After decades of relative stagnation, nuclear is surging again thanks to an increasing demand for reliable, clean baseload power from the global transition toward digital infrastructure. Artificial intelligence, data centers, transportation electrification, and the reshoring of advanced manufacturing have all created a gap that nuclear is perfectly suited to fill.
The goalposts: The future of nuclear energy technology hinges on making tangible progress in three critical areas by 2035:
- The demonstration and deployment of new-generation nuclear fission and fusion technologies.
- Preservation of the existing reactor fleet via extension and modernization.
- The expanded use of nuclear technology to produce life-saving isotopes, power space nuclear energy and propulsion systems, and adopt advanced materials.
This expansion of nuclear technology applications is essential to solving some of humanity’s toughest challenges: climate change, energy poverty, cancer and other diseases, and space exploration. If we fail in this endeavor, the world will no doubt find itself in a hotter, darker, less peaceful place.
ANS’s role: As the professional home for the nuclear community, ANS plays a critical role connecting professionals across sectors, communicating cutting-edge research, educating the public, and supporting the workforce pipeline.
With those goals in mind, the ANS Board of Directors envisions four strategic pillars of action: enhancing technical exchange, enabling workforce expansion, promoting better public understanding, and informing policymakers. Each pillar is appended with more detailed subplans, making high-level goals more concretely actionable.
Upcoming webinar: The Society will host a webinar in coming weeks where ANS Executive Director/CEO Craig Piercy will lay out the details of the Board’s 10-year plan. This talk will be the best opportunity to learn the full scope of what the next decade will look like for ANS. The full draft strategic plan is available for ANS members to download ahead of the webinar for review. The Board is scheduled to vote on the strategic plan on August 28, any feedback from members to the board should be submitted before August 21.
