Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy

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

In this episode, we discuss... (1) How the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority became the commercial AA Technology nuclear practice (2) How radioactive waste is disposed of in the UK, the US, and in Canada (3) The importance of calibration when communicating radioactive waste and nuclear safety (4) Establishing fertile SMR markets through effective communication and government commitment rather than technological advancement

In this episode, we discuss... (1) The importance of optimizing the secondary side design to remain competitive in today's nuclear landscape (2) The interdisciplinary nature of the nuclear field and the shift in the reactor design process to focus on economics and safety (3) The economic conclusions from Koroush's small reactor design research and how lower source terms mean less stringent NRC requirements (4) The factors that determine the number of fuel cycles and the decision to reuse fuel

In this episode, we discuss... (1) Tim's journey to the nuclear industry via Oxford University, the financial sector and government infrastructure projects (2) How kickstarting the UK's nuclear industry requires financial support from the government, a shift in design focus towards producing a product, and increasing supply chain and regulation efficiency (3) How Tim helped shift the UK's regulator towards a focus on outcomes rather than processes, creating more flexibility and a stronger relationship with industry (4) How reaching the UK's net zero by 2050 carbon goal requires education, new infrastructure and an energy portfolio that includes nuclear, renewables and carbon capture technology

In this episode, we discuss... (1) The evolution from single to coupled physics simulations with increased computational power (2) Increasing computation power of supercomputers to 1.4 exaflops with the Exascale Computing Project (3) Natural circulation and other new design features increases the complexity of reactor simulations (4) More partnerships between industry and National Laboratories are needed to produce more simulated data and to push the nuclear industry forward

In this episode, we discuss... (1) How Atoms for Peace inspired Wade to enter science (2) The importance of nuclear education for both young people and newcomer countries (3) Why theater is a new way to educate the public about nuclear energy (4) How nuclear power will be needed to provide food and water in the next century as climate change continues

In this episode, we discuss... (1) Ben's personal journey from anti- to pro-nuclear (2) The importance of understanding identitarian politics when supporting a nuclear change of mind (3) The challenges faced when changing identities (4) Debating the value generated from radiation risk measures

In this episode, we discuss: (1) Zabrina's introduction to the nuclear field through the Navy (2) How Admiral Hyman G. Rickover shaped the nuclear industry (3) General Atomic's TRIGA program and vision for future nuclear designs (4) How the US FESAC committee will use information from ITER to map out a plan for commercial fusion power

In this episode, we discuss... (1) Titans of Nuclear's relationship to the Energy Impact Center and how it taught Naomi more about the nuclear industry (2) Naomi's graduate school plans and the importance of studying the spread of antibiotic resistance through water systems (3) Naomi's experience at the Fastest Path to Zero workshop (4) How Naomi thinks the Titans for Nuclear podcast will evolve over time

In this episode, we discuss... (1) Federico's interest in sustainability as a motivation for entering the nuclear industry (2) Gaining public acceptance through information rather than promotion and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (3) How the IAEA and experienced countries support newcomer countries through knowledge transfer (4) How focusing on economics, management and building human resources can lead to success for the nuclear industry

In this episode, we discuss... (1) Why the UK's Sellafield nuclear site will soon be decommissioned and how their graduate program moved Reuben into the nuclear sector (2) How the Nuclear National Laboratory is researching the anti-corrosion chemistries of different nuclear reactor designs including fusion reactors (3) Reuben's involvement in the Young Generation Network and how he is working to share the next generation's insights and accomplishments (4) Researching how to engage the public better will improve nuclear acceptance and secure the future of the industry

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Bruce's role in the NRC approving the Clinch River Environmental Impact Statement (2) The main considerations which go into developing an environmental impact statement for a nuclear power plant site (3) How Bruce's up bringing and natural curiosity fueled his interest in site assessment (4) Bruce's introduction to the nuclear field through the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

In this episode, we discuss: (1) How Rose became interested in radioisotopes from an early interest in chemistry and medicine (2) What an isotope is and how Actinium-225 is created (3) Why the demand for Actinium-225 is increasing and the challenges the Tri-Lab Project faces in meeting this demand (4) The role of education in radiation acceptance

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Jeremy Renshaw comes from a family of engineers and is raising children who are likewise passionate about math, science and robotics. (2) He currently works at the Electric Power Research Institute, an independent nonprofit that conducts research and environmentally responsible demonstration projects to enhance the quality of life of people globally. (3) Jeremy's work in nuclear using robots to inspect dry spent fuel canisters; he discussed the need for dry fuel canisters due to the lack of repositories and the stalling of the Yucca Mountain project. (4) He believes in the importance of research to increase the efficiency, safety and economic benefits to combat the negative perceptions of nuclear plants and discussed how the closer of current power plants is creating real risks to prevent imaginary ones.

