2017 ANS Congressional Fellow on Overcoming NS&T Challenges

I do think it is accurate to generalize scientists and engineers as people who like to solve problems. As a nuclear engineer, I have been specifically focused on contributing to overcoming challenges in the nuclear sciences, and I am inspired by former Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz's remarks at the "Nuclear Energy at a Crossroads Conference" in Washington, D.C. He outlined what he believes are the eight developments that are critical to the nuclear industry in the near term. They are, in my own words:

1. The fate of existing nuclear power plants and the implications for carbon emissions
2. The success of Generation 3+ projects in the southeast United States

3. Waves of plant retirements and how to replace or extend their lives
4. Determining what a reliable, resilient, and decarbonized electricity system looks like
5. Spent nuclear fuel management
6. Strong non-proliferation norms and leadership
7. New small modular reactor designs
8. Advanced reactor construction

You can see Dr. Moniz's remarks on YouTube. I encourage every nuclear scientist and engineer to watch him in this video as it is a powerful reminder of the profound implications and reach of our work. These eight items show how interesting and important nuclear science and engineering is going to be in the next five to 10 years as we, as a society, make the critical decisions that will determine the future for each of these topics. For better or for worse, how our society moves forward with our energy mix is going to be decided by many people, with many different backgrounds. Most of these people will have little experience with nuclear science or any technical field at all. That is why, as a scientist and nuclear engineer, I see public engagement as a primary skill that many of us need, not just to develop, but to exercise regularly. In order to jump the hurdles that are right ahead of us, we need to contribute to local, state, and federal policymaking and challenge ourselves and our leaders to develop a nuclear culture that extends beyond our industry.

The Glenn T. Seaborg Science and Engineering Congressional Fellowship provides a unique opportunity to directly contribute to the federal policymaking process in the legislative branch but is by no means the only way to get involved. Organizations such as the American Nuclear Society and North American Young Generation in Nuclear offer many ways to connect and engage with people, with opportunities to come together forming everyday.

For me, as the 2017 Glenn T. Seaborg Science and Engineering Congressional Fellow, I will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of 16 extraordinary scientists and engineers who have decided to take their backgrounds in nuclear science to Capitol Hill. I hope to do my best to serve and inspire future scientists and engineers to pursue positions where they can contribute to public policy.

For my fellowship year, I will have the opportunity to serve in Senator Chris Coons' (D-Del.) office as a member on the Energy and Environment team. I will be responsible for drafting legislation, meeting with constituents and special interest groups, briefing the Senator on scientific and technical topics, and much more. This is set to become one of the most challenging, exciting, and memorable years of my career.

Levi Wyatt Patterson is the 2017 Glenn T. Seaborg Science and Engineering Congressional Fellow. He previously worked at General Electric Hitachi Nuclear Energy where he focused on reactor safety analysis, digital instrumentation and controls, and cyber security. He received an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering and a B.S. in Engineering Physics from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo.