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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
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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
Wednesday, July 24, 2024|10:15AM–12:05PM CDT|Madison Ballroom
Session Chair:
Kate Borowiec (ORNL)
Alternate Chair:
Ethan Peterson (Massachussets Institute of Technology)
Session Organizer:
Paul P. Wilson
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Scheme for Calculating the Complete Stochastic Uncertainty in Nuclear Analysis Based on 2 Monte Carlo Code Systems
10:15–10:40AM CDT
J. Alguacil (Univ. Nacional de Educacion a Distancia), I. Lopez (Univ. Nacional de Educacion a Distancia), J.P. Catalan (Univ. Nacional de Educacion a Distancia), P. Sauvan (Univ. Nacional de Educacion a Distancia), J. Sanz (Univ. Nacional de Educacion a Distancia)
Paper
Local Uncertainty and Unstructured Mesh Element Volume in MCNP
10:40–11:05AM CDT
John Tortorello (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Andrea A. Saltos (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Ryanne Kennedy (Commonwealth Fusion Systems)
Uncertainty Analysis of OpenMC Shutdown Dose Rates Calculation
11:05–11:25AM CDT
Bamidele Ebiwonjumi (MIT), Ethan Peterson (MIT)
Presentation Slides (Visible to Attendees)
Optimization of SPARC Vacuum Spectroscopy Shielding Design Using Cottonwood Adjoints
11:25–11:45AM CDT
Ian R. Miner (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Inwoo Song (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Andrea Saltos (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Ryanne Kennedy (Commonwealth Fusion Systems)
Machine Learning Uncertainty Quantification for Fusion Plasma Controllers
11:45AM–12:05PM CDT
Cyd Cowley (digiLab Solutions), Andy Corbett (digiLab Solutions), Mikkel Lykkegaard (digiLab Solutions), Adam Parrott (Culham Centre for Fusion Energy)
