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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
Technical Session|Testing, Evaluation, and Production Supply Chain
Wednesday, April 29, 2026|10:10–11:30AM EDT|Room 305
Session Chair:
Alex Gilbert
Alternate Chair:
Tim Duquette
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Evaluation of Electrically Heated Nuclear Reactor Development Units for the Advancement of Propulsion and Power Technologies
10:10–10:30AM EDT
Jackson Cho (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center), Jacob Ondeck (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center), Brian Hoang (Amentum, Space Exploration Division), Matthew Hitt (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center), Tyler Dennis (Antares Nuclear, Inc), Noah Sutton (Antares Nuclear, Inc)
Paper
Lunar Nuclear Reactor Neutron Fluence and Gamma Dose Estimates
10:30–10:50AM EDT
Brandon A. Wilson (ORNL), Alex Levinsky (LANL), Russell C. Johns (LANL), Tyler R. Steiner (NASA Glenn Research Center)
Multifaceted Considerations for Fission Surface Power Radiation Shielding Design
10:50–11:10AM EDT
A. Levinsky (LANL), R. Johns (LANL), M. Kreher (LANL), T. Steiner (NASA Glenn Research Center), B. Musico (LANL), A. Maldonado (LANL), V. Dasari (INL), D. Reel (LANL), J. Smith (LANL), B. Wilson (ORNL), A. Prince (LANL)
Impacts of Terrain on Doses for Fission Surface Power
11:10–11:30AM EDT
