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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
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August 2025
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Powering the future: How the DOE is fueling nuclear fuel cycle research and development
As global interest in nuclear energy surges, the United States must remain at the forefront of research and development to ensure national energy security, advance nuclear technologies, and promote international cooperation on safety and nonproliferation. A crucial step in achieving this is analyzing how funding and resources are allocated to better understand how to direct future research and development. The Department of Energy has spearheaded this effort by funding hundreds of research projects across the country through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP). This initiative has empowered dozens of universities to collaborate toward a nuclear-friendly future.
Technical Session|Panel|Sponsored by HFICD
Tuesday, June 14, 2022|3:15–5:00PM PDT|El Capitan B
Session Chair:
Ronald L. Boring
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chair:
Jonghyun Kim
A failure to address the human element of reactor design early will lead to missed opportunities. The quickest development process is the replication of existing concepts of operations at legacy plants, even when such systems were long ago surpassed by better human-machine technologies outside the nuclear industry. Conversely, attempting to undertake novel concepts of operations late in the design life cycle of a plant could result in protracted development efforts and delays in licensing and deployment. This does not have to happen, but it is imperative that human factors be considered now, early in the design of new reactors. The purpose of this panel session is to address the need for human factors to inform the design of new reactors. The panel will represent diverse perspectives to address research and development needs for advanced concepts of operations. The panel will consist of human factors researchers, vendors, utilities, and regulators to discuss the key challenges and solutions for ensuring human factors is adequately addressed with the nascence of new reactor technology. Topics may include: • Key emerging technologies that should be considered for control systems at plants. • Human factors benefits for efficiency, safety, and licensing. • Automation and the shift from concept of operations to concept of monitoring. • Regulatory considerations for the human factors of emerging technology. • Lessons learned from domestic and international experience with new control technologies. • Cybersecurity implications of digital, highly automated plants. • Human factors and control room design on a budget.
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Presentation Video (Visible to Attendees) — Panel Recording - Lou Martinez
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