ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Aug 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2026
Nuclear Technology
September 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2026
Latest News
Second round of Launch Pad selections includes eight newcomers
The National Reactor Innovation Center at Idaho National Laboratory has announced 13 project selections across 12 companies for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad, a Department of Energy–led program that integrates reactor and fuel facility authorization, testing, and deployment support for private nuclear developers.
The Launch Pad emerged from the Reactor Pilot Program and Fuel Line Pilot Program.
According to INL, projects selected include reactor development and nuclear fuel cycle advancements, including fabrication, enrichment, and conversion technologies.
Kavita Desai Kabelitz, Emma Rasmussen, Gennady Shvets, Arianna Gleason, Zhenhuan Yi, Alexei V. Sokolov, Aleksei M. Zheltikov, Robert Brick, James Negus, John E. Ellsworth, Carmen S. Menoni, Richard L. Sandberg
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 82 | Number 1 | August 2026 | Pages S27-S34
Comment | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2025.2567603
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
With the rapid growth and development of potential commercial fusion power plants, the urgency of building a skilled workforce is increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to train and educate early-career scientists and engineers to be able to work for current and future employment in fusion-related fields. In the Inertial Fusion Science and Technology (RISE) Hub, efforts are underway to address this urgency. Specifically in the RISE Hub, we train the next generation of “fusioneers” by involving them in every level of Hub activities. Here, we describe several training, outreach, and educational activities that are led by early-career scientists and engineers, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, under the supervision of Hub professionals. These activities educate and train students on key aspects of fusion systems, from the laser driver technologies to the target design, manufacturing, simulation, and validation. In addition, several of these initiatives are being supported by industry partners, national laboratories, and universities, facilitating the transition of knowledge between fusion experts and students. The goals of these outreach efforts led by the RISE Hub are not only to train and educate a skilled workforce but to grow young leaders and broaden their participation in developing commercial fusion power plants.