired international knowledge and experience by leading three global organizations.
He was the Chief of Staff for the Generation-IV International Forum, a multinational research framework for developing advanced nuclear reactors, and was previously the forum’s technical director.
In addition to serving as ANS President, he was chairman of the International Nuclear Energy Academy in 2011.
Dr. McFarlane holds a Ph.D. in engineering science from the California Institute of Technology (1971), as well as a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Texas (1967), and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago (2000).
Read Nuclear News from July 2006 for more on Harold.
Last modified October 19, 2018, 1:44pm CDT
