Perception and participation

January 21, 2025, 9:34AMNuclear NewsLisa Marshall

Lis Marshall
president@ans.org

Six months into my ANS presidency, the pace has been hectic yet good. I’ve taken nearly two dozen trips to student and local chapters; companies; and various regional, national, and international meetings, where I’ve spoken about the current and future path of nuclear: people-centered interactions that focus on the benefits and capacities of our technologies.

Perception, timing, and financing remain challenges. Perception can be addressed in our deeds, so I am heartened by continuing industry collaborations and subsequent communication to strengthen efforts in the arenas of energy security, environmental stewardship, and (inter)national leadership as we assist new-to-nuclear nations; leverage our outreach, educational, and policy instruments; and volunteer our expertise.

In November, I joined ANS’s delegation to COP29 Baku, Azerbaijan, where we strove be the voice of the nuclear community. Our presence at this and future Conferences of the Parties is necessary if we are to continue the momentum around nuclear science and technology.

While not as impactful as COP28, we made gains through the presence of nuclear-related organizations and continued support of grassroots organizations. Sitting on panels and adding to the clean energy and energy transition discussion are invaluable, but just being in the audience and asking questions adds nuclear to the conversation and collaboration. While I am disappointed that the brief to the ministerial level did not include the wording “nuclear energy,” it did incorporate the need for science-based decision-making.

Future initiatives will link ANS with external affinity professional organizations also working on fuller participation. Nuclear cannot be expected to be a significant player in the future of energy when roughly one-fifth of the current workforce is STEM educated and there is attrition in STEM industries. Non-STEM professionals—in law, economics, financing, geography and geology, and more—are also needed. All hands must be on deck to recruit and retain the workforce.

As I reflect on my career and this presidency, outreach, recruitment, and retention play out in distinct and overlapping ways. The goals for 2025 are being reconfirmed by my experiences to date:

  • Building alliances with professional engineering organizations, including those that are demographically diverse or minority serving.
  • Enhancing relationships with affinity engineering organizations.
  • Collaborating with professional organizations in the precollege, community college, and trade school spaces.
  • Forging relationships with new and emerging national nuclear organizations.
  • Collaborating with international nuclear organizations, especially those programs that promote young and underrepresented individuals in the field.

We need to foster generational impact, fuller participation, and innovative approaches to nuclear science and technology here and abroad. ANS must be thoughtfully and authentically engaged to move the needle forward, staying true to our core values. Toward this end, I hope to see you at a 2025 event!


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