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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|Sponsored by OPD
Wednesday, November 15, 2023|3:15–5:00PM EST|Georgetown East
Session Chair:
DeLeah Lockridge (ORNL)
Alternate Chair:
Steve Krahn (Vanderbilt Univ.)
Session Organizer:
William N. Mann
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Current Irradiation Capabilities Within United States for Advanced Reactor Development
3:15–3:35PM EST
Braden Clayton (Brigham Young Univ.), Piyush Sabharwall (INL), Misti Lillo (INL)
Paper
Expert Elicitation for Collection of Stakeholder Input for a Molten Salt Sampling System Design
3:35–3:55PM EST
Megan Harkema (Vanderbilt Univ.), Steve Krahn (Vanderbilt Univ.), Paul Marotta (Vanderbilt Univ.)
Community Engagement for Nuclear Energy Projects: Lessons from Participatory Design
3:55–4:15PM EST
Peter Wacnik (Univ. Michigan), Shanna Daly (Univ. Michigan), Aditi Verma (Univ. Michigan)
Nuclear Energy in Rural Alaska? Path Forward by Addressing Past Negative Events
4:15–4:35PM EST
Haruko M. Wainwright (MIT), Amandeep Singh (MIT), Adam Low (Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks), J. Ali Hanks (Univ. California, Berkeley), Brian Powell (Clemson Univ.), Richelle Johnson (Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks), Diane Hirshberg (Univ. Alaska, Anchorage), Gwen Holdmann (Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks)
