The bedrock of nuclear

As I mentioned in one of my recent columns, this kind of early outreach is central to ANS’s goal of building a pipeline of nuclear talent that starts well before college. Seeing those children light up during hands-on demonstrations showing how nuclear power generates electricity was one of the highlights of my month—and served to drive that message even further home.

I then attended the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Regulatory Information Conference in Rockville, Md., where I discussed the landscape of regulation with attendees from 30 different countries, as well as the Energy & Elements Gala hosted by the Museum of Science and Energy Foundation in Oak Ridge. At the latter, I had the honor of being presented the National Excellence Award by Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, which I was proud to accept on behalf of the nuclear community.

To close out the month, I traveled to Georgia and South Carolina to tour Units 3 and 4 at Vogtle and Savannah River National Laboratory. While in the area, I also took the opportunity to meet with members of the active and thriving ANS Savannah River Section, along with students at both the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State University. Between the facilities I toured and the people I talked to on this trip, my hope for a nuclear-powered future was only further strengthened.

As I enter the final stretch of my term as ANS president, I carry these experiences forward with a sharper sense of purpose. The people I met this month—from kindergartners asking their first questions about electricity to industry veterans showing up every day to our laboratories and power plants—are exactly who our Society exists to serve.