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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.
Technical Session|Panel|Sponsored by MCD
Monday, November 16, 2020|1:00–3:10PM EST
Session Chair:
Nicholas A. Gentile
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chair:
Brian C. Kiedrowski
Staff Producer:
Ashley Jiminian (American Nuclear Society)
The Current Issues in Computational Methods Roundtable will present five researchers who will give talks on several aspects of modern code development. Their talks will center on upcoming developments and challenges in code development. Points of emphasis will be the opportunities and demands of new machine architectures, applications of AI to scientific codes, and the pros and cons of University/National Lab collaborations. The talk titles are: Katie Lewis, LLNL: "Addressing the Paradigm Shift: Machine Learning in Scientific Simulations" Todd Palmer, Oregon State: "The Daunting Task of Initiating a Multi-University, Multi-Disciplinary High Performance Computing Research Project In the Age of COVID-19" Rob Lowrie, LANL: "Current Issues for Multiphysics Codes" Ann Gentile: "AI/ML for HPC Operations" Teresa Bailey: "A Few Random Thoughts About Predictive Science"
Teresa Bailey
LLNL
Ann Gentile
Sandia National Laboratories
Katie Lewis
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Robert Lowrie
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Todd Palmer
Oregon State University
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