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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Jun 2026
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2026
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June 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
May 2026
Latest News
DOE’s latest fusion strategy aims for commercial energy by the 2030s
The Department of Energy has released what it is calling a “finalized” national strategy to accelerate the development and commercialization of fusion energy, with the goal of scaling up the private fusion sector by the mid-2030s.
Released on June 9, the Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T) Roadmap builds on an earlier road map document the DOE released in October 2025, which itself echoed plans issued by the DOE’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences in 2023 and 2024.
According to the DOE, this finalized road map brings together fusion science, technology, infrastructure, workforce development, and commercialization priorities into a single national strategy, outlining how the DOE, industry, universities, and national laboratories will work together to accelerate the path toward U.S. commercial fusion energy.
2024 ANS Annual Conference
Catherine Prat is a Principal Engineer and Issue Manager with Westinghouse Electric Company. In her current role, she works across all business units to address a wide range of problems from design, manufacturability, supplier quality, and human performance. Prior to this role, she worked at Plant Vogtle for 6 years in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as Nuclear Island mechanical lead engineer, supporting the Initial Test Program at Vogtle Units 3 and 4. Catherine has also served as a licensing engineer with a specialty in ITAAC and Part 52 licensing. Prior to moving to Vogtle, she worked on the GSI-191 resolution team for AP1000 and was a site engineer at Sanmen Units 1 and 2, helping to bring the first AP1000 plants online.
Catherine has been an active member of ANS for over a decade, in both student / local chapters and the national organization. She currently serves as the ANS Young Member Director on the Board of Directors and is an active member of the Certification Special Committee. She is on the Executive Committee for the Operations and Power Division and is a past chair of the Young Members Group.
Catherine earned her B.S. in Nuclear Engineering in 2014 and her M.Eng. in Nuclear Engineering in 2017. She also holds an SRO certificate (SNUPPS) and her PMP.
Last modified May 28, 2024, 2:06pm PDT