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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
1:00–2:45PM EST
Longboat 2
Session Chairs: Jason D. Haverkamp, Ahmad Ibrahim
Longboat 1
Session Chairs: Christophe Destouches, Manish K. Sharma
3:15–5:00PM EST
Session Chairs: Curtis Brown, Michael Loughlin
Session Chairs: Thomas M. Miller, Edna Cardenas
8:00–9:45AM EST
Session Chairs: Cihangir Celik, Christophe Destouches
Session Chairs: Andrea Saltos, Brenden J. Heidrich
10:00–11:45AM EST
Session Chairs: Joel A. Kulesza, Curtis Brown|Alternate Chair: Matthew Anderson
Session Chair: Thomas M. Miller|Alternate Chair: Edna Cardenas
Session Chairs: Samuel E. Bays, Nicolas Dray
Session Chairs: Vaibhav Sinha, Lawrence Heilbronn
Session Chairs: Luis Ocampo Giraldo, Mauritius Hiller
Session Chairs: Mathieu Dupont, Michael Reichenberger|Alternate Chair: John D. Bess
