Engineering Systems for People: The Human Side of Nuclear Innovation
Wisconsin Institute of Discovery Room 1145
How can early integration of human factors determine nuclear success?
Join us for the second HEART Initiative Distinguished Speaker Event! We welcome Dr. S. Camille Peres (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission) and Dr. Ronald Boring (Idaho National Laboratory) to discuss disconnects, program requirements, and actionable next steps to strengthen communication across stakeholders in nuclear energy.
As nuclear energy enters a period of renewal, from modernizing today’s plants to developing the next generation of reactors, success depends on designing systems around the people who operate, maintain, and regulate them. In this two-speaker series, Drs. Peres and Boring bring regulatory, research, and applied perspectives to the opportunities and challenges of integrating human factors throughout the reactor lifecycle.
Together, their talks explore how early, sustained attention to human performance can help create nuclear systems that are safer, more usable, and more resilient. Read more about each topic and register for the event below.
Human Factors at the Regulatory Front Door: Why Early Integration Determines Nuclear Success
Dr. S. Camille Peres
Human factors is too often treated as an afterthought in nuclear system development, despite decades of regulatory guidance requiring systematic, early incorporation into design. Drawing from regulator experience, this presentation clarifies what regulators expect, why these expectations exist, and how industry can avoid costly redesigns and licensing delays by embedding human factors from the outset. It highlights disconnects between industry, academia, and regulators identified in the planning discussion for this event, uses Part 53 and human factors engineering program requirements as anchor examples, and outlines actionable steps for aligning design practices with regulatory realities. The goal is to strengthen communication across stakeholders and establish a shared understanding of human factors as a critical safety and licensing driver, not an optional enhancement.
From Modernization to New Builds: Opportunities and Challenges of Human Factors for Commercial Reactors
Dr. Ron Boring
Abstract coming soon.