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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|Technology Research and Development
Thursday, April 30, 2026|1:00–2:00PM EDT|Room 306
Session Chair:
Nicholas Brooks
Alternate Chair:
Stephanie Manasterski
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Harnessing Cloud and AI to Accelerate Space Nuclear Technology Development
1:00–1:06PM EDT
Juan Carlos Lopez (Microsoft), Nelli Babayan (Microsoft)
Paper
Innovative UZrCN Synthesis by Nitrogen Heat Treatment of UZrC
1:06–1:12PM EDT
David Sanches (INL), James Zillinger (INL), Sarah Hamilton (INL)
ZrC Grain Growth at Conditions Relevant to Space Nuclear Propulsion
1:12–1:18PM EDT
Katherine Montoya (ORNL), Bryan Conry (ORNL), Wesley Jones (ORNL), Ryan Heldt (ORNL), Brandon Wilson (ORNL), Eddie Lopez-Honorato (ORNL)
Advancing Space Nuclear Fuel Development: A Comprehensive Strategy from Prototyping to Production
1:18–1:24PM EDT
Sabrina McCoy (BWX Technologies), Ryan Swanson (BWX Technologies)
Comprehensive Uncertainty Quantification Approach for First of Kind Space Reactors Neutronics Modeling
1:24–1:30PM EDT
Chase Lawing (BWX Technologies), Ryan Swanson (BWX Technologies), Andy Rivas (BWX Technologies)
Applying a Comprehensive Uncertainty Quantification Framework to U.S. Government Space Reactor Designs: Insights from Propulsion and Power Reactors
1:30–1:36PM EDT
Assessing Reactivity Uncertainty in Space Reactors Under Nuclear Data Limitations: Covariance Inconsistency, Missing Benchmarks, and Validation Gaps
1:36–1:42PM EDT
Ryan Swanson (BWX Technologies), Chase Lawing (BWX Technologies), Andy Rivas (BWX Technologies)