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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
19th International Conference on Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Analysis (PSA 2025)
Technical Session|Sponsored by NISD
Tuesday, June 17, 2025|10:00–11:45AM CDT|Houston/Kansas City
Session Chair:
Kevin R. O'Kula
Alternate Chair:
Tatsuya Sakurahara
Session Organizer:
David Grabaskas
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A PSA-Based Analysis of the IEC 61508 SIL Allocation for Enhancing the Applicability of Commercial Digital Devices in NPP's I&C
10:00–10:20AM CDT
Younghak Lee (school of energy systems engineering, chung-ang university), Man C. Kim (school of energy systems engineering, chung-ang university)
Paper
Determining Risk Significant Digital I&C Failure Modes in the Probabilistic Risk Assessment of a Nuclear Power Plant
10:20–10:40AM CDT
Priyanka M. Pandit (NCSU), Arjun Earthperson (NCSU), Rawan Mustafa (NCSU), Mihai A. Diaconeasa (NCSU)
There is No Software Common Cause - There is Only Common Cause
10:40–11:00AM CDT
John E. Weglian (EPRI), Wes Brinsfield (Jensen Hughes Inc.)
An Approach to Automate tools for the Risk Assessment of Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems
11:00–11:20AM CDT
Tate Shorthill (INL), Congjian Wang (INL), Edward Chen (INL)
