Albany — The future of education in nuclear sciences and engineering brings a large contingent of experts to New York’s Capital Region Monday, Oct. 28, for a major conference at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center.

Sponsored by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and the U.S. Department of Energy, the event will attract leading representatives from education, industry, and government.

“The country’s future in nuclear energy and technology is vital to all citizens,” said Rensselaer President Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson. “We must assure excellence in American research, teaching, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and safety in the peaceful applications of nuclear energy. To do this requires the cooperation of leaders in government, industry, and academe. That is the focus of this important conference,” Jackson said.

“Conference participants also share a mandate to advance the solution of those fundamental mysteries in the nuclear sciences that ultimately will transform the world of tomorrow and meet critical needs in medicine, energy, defense, transportation, food production, and other fields,” Jackson said. Jackson, whose career has encompassed theoretical physics research, teaching, and government service, is the former chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Panelists from the nation’s leading research universities, government agencies, national laboratories, and nuclear industries will address nuclear workforce needs, R&D, national security, business partnerships, and the role of the regulatory community. Conference participants will identify a limited, but focused, set of key action items and a process for pursuing them.

Panelists and presenters include:

David Christian, senior vice president, Dominion Generation;
Joe Colvin, president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute;
Dr. Thomas Magnanti, dean of the School of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
William Magwood IV, director, U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy,
Science, and Technology;
Dr. Mohan Mathur, president, University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering;
The Honorable Dr. Richard Meserve, chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
Dr. James Stubbins, University of Illinois, president of the national Nuclear Engineering Department Heads Organization.

Contact: Bruce Adams
Phone: (518) 276-6531
E-mail: N/A