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.
To add or remove a session from your itinerary, please check the circle to the left of its title.
Jump to:
Panel|Session Organizer: Maria Hernandez
Tuesday, August 11, 2020|12:00–1:30PM EDT
Panel|Session Organizer: David Heler
Tuesday, August 11, 2020|2:00–3:30PM EDT
Panel|Session Organizer: Tim Schlimpert
Tuesday, August 11, 2020|4:00–5:30PM EDT
Panel|Session Organizers: Lynne Goodman, Joe Carignan
Panel|Session Organizer: Gerry VanNoordennen
Panel|Cosponsored by Risk Management, Technology and Innovation|Session Chair: Mark Campagna
Panel|Session Chair: Pareez Golub
Panel|Session Chair: Ray Herb
Panel|Cosponsored by Executive/Leadership, Maintenance and Work Management|Session Organizers: Jon Anderson, Ray Herb, Pareez E. Golub
Panel|Session Organizer: Ken Thomas
Panel|Session Organizer: Craig Primer
Panel|Sponsored by Engineering and Equipment Reliability|Cosponsored by Executive/Leadership, Maintenance and Work Management|Session Organizers: Jon Anderson, Ray Herb, Pareez E. Golub
Panel|Session Chair: Jon Anderson
Panel|Sponsored by Performance Improvement|Cosponsored by Maintenance and Work Management|Session Organizers: Fred Lake, Jon Anderson, Kevin Rackley
Session Organizers: Roger Smith, Jim Ripple
Session Organizer: Bill Fry
Panel|Session Organizer: Bill Fry
Session Organizer: Bruce Hennigan
Panel|Sponsored by Technology and Innovation|Cosponsored by Operations/Ops Training|Session Organizer: Ken Thomas
Panel|Session Organizers: Fred Lake, Kevin Rackley
Panel|Cosponsored by Maintenance and Work Management|Session Organizers: Fred Lake, Jon Anderson, Kevin Rackley
Session Organizer: Greg Robison
Panel|Cosponsored by Risk Management|Session Organizer: Ken Lowery
Panel|Session Organizers: Amir Afzali, Brandon Chisholm
Panel|Session Organizer: Gene Kelly
Panel|Sponsored by Regulatory Relations|Cosponsored by Risk Management|Session Organizer: Ken Lowery
Panel|Sponsored by Decommissioning|Cosponsored by Risk Management, Technology and Innovation|Session Chair: Mark Campagna
Panel|Session Organizer: Adam Dow
Panel|Cosponsored by Operations/Ops Training|Session Organizer: Ken Thomas
