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Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Mar 2026
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2026
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February 2026
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Swiss nuclear power and the case for long-term operation
Designed for 40 years but built to last far longer, Switzerland’s nuclear power plants have all entered long-term operation. Yet age alone says little about safety or performance. Through continuous upgrades, strict regulatory oversight, and extensive aging management, the country’s reactors are being prepared for decades of continued operation, in line with international practice.
Nuclear Criticality Safety Division 2025 Conference
United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL)
Criticality Technical Leader
Senior Fellow in Criticality Safety
Dr. Deborah Hill completed her PhD in Physics at the University of Warwick before joining British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) in 1997 as a trainee criticality safety assessor at the Springfields site in Preston. Over the past 25+ years, she has established herself as a leading expert in nuclear criticality safety, providing specialist support to a range of national and international clients. She now serves as the Criticality Technical Leader and as a Senior Fellow in Criticality Safety at the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL).
Deborah has held prominent leadership roles across the criticality safety community, including Chair of both the UK Working Party on Criticality and the American Nuclear Society (ANS) Nuclear Criticality Safety Division (NCSD). She was honored with the NCSD Distinguished Service Award in 2019 and named an ANS Fellow in 2024. A key contributor to criticality safety standards, Deborah also currently chairs the working group responsible for the recent revision of the ANS-8.20 criticality training standard and serves as a member and secretary of the ANS-8 Standards Committee.
At UKNNL, Deborah also now leads the UKNNL Fellowship, a group of senior science, engineering, and technology leaders who play a key role in shaping the organization’s strategic Science & Technology (S&T) Agenda. Her broader industry leadership also includes past service as Chair of the ANS Professional Divisions Committee.
Last modified July 30, 2025, 8:26am CDT
