Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing The World Experts On Nuclear Energy

In this episode, we discuss... 1) How he first became interested in nuclear engineering and what sparked his interest in academia 2) Robert’s post-graduate path to becoming an expert in radiation detection and how he became involved in designing nuclear facilities for safeguards 3) Robert reflects on his time in Washington as an advisor to the NNSA and how it brought him back to Purdue University as a full-time faculty member 4) A highlight of the Purdue University reactor and some of the current research projects utilizing the facility, including projects in physics and health science 5) Robert Bean explains some of the challenges of nuclear reactor deployment and potential benefits of building small modular reactors

In this episode, we discuss... 1) Allen’s early work in prevention of mutual interference in the naval reactors submarine force 2) How Allen transitioned from being a naval submarine officer to a biomedical graduate student studying modification of biological cells 3) How Allen’s research on electromagnetic interference at GE has been applied to create a non-linear transmission line at Purdue 4) Impacts on nano structures caused by intersections of different mechanisms in electron emissions and gas breakdown

In this episode, we discuss how... 1) Jason Harris reflects on his early interest in biology led to a career in nuclear engineering 2) Jason leans into health physics and how radionuclides are distributed throughout the environment 3) A comprehensive look at nuclear power plant emissions and the birth of the nuclear security field 4) Methods of analyzing and assessing security culture at organizations and how it impacts risk at a nuclear facility

In this episode, we discuss... (1) How Three Mile Island sparked Juan’s interest in nuclear power and his journey to becoming a strategist for the Army’s Logistics Innovation Agency (2) Saving lives and combating climate change by improving Army logistics by adopting nuclear power (3) The current progress in developing a small modular mobile nuclear power plant prototype (4) The importance of electrifying the military to maintain the technological edge   NOTE: Juan Vitali's personal opinions do not represent the U.S. Army's official position.

In this episode, we discuss how... 1) Lane's initial interest in nuclear and his college coursework that led him to teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University. 2) He worked, interned, and conducted research all over the field of nuclear in startups and laboratories, but eventually found his place in academia. 3) Lane encourages people to advocate for nuclear and talks about lessons he passes onto his students. 4) Lane discusses the future of nuclear domestically and around the world.

In this episode, we discuss... 1) How nuclear material neutrons are measured to verify amounts 2) The difference between plutonium-239 and plutonium-240 in the context of nuclear weapons 3) Life in the UAE as a nuclear postdoc 4) Decreasing the attractiveness of plutonium for weapons use with neptunium

In this episode, we discuss 1) James' career at Dominion and as a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University 2) How the Three Mile Island meltdown occurred and the more demanding safety culture that emerged 3) The potential for Probabilistic Risk Assessments to shift the safety culture 4) How the Final Safety Analysis Report and significant regulatory delays are harming the industry

In this episode, we discuss... 1) Michael discusses his background in math and how it led him to a career in the government 2) Michael explains the regulatory review process as it applies to domestic projects and international technologies approved abroad 3) Michael explains Chinese advancements in nuclear technology in comparison to North American innovation 4) Michael and Bret discuss the future of nuclear including financing, regulations, environmental assessments, and safety planning 

In this episode, we discuss how... 1) Ramzi was introduced to nuclear early by family and university professors who were pioneers of the industry 2) Ramzi explains advances in the medical field due to nuclear technology 3) Ramzi breaks down negative perceptions about nuclear 4) Ramzi discusses recent changes to the nuclear field and his hopes for the future

In this episode, we discuss how... 1) Peter's background in physics engineering and interest in high temperature ceramics led him to the nuclear industry 2) Peter views the Defense and Depth Theory 3) The difference between repositories vs. dilution 4) Canada’s new impact assessments in the nuclear industry allow societal views to play into the nuclear industry

In this episode, we discuss how... 1) Rumina came to Canada as a refugee and became among the first women in the nuclear operations field 2) As a regulator it is essential to build public trust through transparency and data sharing 3) Her goal of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is to protect the environment, the public, and workers while also meeting international security obligations 4) Rumina discusses her hopes for the future of nuclear including involving more women and using nuclear to fight climate change

In this episode, we discuss... 1) Know How versus Know Why and how a reliance on rules can hinder innovation 2) How European states are supporting one another through the The European Nuclear Education Network 3) How increasing communication within the diverse industry sectors can help push the sector forward 4) Educating the public through reactor visits decreases fear and increases support of nuclear power

In this episode, we discuss... (1) Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and their nuclear research (2) How other methods of containing accidents may be better but strict regulations and ignorance hinder implementation (3) Short term versus long term nuclear waste storage (4) Why Germany’s nuclear industry has ended and how this may affect the future of nuclear in other European countries

In this episode, we discuss 1) The Nuclear Society of Slovenia and Slovenia’s nuclear industry 2) How publicly reporting nuclear events can lead to overreactions and widespread media attention 3) How an inability to make decisions is blocking Slovenia’s nuclear future 4) The need for trusted influencers to educate the Slovene public about nuclear radiation

In this episode, we discuss... (1) Radiation misconceptions and the importance of increasing education and communication (2) GEN’s role in the Slovene nuclear industry and in Europe more broadly (3) How renewable energies create volatile electricity markets, decreasing investment attractiveness (4) The challenges involved in moving Slovenia to a zero carbon country

In this episode, we discuss... 1) HyperV Technologies’ focus on plasma jet magneto inertial fusion (PJMIF) 2) What PJMIF is and what the system components are 3) How further development is needed to achieve a smooth liner, a magnetized target and guns that can withstand the parameters 4) How additional funding is needed to accelerate development and bring fusion reactors to the break-even point

In this episode, we discuss... 1) The history of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) and the current research reactor 2) Australia’s nuclear industry and the current inquiries to overturn the nuclear ban 3) How simulated bubble formation in pressurized water reactors are used in RELAP code 4) How China’s molten salt reactors and new HTGR will generate 540 gigawatts of capacity by 2050

In this episode we discuss... (1) Helen’s journey from a country banning nuclear energy towards publishing a textbook on nuclear law and the creation of her own nuclear law practice (2) The regulatory challenges facing SMRs for newcomer countries (3) The importance of nuclear liability in legal frameworks and the minimum liability amount of 300 million SDRs (4) Egypt’s deal with Russia to build 4 VVER1200 reactors and the negotiations involved in establishing Egypt’s nuclear program

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Ed got his start in nuclear by going to the Naval Academy (2) Ed took a break from his nuclear career to attend Harvard Business School (3) Ed discusses the difficulties making nuclear competitive in a market system versus a regulated system  (4) Ed discusses the future of nuclear in both the US and abroad 

In this episode, we discuss... (1) Rod Adam’s passion about nuclear energy (2) How Rod started out as a Navy engineer in charge of a nuclear reactor on a submarine (3) How Rod later opened his own nuclear energy company, Adam’s Atomic Engines (4) How Rod now runs Atomic Insights, a website and podcast that acts as a scholarly resource and archive on the nuclear field