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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Jul 2026
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2026
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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
Monday, July 22, 2024|10:00–11:50AM CDT|Assembly
Session Chair:
Andrew G. Sowder
Alternate Chair:
Ben Lindley (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Session Organizer:
Arnold Lumsdaine
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Public-Private Partnerships to Address Supply Chain Challenges for the Commercialization of Fusion Energy
10:00–10:25AM CDT
Arnold Lumsdaine (ORNL)
Paper
Updated Owner-Operator Requirements for Fusion Energy to Inform and Enable Technology Development and Commercialization
10:25–10:50AM CDT
Diana Grandas (EPRI), Andrew Sowder (EPRI)
Technology Transfer and Public Private Collaboration
10:50–11:10AM CDT
H. J. Lewtas (U.K. Atomic Energy Authority), A. Abdallah (U.K. Atomic Energy Authority), S. Borini (U.K. Atomic Energy Authority), A. Perez-Crespillo (U.K. Atomic Energy Authority), L. Young (U.K. Atomic Energy Authority), T. Bestwick (U.K. Atomic Energy Authority)
Sensitivity and Reliability Analysis for Reliability-Based Design Optimisation of EU-DEMO-like Designs
11:10–11:30AM CDT
Jonathan Maddock (U.K. Atomic Energy Authority)
The SPARC Plant Control Architecture: Leveraging Modern Industrial Automation Technology to Commercialize Fusion
11:30–11:50AM CDT
Max Kleiman-Lynch (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Dominic Francia (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Anders Oberg (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Will Davis (Commonwealth Fusion Systems)
