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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.
Nuclear Plant Instrumentation and Control & Human-Machine Interface Technology (NPIC&HMIT 2025)
Technical Session
Wednesday, June 18, 2025|10:00–11:45AM CDT|Chicago Ballroom F
Session Chair:
Jamie B. Coble
Alternate Chair:
Vivek Agarwal
Session Organizer:
Xingang Zhao
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Knowledge-Driven Explainable AI for Automated Defect Detection in Nuclear Reactor Components
10:00–10:20AM CDT
A. Young (Univ. Strathclyde), J. Zabalza (Univ. Strathclyde), Z. Fei (Univ. Strathclyde), G. West (Univ. Strathclyde), P. Murray (Univ. Strathclyde), S. McArthur (Univ. Strathclyde)
Presented by Callum Manning (Univ. Strathclyde)
Paper
System-Level Prognostics with Explainable Artificial Intelligence
10:20–10:40AM CDT
Ark Ifeanyi (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Mattia Zanotelli (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Jamie Coble (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville)
AI for Interpreting Nuclear Power Plant Documents for Power Uprates
10:40–11:00AM CDT
Norman John Mapes Jr. (INL), Kellen Giraud (INL), Brian Wilcken (INL), Ahmad Al Rashdan (INL), Marcio de Queiroz (INL)
Proximity-Based Anomaly Detection Using Graph Neural Networks for NPP Abnormal Operations
11:00–11:20AM CDT
Jeonghun Choi (KAERI), Seo Ryong Koo (KAERI)
Role of Uncertainty Quantification in the Explainability of Large Language Models for the Nuclear Industry
11:20–11:40AM CDT
Nancy J. Lybeck (INL), Vaibhav Yadav (INL), Ronald L. Boring (INL), Vivek Agarwal (INL)
