Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy

In this episode, we discuss... Atte's interest in history and his involvement in politics during University.   Researching the socioeconomic impact of climate change.   The history of the Finnish people and political institutions.   The relationship between politics and climate policy.   How approaches to solving problems and talking about politics have changed over time.   The various political p...

In this episode, we discuss... Toni's interest in environmental protection, energy, and climate change.   The culture in Finland.   His involvement in the steel industry and their relationship with nuclear.   Innovative projects surrounding heat consumption and the issue's importance in Finland.   Energy procurement and investing in the nuclear industry.   The impact of nuclear energy on climate c...

In this episode, we discuss... Michael's interest in particle physics and his work as a high energy physicist.   The difference between antimatter and antiprotons.   Annihilation and why the occurrence of antimatter collisions are more common than you think.  Constituents of a normal matter atom.   Measuring the gravitational effect between matter and antimatter.   The Grand Unification Theory and...

In this episode, we discuss... Giovanni's fascination with clean energy and his experiment on neutronics.   Instrumentation and the uniqueness of sodium reactors.   The role of particle accelerators in cancer treatments.   Gaseous hydrogen and ionization.   Developing technology and the impact of its commercialization.   How the World Wide Web was originally developed to aid scientists.  The MEDIC...

In this episode, we discuss... Steven's introduction to nuclear through physical chemistry.   An explanation of CERN's mission and the Large Electron Positron Collider.   Antimatter and the Z Boson.   Why the effective mass of particles increase as you get closer to the speed of light.   The misconceptions of particle collisions and an explanation of their interactions.   The benefits of partnerin...

In this episode, we discuss... Yves' start as a nuclear engineer at the Power Utility of France (EDF).   How the perception of nuclear energy in France has changed over time.   USEPR and developing the US version of a European pressurized reactor.   How to make nuclear investment profitable in spite of low competition prices.   The background behind and challenges of Hinkley Point C.   The impact...

In this episode, we discuss... Paul's introduction to the nuclear industry as a project finance attorney for Bechtel.   The definition and history of nuclear project financing.   The ability and benefits of a state wanting to purchase a power plant v. a municipality.   Issues associated with financial modeling.   Innovative financing and financing from a lender's perspective.   The benefits of reg...

In this episode, we discuss... ​ Laura's entrance into the nuclear field.   Discovering how to reduce weapons of mass destruction through cooperation.   The history behind and challenges of implementing the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction.   The evolution of nuclear threats and the modern approach to securing nuclear materials.   Nuclear Threat Initiative and its impact.   Addressing the s...

Episode Content: Ken's start with the Nuclear Arms Control Program at the Association for the Advancement of Science.   Why it is important to make technical nuclear concepts accessible to others.   How the theory of arms control is viewed then and now.   The lack of institutional adaptation and why it is essential to reform it.   The Cooperative Threat Reduction and the Nuclear Security Summit Pr...

Episode Content: ​ Amanda's interest in chemistry and her work at a crime lab.   A breakdown of molybdenum 99 and technetium 99m.   Why metastable isotopes are useful for medical applications.   What are ligins?   From a security perspective, why it's in the US' interest to domestically produce molybdenum 99.   The traditional and nontraditional methods of producing molybdenum 99.   Tradeoffs of d...

Episode Content: Tom's introduction to the nuclear industry from a history project.   How Chernobyl reinforced the importance of nuclear and safety.   Why reactor physicists are crucial when designing reactors.   Unprotected loss of flow tests and unprotected loss of heat sink tests.   Scram Systems and their importance during a shutdown failure.   The Generation 4 International Forum.   Why it's...

Episode Content: Hussein's fascination with reactor physics and kinetics.   Methods used to recover detailed information of reaction rates in the core.   The definition of course information.   How reducing computational uncertainty allows you to design closer to material capability.   Time-dependent changes to chemical structures.   How predictions and data encourage the move away from light wate...

Episode Content: Chris' start in the Nuclear Propulsion Office Candidate Program.   Training with the A1W Prototype in Idaho Falls.   Technology development and sodium-cooled power plants.   Improving the cost performance of technology.   Advanced and vessel refueling machines.   Sodium and its different mediums.   The history of metal and the importance of building to increasing scale for commerc...

