ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Aug 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2026
Nuclear Technology
September 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2026
Latest News
Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
Advanced Reactor Safety (ARS)
Technical Session|Panel
Monday, June 17, 2024|3:15–5:00PM PDT|Palm B
Session Chair:
Matthew D. Bucknor
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chair:
Koroush Shirvan
Advanced reactor development offers the opportunity to re-evaluate site and facility security approaches in the U.S. and abroad. Given the differences between most advanced reactors and the existing large light water fleet, novel approaches such as risk-informed security-by-design (SeBD) and safety-and security-by-design (SSeBD) concepts provide reactor designers the ability to directly incorporate security features into their designs while crediting enhanced safety, security, lower risk profiles, smaller radiological source terms, and compact modular designs. This panel will provide perspectives from safety and security experts who will describe their current work in these areas.
Ben Cipiti
Sandia
Jorge Navarro
NNSA/DOE
Brian Kloiber
Oklo
Steve Reed
ORNL