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Conference Spotlight
2025 ANS Winter Conference & Expo
November 9–12, 2025
Washington, DC|Washington Hilton
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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Latest News
IAEA again raises global nuclear power projections
Noting recent momentum behind nuclear power, the International Atomic Energy Agency has revised up its projections for the expansion of nuclear power, estimating that global nuclear operational capacity will more than double by 2050—reaching 2.6 times the 2024 level—with small modular reactors expected to play a pivotal role in this high-case scenario.
IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi announced the new projections, contained in the annual report Energy, Electricity, and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2050 at the 69th IAEA General Conference in Vienna.
In the report’s high-case scenario, nuclear electrical generating capacity is projected to increase to from 377 GW at the end of 2024 to 992 GW by 2050. In a low-case scenario, capacity rises 50 percent, compared with 2024, to 561 GW. SMRs are projected to account for 24 percent of the new capacity added in the high case and for 5 percent in the low case.
VIEW RECIPIENTSSUBMIT NOMINATION
Nomination Deadline
March 1
Presented at the
Annual Conference
Monetary Award
TBD
The David Okrent Award for Nuclear Safety recognizes recent contributions and accomplishments of significant value to nuclear safety. The award is open to ANS members under the age of 40 (at the time of nomination) active in the field of nuclear safety. Particular attention shall be given to identifying and recognizing valuable contributions by young professionals and students to the safety community and to NISD sponsored activities. Recipient qualifications shall be documented in recommendation letters to the NISD H&AC as part of the nomination process.
This award is not intended to be given on an annual basis, but rather when the NISD H&AC deems such recognition to be appropriate.
The award consists of an engraved plaque that will be presented by the chair of the NISD-EC at the 1st NISD session of the ANS Annual Conference. It may be accompanied by a monetary gift if the NISD-EC so decides. Whether to present a monetary gift and, if so, its amount, will be determined on a yearly basis by the NISD-EC unless a perpetual financial plan is enacted.
This award was established by the Nuclear Installations Safety Division in 2019 and is named in honor of Professor David Okrent to commemorate his many valuable contributions to nuclear technology and nuclear safety made during a lifetime career in research and teaching.
Among his many contributions, Dr. Okrent served for many years as a member and chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) during the formative years for the development and evolution of nuclear reactor safety. His remarkable insight resulted in many valuable contributions covering numerous areas, including (a) probabilistic considerations in nuclear reactor safety (PSA), (b) anticipated transients without scram (ATWS), and (c) safety goals (e.g., answering the question, “how safe is safe enough?”). Many of these contributions are reflected in the current regulatory approach in the U.S. and worldwide. Dr. Okrent was the founding father of the ANS Nuclear Reactor Safety Division (now called Nuclear Installations Safety Division) and was a very active member of ANS during his entire career. He was an outstanding mentor and teacher who always encouraged and assisted his colleagues and students in their professional pursuits. In view of the above, it is only fitting that ANS should honor Dr. Okrent for his many contributions by establishing in his name a national award that emphasizes the importance of recognizing contributions by young professionals and students.
The NISD Honors and Awards Committee (NISD-H&AC) shall administer the selection process. The national Honors and Awards Committee is available for consultation and review as appropriate. The NISD-H&AC shall periodically advertise widely concerning the existence of this award and also concerning how a name can be placed in nomination for it. The NISD-H&AC shall report their activity regarding this award to the NISD Executive Committee (NISD-EC).
Nominations must include the completed nomination form accompanied by the following supporting documents:
View Award