In this episode, we discuss... (1) The impact of Silent Spring and environmental concerns of the 1960s that fostered Ed's interest in toxicology (2) How the LNT theory came into practice and how we can look at low dose radiation using Hormetic Biphasic Dose Response Relationships (3) How modest amounts of stress, in the form of low dose radiation to the body can be beneficial (4) How the regulatory and medical communities have been mislead towards an LNT viewpoint

In this episode, we discuss... (1) How the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster changed the trajectory of Chuck's career (2) Lessons in leadership learned through Chuck's personal experiences at the Fukushima site (3) Chuck's background in nuclear power plant construction and equipment operation (4) The importance of reflecting on Fukushima and the special nature of nuclear technology

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Decreasing focus on design and adopting the copy and paste model to deliver projects on time and on budget (2) The reasons behind Assystem's continued focus and success in the nuclear industry (3) Why education is needed to understand that decreasing energy consumption will not stop climate change (4) Assystem's strategy when partnering with countries to develop nuclear programs

In this episode we discuss how... (1) The need for politicians to take on long-term issues and understand that decreasing electricity consumption is not a solution (2) The difference between carbon emissions and carbon footprint and why the focus should shift towards decreasing overall carbon footprint (3) Europe's increasing electricity demand and the shift towards relocalization (4) Making energy a strategic political issue

In this episode we discuss: (1) Using the TRL and BRL scales to determine which innovation projects to invest in (2) Monitoring nuclear reactor cracks using machine vision to save costs (3) Creating nuclear facility maintenance schedules using predicted maintenance based on individual plant operating conditions (4) Using AI to automatically extract data from 14 million physical nuclear reports

In this episode we discuss how: (1) The new RAB finance model will attract long term investors to the UK's nuclear industry (2) Nuclear investment is needed for the UK to reach the Net 0 Target of 2050 (3) The Copy and Paste model decreases nuclear project risk (4) The importance of educating children at a young age about nuclear power

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Assystem's role in France's nuclear industry (2) The importance of mixed engineering teams when designing, constructing and commissioning nuclear power facilities (3) Regulating fusion as a means to gain public support for nuclear power (4) The role of ITER in the future of nuclear energy

In the Titans of Nuclear Chernobyl podcast series, we sat down with experts in the field of nuclear energy to take a dive into the HBO television series "Chernobyl". In episode three, we talk with Robert Gale who discusses: (1) Traveling to Moscow to treat Chernobyl accident victims and volunteering his expertise in bone marrow transplants (2) Writing a critique of the inaccuracies found in HBO's Chernobyl series (3) An inaccuracy in portraying the victims as being radioactive when the victims posed no threat to the physicians (4) Chernobyl was an unfortunate accident that should not have happened and should not reflect poorly on nuclear power

In the Titans of Nuclear Chernobyl podcast series, we sat down with experts in the field of nuclear energy to take a dive into the HBO television series "Chernobyl". In episode two, we talk with Jerry M. Cuttler, DSc, who received his BASc-Eng degree in engineering physics from the University of Toronto and his MSc and DSc degrees in nuclear sciences and engineering from the Israel Institute of Technology. He is also the former President of the Canadian Nuclear Society and a member of the American Council on Science and Health Board of Scientific Advisors. Jerry discusses: (1) Working in Romania when the Chernobyl reactor accident happened and how he measured the radiation and confirmed it was safe to remain where he was (2) The 237 workers who suffered very painful, acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and the OECD-NEA report, "Chernobyl, 10 Years On" (3) And other research findings

In the Titans of Nuclear Chernobyl podcast series, we sat down with experts in the field of nuclear energy to take a dive into the HBO television series "Chernobyl". In episode one, we interview Andrew Daniels who is the author of After Fukushima: What We Now Know. Andrew discusses: (1) Events that occurred at Chernobyl that were highlighted on the HBO show, and which events were missed out on (2) Radiation dangers and the importance of how they're presented to the public (3) Comparing Fukushima, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island and their role in shaping the public's perception of nuclear power (4) Whether or not evacuation is necessary (5) The timing of the HBO show and how audiences interact with television (6) Russia's reaction to the HBO show

In this episode, we discuss... (1) The founding principles of nuclear regulation (2) The NRC's new modernized approach to risk (3) Licensing advanced reactors (4) The opportunity for the NRC in the future of nuclear

In this episode, we discuss... (1) How working with locals during the Embalse Life Extension Project helped secure the future of nuclear power in Argentinian communities (2) The importance of refurbishments and how SNC Lavalin is learning from each CANDU refurbishment project (3) Tim's work as Director of Field Services in maintaining and operating CANDU reactors for longevity (4) How life extensions stack up to new builds and directions the nuclear industry can take in regards to each

