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
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
Spotlight on National Labs
April 30, 2020|12:00–1:30PM (1:00–2:30PM EDT)
Available to All Users
Learn about Argonne’s storied history and how the lab is supporting key nuclear energy and other initiatives of national and international significance.
From the start, Argonne has been at the forefront of research and innovation. In 1946, as an outgrowth of the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago, Argonne was established as a nuclear engineering, chemistry, and materials laboratory to develop peaceful uses for a revolutionary new source of energy: nuclear power. Today, nearly every commercial reactor in existence owes its development to seminal research conducted at Argonne.
Building on this heritage, Argonne continues its work to advance the safe and sustainable use of nuclear energy and to apply its nuclear technology expertise to current and emerging programs. Argonne supports key U.S. Department of Energy nuclear energy initiatives, including leading the nation’s program for development and demonstration of fast reactor and fuel recycle technologies that promise to improve the affordability of nuclear power, enhancing the assurance of safety and security and minimizing the quantity of radioactive waste.
Panelists
Moderator
