ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
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
August 2026
Nuclear Technology
July 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The deadline arrives: Checking in on the Reactor Pilot Program
On May 23, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14301, “Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the DOE,” which instructed the Department of Energy to create a Reactor Pilot Program (RPP)—a new system in which companies could pursue DOE authorization to build and test their first-of-a-kind nuclear technologies. EO 14301 set an ambitious goal for that program: three reactors achieving criticality by July 4, 2026.
Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2023) Plenary SPeaker
Formerly Nuclear R&D and Management
Idaho National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory
Dr. McFarlane worked 44 years in nuclear R&D and management at Idaho National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. He currently serves as President of the Idaho Falls Country Club.
Dr. McFarlane’s experience includes experimental fast reactor physics, nuclear fuel cycle, space power systems, and international nuclear relations. He directed a variety of research programs as well as the operation of major nuclear facilities. He spent a sabbatical year as the senior technical advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy. He is a former President of the American Nuclear Society and a past Chairman of the International Nuclear Energy Academy. Dr. McFarlane began his interest in nuclear energy history in 1992 with the publication of Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction—the First 50 Years. Subsequently he has written and lectured on nuclear topics including Idaho’s contribution to nuclear energy development, most recently for the 2020 edition of the Nuclear Energy Encyclopedia.
Dr. McFarlane’s four-corner education includes a PhD in engineering science from the California Institute of Technology, a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Texas, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago, and a year on the faculty of New York University.
Last modified December 2, 2022, 7:34am MST