Episode Content: John's introduction to nuclear during his work with the Geological Survey.   How radiocarbon dating actually works.   The interdisciplinary nature of the nuclear industry.   In what circumstances types of fuels are considered efficient.   Energy produced with plutonium v. uranium.   Core-reload strategies and how it can save billions in electricity production.   Improving efficien...

Episode Content: Spencer's start studying the history of science at the American Institute of Physics.   Unraveling the origin of the French Nuclear Program.   The intersection of nuclear fear and politics.   The role of psychology in understanding public reluctance towards nuclear energy.   The interaction between carbon dioxide and oceans; the significance of climate change.   A discussion of th...

Episode Content: Ken's start doing safety analysis, including his work at Three Mile Island.   How probabilistic risk assessment correlates to what happens at plants.   An overview of the risk-informed regulation movement in the 90's.   The role of vents during nuclear plant accidents.   Nuclear maintenance, plant engineering, and risk assessment.   The best strategies to control fission products...

Episode Content: Chad's time as a Navy Nuke.   What makes one reactor in a submarine more advanced than another reactor?   Challenges faced when constructing, designing, and managing a reactor.   The effect of Three Mile Island on the perception of nuclear and its consequences.   Distinguishing between fast reactors and thermal reactors.   A discussion on sealed source weapons-grade plutonium.   A...

Episode Content: John's start working with Fluor Corporation and his transition to NuScale.   A discussion about the potential of NuScale's SMR in the global market.   The necessity of forging public-private relationships.   An overview of constraints nuclear start-ups face.   The importance of having a sustainable supply chain.   The impact of driving down costs on demand.   What the next generat...

Episode Content: Growing up as an environmentalist and making the transition to the nuclear industry.   The importance of humanizing nuclear technology.   International Safeguards and Policy.   Taking a state-level approach v. facility-level approach when it comes to safeguards.   The community-based approach and applications of SMRs.   How important it is to train and provide opportunities for th...

Episode Content: ​ Tom's start as a Shift Technical Advisor implementing transient response implementing procedures.   Nuclear Liability law.   The importance of educating and familiarizing others with nuclear terms.   Factors that determine whether technology is commercially attractive.   Tom clarifies: who buys power plants?   The features that make the NuScale's SMR design stand out.   Segmenti...

Episode Content: Tom's unexpected interest in nuclear through the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Directorate.   Reliability inspect and reliability engineering.   An explanation of and the reasoning behind risk-informed categorization Rule 50.69.   Tom's transition from the NRC to NuScale and the private sector.   A detailed description of the content and tribulations of the licensing application.   The...

Episode Content: Jose's captivation with the nuclear industry during high school and college.   The history, description, and findings of Counter Current Flow Limitation Testing.   An overview of Jose's time as the Department Head of Nuclear Science and Engineering.   Passive safety systems, the Bleed and Feed Approach, and the AP 600.   Embodying full-scale behavior into a small-scale system.   M...

Episode Content: Pete's start in the weapons testing and Star Wars Program at Los Alamos National Lab.   An in-depth look at the relationship between nuclear energy and nonproliferation.   Pete's work with Senator Domenici to craft legislation for essential nuclear programs.   A discussion of the Nuclear Cities and Lab to Lab Initiatives.    Efforts Pete spearheaded at the NRC.   The importance of...

Episode Content: Ron's start with General Electric working on the D-Replacement Reactor.   How thermohydraulics are used to raise exit temperatures and prevent a boiling coolant.   The significance of plutonium-recycle test reactors and challenges of the program.   An explanation of the physics behind the Fast Flux Test Facility.   The advantages of a fast reactor.    The definition of breeding.  ...

Episode Content: Brady's start as a chemical engineer.   An explanation of re-processing.   Dry Storage: in theory and in practice.   An in-depth look at the process and consequences of oxidizing spent fuel.   The formation of the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative.   A discussion about Yucca Mountain's effectiveness in disposing used fuel.   Political obstacles that inhibit disposal solutions.  ...