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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jun 2025
Jan 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Smarter waste strategies: Helping deliver on the promise of advanced nuclear
At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, a clear consensus emerged: Nuclear energy must be a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition. With electricity demand projected to soar as we decarbonize not just power but also industry, transport, and heat, the case for new nuclear is compelling. More than 20 countries committed to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. In the United States alone, the Department of Energy forecasts that the country’s current nuclear capacity could more than triple, adding 200 GW of new nuclear to the existing 95 GW by mid-century.
International Conference on Physics of Reactors 2024 Plenary SPeaker
Senior Manager
Fuel Development & Qualification
TerraPower
James Vollmer has worked the past twelve years at TerraPower in several different roles. He is currently the Senior Manager of Fuel Development & Qualification, where his group is responsible for fuel performance methods development and assessments, fuel fabrication development, and fuel testing and qualification activities to support the Natrium™ project. Prior to taking this role he has held a series of other management positions within TerraPower, including Senior Manager of Nuclear Design, Manager of Materials & Chemistry, and Manager of Fuel Development. Some key technical contributions James has made to TerraPower include 1) preparing the fuel qualification topical report for the Natrium plant, 2) preparing fuel qualification plans for the TWR-P and TWR-300 plants; 3) providing technical direction for the Molten Salt Reactor Experimental Vehicle (MSR-EV) design effort for the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR); and 4) supporting development of the advanced Type 1B (and Type 2) fuel designs including design, fabrication, and oversight of a series of irradiation tests in the Advanced Test Reactor.
Prior to joining TerraPower, Dr. Vollmer spent nine years at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, where he applied computational methods to support fuel fabrication, design, and performance activities for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. He received Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry, computer science, and mathematics from the College of the Ozarks, followed by a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Utah.
Last modified February 20, 2024, 7:38am PST