(1) Ruben's early education in nuclear engineering during the Chernobyl incident (2) The importance of educating the young generations in nuclear to be engaged in the next wave of nuclear designs (3) Directions that SNC Lavalin is taking towards advanced technologies such as small modular reactors (4) An innovation drive approach to the future of nuclear power for generations to come

(1) What Robert learned from working for ten years on maintenance issues at nuclear power plants (2) Innovation which guided the design of equipment testing devices and life extension projects (3) Shipping tooling systems to perform refurbishment processes on CANDU reactors worldwide (4) How innovations in automation and advances in technology will help save money and time on retube outages

(1) SNC Lavalin's role in developing CANDU reactors and designing for advanced fuels (2) SNCs strategy for bulding 1 CANDU reactor for every 4 PWRs (3) How SNC Lavalin designs, develops and tracks their product development and performance (4) Leveraging SNC's experience in licensing approval

(1) How growing up in Sweden shaped Christer's views on nuclear and eventual path to becoming a nuclear power plant operator the principal engineer at GE-Hitachi (2) Designing nuclear power plants with licensing in mind to address pre-licensing and site specific licensing technicalities (3) Simplifying system level changes in a nuclear power plants (4) The MWRX300 small modular reactor and it's path to the commercial market in 2030

(1) How Emily's family and mentorship shaped how she uses her technical and business skills at GE-Hitachi (2) Emily's transition from the wind industry to nuclear and lessons on creating capacity and developing supply chains that can be exchanged between the two (3) How investors are shaping GE sales of new technology components such as new fuels , reactor services, and plant models (4) Advocating for nuclear energy through public speaking and how to handle challenging questions

(1) Glen's introduction to nuclear engineering at the University of Florida and his early work on the interface of the fuel designers and the plant designers (2) How GE used a down select method to focus on different reactor technologies and GE's early relationship with governmental nuclear efforts (3) How the connections between nuclear technologies, safety and regulations shape the economics of the nuclear industry (4) Developing a cost competitive design for the BWRX300

(1) Mona's progression from software development and finance to leadership at GE nuclear (2) Leveraging data historically collected in the nuclear industry for plant optimization (3) Moving to condition based maintenance to build profiles for nuclear power plant assets (4) Change advocacy from a nuclear perspective: introducing nuclear to the public and innovation to nuclear

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Jon's path through the industry from handling fuel storage at Hanford to optimizing fuel production and working on services at GE Hitachi (2) How the GE services division uses uprates to increase nuclear power production on a scale equivalent to building new nuclear power plants (3) Jon's work on the ideation and inception of a design for small EWBRs, a high power output reactor, that could compete with combined gas (4) The development of and target commercial markets for GE's BWRX 300 small modular reactor

(1) A risk informed approach requires adopting both PRAs and Defense in Depth and Safety Margins (2) Three Mile Island played an important role in the use of RSS in nuclear regulation (3) How Japan restructured their nuclear industry post Fukushima (4) The challenges of communicating nuclear risk

(1) Dans introduction to nuclear nonproliferation through as an undergraduate and in his early career in the Department of Energy (2) Leveraging market forces in the nuclear energy industry to address national security issues through the Megatons to Megawatts program (3) Dan's upcoming work on developing centrifuges for the production of high assay low enriched uranium

In this episode, we discuss how... Joseph entered the nuclear energy industry through his work at the Office of Management and Budget Joseph's involvement in the MIT Energy Initiatives led to the formation of the Energy Futures Initiative Policy should balance the needs to mitigate and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere We hope you enjoy the show!

In this episode, we discuss... Finis' path away from fusion and into nuclear fuel and waste management The history behind nuclear fuel recycling How construction of St. Lucie Plant Unit 2 succeed in a post Three Mile Island era Improving fuel efficiency of nuclear reactors by reducing load-following Finis' transition from Florida Power & Light to Idaho National Laboratory The inception of the Plutonium Focus Area project and how it addressed nuclear waste and environmental questions Finis' focus on improving research and development as former Chief Technology Officer at Areva We hope you enjoy the show!

In this episode, we discuss... How Ralph became interested in fusion The ways climate change goals shape Public Service Enterprise Group's energy strategy The importance of tackling climate change through nuclear energy and energy efficiency

In this episode, we discuss... Bill Ostendorff's 26 year career as a Navy nuke and how it prepared him for the rest of his career Bill's responsibilities as Principal Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration and Commissioner for the Nuclear Regulatory The importance of government investment in the nuclear industry today