Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy

Bret Kugelmass, Energy Impact Center
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Sep 30, 2019 • 54min

Ep 197: Bruce McDowell, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Bruce's role in the NRC approving the Clinch River Environmental Impact Statement (2) The main considerations which go into developing an environmental impact statement for a nuclear power plant site (3) How Bruce's up bringing and natural curiosity fueled his interest in site assessment (4) Bruce's introduction to the nuclear field through the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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Sep 27, 2019 • 56min

Ep 196: Rose Boll, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

In this episode, we discuss: (1) How Rose became interested in radioisotopes from an early interest in chemistry and medicine (2) What an isotope is and how Actinium-225 is created (3) Why the demand for Actinium-225 is increasing and the challenges the Tri-Lab Project faces in meeting this demand (4) The role of education in radiation acceptance
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Sep 26, 2019 • 1h 6min

Ep 195: Jeremy Renshaw, Electric Power Research Institute

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Jeremy Renshaw comes from a family of engineers and is raising children who are likewise passionate about math, science and robotics. (2) He currently works at the Electric Power Research Institute, an independent nonprofit that conducts research and environmentally responsible demonstration projects to enhance the quality of life of people globally. (3) Jeremy's work in nuclear using robots to inspect dry spent fuel canisters; he discussed the need for dry fuel canisters due to the lack of repositories and the stalling of the Yucca Mountain project. (4) He believes in the importance of research to increase the efficiency, safety and economic benefits to combat the negative perceptions of nuclear plants and discussed how the closer of current power plants is creating real risks to prevent imaginary ones.
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Sep 25, 2019 • 58min

Ep 194: Edward Calabrese, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

In this episode, we discuss... (1) The impact of Silent Spring and environmental concerns of the 1960s that fostered Ed's interest in toxicology (2) How the LNT theory came into practice and how we can look at low dose radiation using Hormetic Biphasic Dose Response Relationships (3) How modest amounts of stress, in the form of low dose radiation to the body can be beneficial (4) How the regulatory and medical communities have been mislead towards an LNT viewpoint
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Sep 24, 2019 • 50min

Ep 193: Chuck Casto, Station Blackout

In this episode, we discuss... (1) How the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster changed the trajectory of Chuck's career (2) Lessons in leadership learned through Chuck's personal experiences at the Fukushima site (3) Chuck's background in nuclear power plant construction and equipment operation (4) The importance of reflecting on Fukushima and the special nature of nuclear technology
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Sep 20, 2019 • 59min

Ep 192: Stephane Aubarbier, Assystem

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Decreasing focus on design and adopting the copy and paste model to deliver projects on time and on budget (2) The reasons behind Assystem's continued focus and success in the nuclear industry (3) Why education is needed to understand that decreasing energy consumption will not stop climate change (4) Assystem's strategy when partnering with countries to develop nuclear programs
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Sep 19, 2019 • 55min

Ep 191: Jean Louis Ricaud - Senior Advisor, Assystem

In this episode we discuss how... (1) The need for politicians to take on long-term issues and understand that decreasing electricity consumption is not a solution (2) The difference between carbon emissions and carbon footprint and why the focus should shift towards decreasing overall carbon footprint (3) Europe's increasing electricity demand and the shift towards relocalization (4) Making energy a strategic political issue
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Sep 18, 2019 • 58min

Ep 190: Robert Plana - Chief Technology Officer, Assystem

In this episode we discuss: (1) Using the TRL and BRL scales to determine which innovation projects to invest in (2) Monitoring nuclear reactor cracks using machine vision to save costs (3) Creating nuclear facility maintenance schedules using predicted maintenance based on individual plant operating conditions (4) Using AI to automatically extract data from 14 million physical nuclear reports
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Sep 17, 2019 • 59min

Ep 189: Tom Jones, Assystem

In this episode we discuss how: (1) The new RAB finance model will attract long term investors to the UK's nuclear industry (2) Nuclear investment is needed for the UK to reach the Net 0 Target of 2050 (3) The Copy and Paste model decreases nuclear project risk (4) The importance of educating children at a young age about nuclear power
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Sep 16, 2019 • 55min

Ep 188: Bernard Blanc, Assystem

In this episode, we discuss how... (1) Assystem's role in France's nuclear industry (2) The importance of mixed engineering teams when designing, constructing and commissioning nuclear power facilities (3) Regulating fusion as a means to gain public support for nuclear power (4) The role of ITER in the future of nuclear energy

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