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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
Technology of Fusion Energy (TOFE 2026)
Technical Session|10. Special Sessions
Wednesday, June 3, 2026|3:15–5:00PM MDT|Grand Ballroom 2
Session Chair:
Vittorio Badalassi (ORNL)
Alternate Chair:
Arpan Sircar
Session Organizer:
Thomas Fuerst (INL)
Track Organizer:
Lane B. Carasik (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.)
To access paper attachments, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
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Nested Pebble Bed Blanket (NesPeB)
3:15–3:35PM MDT
Vittorio Badalassi (ORNL), Vineet Kumar (ORNL), Jin Whan Bae (ORNL), Ragai Altamimi (ORNL), Katarzyna Borowiec (ORNL), Arpan Sircar (ORNL)
Paper
CORTEX: Accelerating Fusion Materials Development with OpenMC and Sirepo
3:35–3:55PM MDT
Tomás Mallmann Paganin (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Patrick C. Shriwise (ANL), Stephen Coleman (RadiaSoft), Rob Nagler (RadiaSoft), Paul Moeller (RadiaSoft), Garrett Cole (Colorado State), Jason C. Quinn (Colorado State), April J. Novak (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
CORTEX: Assessing Cost of Fusion Materials with Design-for-Manufacture Methodologies
3:55–4:15PM MDT
Garrett M. Cole (Colorado State), Tomás Mallmann Paganin (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), April J. Novak (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Patrick C. Shriwise (ANL), Stephen Coleman (RadiaSoft), Jason C. Quinn (Colorado State), Robert Nagler (RadiaSoft)
Presentation Slides (Visible to Attendees)
Development and Deployment of Fission-Fusion Hybrid Systems at the Kilowatt and Megawatt Scales
4:15–4:35PM MDT
Ross F. Radel (SHINE Technologies), Eric J. Edwards (SHINE Technologies), Matthew Nyberg (SHINE Technologies)
Preconceptual Design of A Zap Energy Sheared-Flow Stabilized Z-Pinch Fusion Pilot Plant
4:35–4:55PM MDT
Alex H. Cheung (Zap Energy)
