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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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!
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Heather Feldman is the Director of Innovation in the Nuclear Sector at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). She is passionate about being a part of shaping a clean energy future. Heather leads a team that conducts applied R&D to overcome barriers for modernizing and maximizing the utilization of the existing nuclear fleet and for deploying advanced reactors. She is leading EPRI’s initiative on Artifical Intelligence.
Prior to her current role, Feldman was the Director of Plant Support and led an expert team who develop new or enhanced technologies and processes for inspection and repair, aging management and flexible operations of nuclear power plants. She previously led and managed the Engineering Programs area and worked in the Steam Generator Management Program and the Office of Innovation.
Before joining EPRI, Feldman worked for United Space Alliance, where she coordinated systems engineering and integration work in the thermal area of the Space Shuttle Program. Her work contributed to the successful Return-to-Flight mission after the Columbia accident.
Feldman holds a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and a Doctorate in mechanical engineering from Clemson University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University.
Tanya Hamilton serves as senior vice president, nuclear corporate for Duke Energy. In this role, she is responsible for accelerating the company’s efforts to transform operations and position the nuclear fleet to serve customers well into the future. She has responsibility for nuclear corporate operations, engineering, regulatory affairs and innovation.
Hamilton has more than 25 years of experience in the nuclear energy industry. Before assuming her current position in December 2019, she served as site vice president of the Harris Nuclear Plant near New Hill, N.C. In that role, she was responsible for the safe and reliable operation of the single-unit, pressurized water-reactor nuclear generating facility. She directed station and facilities management, operations, maintenance, chemistry, radiation protection, engineering, nuclear and industrial safety, and business operations. She also served as plant manager of Harris.
Hamilton joined Duke Power in 1992 and held various engineering positions prior to being appointed as training manager at McGuire Nuclear Station in 2004. Additional leadership positions include safety assurance manager, work control superintendent and engineering manager at Catawba Nuclear Station and corporate engineering functional area manager for nuclear generation.
Hamilton serves on the nuclear engineering accreditation oversight board for North Carolina State University and provides strategic consulting to the board of directors for Community Health Service in Union County, N.C.
Duke Energy, one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States, supplies and delivers electric services to approximately 7.7 million customers in the Southeast and Midwest. The company also distributes natural gas services to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its commercial business operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK.
Bill Russell is the chief scientific adviser on a wide range of scientific and technical issues for BWXT NOG. He previously served as BWXT's chief technology officer. Mr. Russell worked in multiple areas of the Company, including research and development for medical isotopes, advanced reactor design and small modular reactor fuel development. He came to BWXT from GE-Hitachi Nuclear, where he led new product introduction and design certification of the ESBWR (Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor). He holds more than 100 U.S. patents in the fields of nuclear engineering and mathematics. Mr. Russell graduated with magna cum laude honors from North Carolina State University, holding a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Last modified April 7, 2021, 9:26am EDT
