Revitalizing Nuclear Infrastructure: Advancing Digital Twins, Cybersecurity, and Workforce Development

Panel objective: The objective of the panel is to bring together experts from industry, national labs, NRC and DOE to highlight innovative approaches to modernizing nuclear research and training facilities, leveraging advanced technologies such as digital twins to enhance operations, safety, and efficiency. We aim to discuss challenges and opportunities in implementing cybersecurity measures and anomaly detection systems to safeguard critical infrastructure. Additionally, the panel will explore strategies to address workforce development needs for the next generation of nuclear professionals. Purdue University recently received a significant grant to revitalize two research facilities, PUMA and PUR-1, in collaboration with MIT and NCSU, which will serve as a case study for transformative efforts in nuclear infrastructure modernization and their impact on education and research.