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
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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|Panel
Thursday, April 8, 2021|2:00–3:00PM EDT
Session Chair:
Elizabeth S. Sooby
Alternate Chair:
Amanda M. Bachmann
Session Organizer:
Edward Chen (NC State Univ.)
Track Organizer:
Session Producers:
Khadija Mahbuba (NCSU)
Hosted by the ANS Young Members Group Experiencing some sort of disruption due to Covid may be the thing we all have the most in common. Whether it was transitioning to online classes, parenting while navigating online study, having your laboratory temporarily closed, or foregoing a highly anticipated internship, the possible disruptions seem countless and could certainly be overwhelming. Join us for a discussion on the research, academic, and scholarly disruptions that students, and even faculty, have faced over the last year. We're prompting our panelists to share what disruptions most influenced their day to day lives and career plans. In addition, we hope everyone can share their academic "Covid hacks" so to say, and express some alternative directions, coping strategies, and over-all words of affirmation and encouragement for managing these disruptions. We will kick off the panel with a few virtual polls for our attendees to gauge how everyone has been and continues to be impacted, to make for a customized and interactive discussion.
Amanda Bachmann
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Katherine Montoya
University of Texas San Antonio
Anna Balla
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Christopher Kulah
Oregon State University
To access the session recording, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
To access session resources, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
