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Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2026
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Quality is key: Investing in advanced nuclear research for tomorrow’s grid
As the energy sector faces mounting pressure to grow at an unprecedented pace while maintaining reliability and affordability, nuclear technology remains an essential component of the long-term solution. Southern Company stands out among U.S. utilities for its proactive role in shaping these next-generation systems—not just as a future customer, but as a hands-on innovator.
2023 ANS WINTER CONFERENCE AND EXPO
Dr. Richard A. Meserve, who served as Chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from 1999 to 2003 following many years as a partner at Covington & Burling, is currently senior of counsel to the firm. Richard is based in Covington's Washington office. With a Ph.D. in applied physics, Richard has long concentrated his practice on issues at the intersections of law, regulation, science, and technology, with a special focus on recent years on nuclear matters.
Richard serves as President Emeritus of the Carnegie Institution for Science, a non-profit entity that undertakes fundamental research on the frontiers of biology, earth sciences, and astronomy. He assumed the presidency in April 2003, having been a member of Carnegie's board of trustees since 1992, retiring as President in 2014.
Richard served as Chairman of the NRC under Presidents Clinton and Bush. During his tenure from 1999 to 2003, he was the principal government official with responsibility for regulating nuclear power plants and the use of nuclear materials. In this role, he helped NRC and its licensees respond effectively to terrorist challenges; facilitated the continued production of safe nuclear power; prepared for the next generation of nuclear reactors; and made significant progress in establishing risk-informed regulation through the successful implementation of the reactor oversight process and through various regulatory changes.
Richard is currently chairman of the International Nuclear Safety Group chartered by the International Atomic Energy Agency. He has served on numerous legal and scientific committees over the years, including many chartered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Among other affiliations, he is a member of the American Philosophical Society and the National Academy of Engineering, and he is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Physical Society. Richard served on the board of directors of PG&E Corporation and Duke Energy Corporation and is a member of the board of TAE Technologies, Inc. He is a former President of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University.Prior to joining Covington & Burling in 1981, Richard served as legal counsel to President Carter's science and technology advisor and as a clerk to Justice Harry A. Blackmun on the US Supreme Court.
Last modified November 6, 2023, 8:21am EST
