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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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.
2025 ANS Annual Conference
Associate Dean for Research
University of Michigan College
Todd Allen is a distinguished nuclear engineer and policy leader currently serving as the Associate Dean for Research at the University of Michigan College of Engineering. After a foundational career as an officer in the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power Program, he transitioned to academia and national leadership, eventually serving as the Deputy Director for Science and Technology at the Idaho National Laboratory. A fellow of the American Nuclear Society, Allen is renowned for his expertise in nuclear materials and his commitment to clean energy transition, which he champions as the director of the Fastest Path to Zero initiative. His career came full circle at his alma mater, where he chaired the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences before stepping into his current executive role to oversee the college's sprawling research enterprise.
