#478 The State of Nuclear Energy with Todd Allen, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at University of Michigan
Today we’re talking to Todd Allen, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at University of Michigan; and we discuss the state of nuclear energy in the world today, barriers to investing more in nuclear energy, and what it would take to have a personal nuclear reactor in your home.
All of this right here, right now, on the ModernCTO Podcast!
Check out UMich's Fastest Path to Zero Initiative, where Todd and other super bright people are working hard to get the world to net zero carbon emissions.
About Todd Allen:
An offer to skip history class in high school to listen to a Navy ROTC recruiter sent Todd Allen on a serendipitous journey that led to him becoming one of the top U.S. experts in nuclear energy, with focus on the material science of nuclear systems.
Todd began his professional career as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy where he learned the practical applications of operating a nuclear power plant as well as how to take a submarine to periscope depth. Following active duty, he built on that practical Navy experience by earning a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering with specific focus on how radiation changes the physical properties of metals.
His first post-Ph.D. position was as a staff scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. While at Argonne, he joined the leadership team tasked with developing the Generation IV Roadmap, the document that framed the resurgence of the nuclear research programs early in the 21st Century.
Following Argonne, he joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin. While there, he split his time between establishing a premier material science program at the university and supporting the Idaho National Laboratory. At INL, he led the transition of the Advanced Test Reactor into a national user facility, creating a unique distributed network of national research facilities working together to support novel research ideas brought by universities and private industry. He also ran a six-institution Energy Frontier Research Center focused on answering fundamental questions about heat transfer in nuclear fuel.
From 2013-2016, he helped lead the Idaho National Laboratory as the Deputy Laboratory Director for Science & Technology, including being an important contributor to the development of the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative announced at the White House in November 2015.
He is the author of over 200 technical publications, many of which are readable.
Todd has degrees in nuclear engineering and management information systems. He is a native of Michigan and tries very hard to find ways to watch baseball. His best summer ever (2016) was 64 different stadiums across the U.S.
About the Fastest Path to Zero:
We are an interdisciplinary team of experts, including University of Michigan faculty, staff, and students, working to support communities as they plan and pursue ambitious climate goals. We offer a variety of assessment, siting, and reporting tools to help communities transform their energy systems while adapting to a changing climate. We use big data analytics combined with a passion for human-centered design and engagement.
There isn’t a one-size fits all solution for climate change. The fastest path to zero emissions will be unique for every community. That’s why we are creating technology-neutral tools to aid community-centered decision making. To get to zero, different places will adopt different energy and technology mixes based on their specific social, political, and economic needs. We want to make that process easier and more transparent so that more communities can successfully reach their climate goals as quickly as possible.
If it can help get us to zero, it’s on the table.