Abstract: Nuclear energy offers a powerful tool for decarbonization, but its success depends on more than technology. Engineers must navigate a landscape shaped by regulation, public perception, and global energy needs. In this seminar, we will explore how radiation protection standards influence policy and acceptance, why evidence-based decisions matter, and what happens when policy moves faster than science. We will also discuss the role of advanced fuel cycles, reactor modeling, and systems analysis in building a resilient energy future, and how students can contribute to these challenges.

Bio:  Katy Huff is an Associate Professor in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on modeling and simulation of advanced nuclear reactors and their fuel cycles. She is particularly interested in emphasizing scientific software engineering best practices for open source development. She is also passionate about bridging technical expertise and public understanding to ensure informed energy policy. From May 2021 to May 2024, she took a leave of absence from UIUC to hold multiple positions in the U.S. Department of Energy, including that of Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. Before joining UIUC, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow with both the Nuclear Science and Security Consortium and the Berkeley Institute for Data Science at the University of California - Berkeley. She received her PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in August 2013 and her undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of Chicago in 2008. 

NPRE 199 Undergraduate Seminar is a series of lectures and discussions on current research and developments in the NPRE discipline areas.  Presentations are led by visiting scientists and engineers from industry and research facilities as well as faculty and advanced students.  Seminars are open to the Illinois community, space allowing.  Undergraduate students wishing course credit for attending should register in NPRE 199.