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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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ANS webinar looks at radiation studies and living near nuclear plants
In February, a study published in Nature Communications found a correlation between proximity to nuclear power plants and rates of cancer mortality. While the authors acknowledged that causation could not be established, they nonetheless said that calculations supported evidence of 115,586 “cancer deaths attributable to nuclear power plants proximity.”
On its release, this study garnered significant media attention—sparking worry among the public and immediate pushback from radiation experts. ANS recently hosted a webinar taking a deeper look at what that study (and other similar proximity studies) got wrong, the science behind what we do and do not know, and why these conversations matter.
Technical Session|Panel|Panels
Friday, April 5, 2024|3:15–4:35PM EDT|Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub Room 603
Session Chair:
Aaron P. Fjeldsted
Alternate Chair:
Matthew Zerphy
Session Organizer:
Jonathan B. Balog
While nuclear security and nonproliferation efforts have been important to the stability and the peaceful use of nuclear energy around the world, the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine may be an inflection point in these efforts. From the occupation and ongoing operating conditions at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to recent comments by several world leaders regarding the acquisition nuclear weapons, the existing nuclear security and nonproliferation order appears to be at a crossroad. Join our panelists for a discussion on the current state of nuclear security and nonproliferation and where they could go in the future!
Valeriia Hesse
Odesa Center for Nonproliferation
Penn State College of Engineering
Rosanne McManus
Penn State University - College of Liberal Arts
Mark Schanfein
INL
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Attachment — Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation Bios