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.
Division Spotlight
Robotics & Remote Systems
The Mission of the Robotics and Remote Systems Division is to promote the development and application of immersive simulation, robotics, and remote systems for hazardous environments for the purpose of reducing hazardous exposure to individuals, reducing environmental hazards and reducing the cost of performing work.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
May 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
June 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
High-temperature plumbing and advanced reactors
The use of nuclear fission power and its role in impacting climate change is hotly debated. Fission advocates argue that short-term solutions would involve the rapid deployment of Gen III+ nuclear reactors, like Vogtle-3 and -4, while long-term climate change impact would rely on the creation and implementation of Gen IV reactors, “inherently safe” reactors that use passive laws of physics and chemistry rather than active controls such as valves and pumps to operate safely. While Gen IV reactors vary in many ways, one thing unites nearly all of them: the use of exotic, high-temperature coolants. These fluids, like molten salts and liquid metals, can enable reactor engineers to design much safer nuclear reactors—ultimately because the boiling point of each fluid is extremely high. Fluids that remain liquid over large temperature ranges can provide good heat transfer through many demanding conditions, all with minimal pressurization. Although the most apparent use for these fluids is advanced fission power, they have the potential to be applied to other power generation sources such as fusion, thermal storage, solar, or high-temperature process heat.1–3
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
Dr. Erin Henderson has served as the Director, Nuclear Development Acceleration in Microsoft’s Data Center R&D team since December 2023. In this role, Henderson is focused on efforts to accelerate the use of small modular reactors and microreactors to power Microsoft’s future energy needs.
Prior to joining Microsoft, Henderson spent over 17 years in leadership roles in the U.S. power industry at PSEG and Tennessee Valley Authority. She has diverse leadership experience in the energy industry, spanning power operations, transmission projects, chemistry, environmental, and nuclear regulatory/policy. Henderson has served as the Director of Regulatory Affairs, Director of Plant Support, and most recently as the General Manager of Transmission Projects where she led a large organization of project professionals responsible for delivering transmission solutions for the largest public power provider in the US.
Henderson has a PhD in Performance Psychology (PhD), a MBA, and a Bachelors in Biochemistry. She also holds Project Management and Senior Nuclear Plant Reactor Operator Certifications. She was an inaugural member of the WIN Executive program. She also serves on the board of the Ronald McDonald House. Dr. Henderson resides in Chattanooga, TN with her husband, Michael, and daughters, Alaina (18), and Kallie (15).
Last modified July 26, 2024, 11:41am EDT
