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Beyond the grid
Craig Piercycpiercy@ans.org
In this month’s issue of Nuclear News, readers will find coverage of the “other” areas where nuclear technology is pushing into new frontiers. From marine nuclear propulsion to nuclear systems that enable planetary exploration, the articles in these pages are a reminder that the influence of applied nuclear science extends far beyond the electric grid.
When many people hear the phrase “civil nuclear technology,” they still think first of power plants—an understandable association. Nuclear power has been one of the most reliable sources of large-scale electricity for decades. It is our storefront.
But nuclear technology has always been bigger than electrons.
2020 ANS Virtual Winter Meeting Plenary Session Speaker
U. S. Department of Energy, Retired
Alex Larzelere is the former Federal Director for the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy’s Modeling and Simulation Energy Innovation Hub. As such, he was involved with developing the original vision, writing the Funding Opportunity Announcement, and conducting the Merit Review Process that resulted in CASL. Over the next six years, Alex executed the “light federal touch” for the oversight of the Hub. Alex has been involved with advanced computing and modeling and simulation for about 30 years in a variety of roles. These include, running technology transfer programs, helping to start the Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI) for the simulation of nuclear weapons, working for private industry, and starting his own companies.
He is the author of, “Delivering Insight, the History of the First 10 Years of ASCI”. Also, Alex served in the U.S. Coast Guard, sailing on cutters in Southeast Alaska. He is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Alex Larzelere is now retired, traveling with his wife, Mary Ann, playing with his grandson, and writing his memoirs.
Last modified November 4, 2020, 9:43am EST
