Thank you for joining us on Episode 29 of RadioNuclear! In this episode, we discuss the potential for micro-reactors and their use on military front-lines Do they offer a strategic advantage, or are they a liability? Additionally, does Gen Z understand nuclear? Apparently not, because 72% of Gen-Z doesn’t know nuclear doesn’t emit C0₂. Next, we discuss how congressional members on the hill are supporting the modernization of the NRC reactor oversight process. Lastly, some more good news out of India, because they have just agreed to build 6 new nuclear reactors with Westinghouse. Some truly great news!

Our first guest on the show is Dr. Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar. Dr. Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar is multi-faceted and experienced in leading diverse groups toward common goals in science and engineering. She has published internationally and is recognized as principal investigator of productive research projects incorporating nuclear material irradiation and characterization and the associated management of radioactive material. She has collaborated on a variety projects and proposals in university, national laboratory, and international research environments and has a track record of identifying and solving problems and getting results.

Next on, we have Dr. Rita Baranwal. Dr. Baranwal serves as the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Prior to her current role, Dr. Baranwal directed the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative at Idaho National Laboratory. Before joining the U.S. Department of Energy, Dr. Baranwal served as Director of Technology Development & Application at Westinghouse.  There, she led the creation and development of game-changing technologies and managed characterization and hot cell laboratories. Dr. Baranwal has served on Advisory Boards for MIT’s Materials Research Laboratory and UC Berkeley’s Nuclear Engineering Department, and was adjunct faculty at University of South Carolina’s nuclear engineering graduate program.

Thank you for joining us for Episode 28 of RadioNuclear! In this episode, we talk about the recent false alarm involving the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in Canada and about an opinion piece over a recent MIT Study claiming that nuclear is not needed for deep decarbonization. We also discuss about why some regions of the world have an easier time building nuclear plants, when compared to other regions of the world.

This episode’s guest is Eric G. Meyer, who is the founder and executive director of Generation Atomic, a nuclear advocacy non-profit.  He started out pursuing a career in professional singing, but after hearing about the promise of advanced nuclear reactors, he decided to devote his life to saving and expanding the use of atomic energy. He worked as an organizer on several political, union, and issue campaigns while in graduate school for applied public policy, taking time off to attend the climate talks in Paris and sing opera about nuclear power. Meyer began his full-time nuclear work in May of 2016 with Environmental Progress by organizing marches, rallies, and trainings in California, New York, and Illinois, before leaving to found Generation Atomic in late 2016. Since then he’s worked to shift the narrative around nuclear energy by creating unique social media videos, training nuclear supporters to have more effective nuclear conversations, and organizing unforgettable events.

Thank you again for tuning into this week’s episode of RadioNuclear! In this episode we discuss the new partnership between the DOE and NRC, aimed at accelerating developments in new nuclear. We also discuss France’s plan to reboot the EPR Program, and get into a detailed discussion with Gene Grecheck, ANS Past President 2015-2016, about the value in preserving our LWR fleet.

Grecheck is a seasoned executive with 40 years of experience in commercial nuclear power generation, including operations, engineering, licensing, training, security and emergency planning, new plant development, and nuclear safety review. His career spanned over 38 years with Dominion Resources, where he held positions including nuclear station manager, site vice president at two different stations, and vice president over nuclear services and nuclear engineering. For over a decade, he led Dominion’s new plant development activities, including cooperative agreements with the DOE on NP2010, and submittal of applications for an Early Site Permit and a Combined Operating License for the proposed North Anna Unit 3.

Thank you for joining us on Episode 26 of RadioNuclear! In 26, we discuss news items from two literal “Nuclear Islands”. How can nuclear help out island nations that are energy constrained? Are there examples of this? Tune in to find out! We also discuss Westinghouse’s purchase of Rolls Royce’s North American nuclear business, and discuss how this could benefit utilities looking to reduce operations and maintenance costs.

Today’s guests are Alyse Huffman and Harsh Desai. Alyse is the current ANS Congressional Fellow, and Harsh (our first return guest!) currently works as senior manager for the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). They come on to talk about ANS’s Young Members Group and how young members can get the most out of ANS annual meetings. They also discuss the upcoming Young Professionals Congress (YPC19) to be held in Washington, D.C. on the Saturday before the ANS Winter Meeting begins. They discuss what the YPC19 event will entail. Both Alyse and Harsh, along with the hard work of ANS members Catherine Prat and Matthew Jasica, sound like they have put together a fantastic program!

Enjoy this episode and don’t forget to sign up for the ANS Winter Meeting and YPC19.

Thank you for joining us on Episode 25 of RadioNuclear! Happy birthday to RadioNuclear, which turned two years old earlier this month. Thank you to everyone who continues to listen and support the show!

This week, we discuss what events may have led to the release of radioactivity in Russia back in August, and also take a moment to reflect on the defueling of the Sellafield MAGNOX reactors.

Today’s guest is Dr. Richard Muller, who is the current CTO of Deep Isolation, a company which aims to solve the nuclear waste issue. He is a professor Emeritus of Physics at UC Berkeley. He founded two Nobel Prize-Winning projects in experimental physics, related to the discovery of dark matter, and the structure of the big bang. He has won multiple prizes, including the coveted MacArthur Prize (“the genius award”), and is the author of over 15 Deep Isolation patents, of which three have been awarded.