Wall Street and Silicon Valley go nuclear
Idaho National Laboratory
Changing the world’s energy future and securing our nation's critical infrastructure ??
The future promises big advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence, and corporate America is once again eyeing nuclear energy. The interest reflects a growing awareness on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley that nuclear could be the best way to get consistent, carbon-free electricity to energy-hungry data centers. Representatives from such multibillion-dollar companies as Meta , 亚马逊 and 谷歌 came to the Idaho National Laboratory in mid-October for Nuclear Investor Days, co-hosted by the lab and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) . Bankers and advisers from 高盛 , 摩根士丹利 and BlackRock also attended the event. The 26 participants represented more than $1 trillion in investment dollars.
INL leads the U.S. in developing Electric Field Assisted Sintering (EFAS) technologies to meet material requirements for next-generation energy solutions. This advanced version of sintering is used to manufacture parts designed to withstand harsh environments like nuclear reactors, concentrated solar plants, geothermal systems, armor and aerospace applications. The lab has unique capabilities ranging from probing the sintering process at the nanoscale to manufacturing parts at industrially relevant scales. In 2021, INL acquired the world’s largest EFAS platform available for research and development purposes. Now, INL researchers invented, built and commissioned a new EFAS technology, known as Continuous Electric Field Assisted Sintering (CEFAS). This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technology Office.
Ten soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and 10 members from the Security Services of Ukraine spent a week at INL learning and practicing debris collection techniques for post-detonation nuclear forensics. Nuclear forensics includes the science of determining the origin of nuclear materials used in a detonation to credibly hold accountable any state complicit in an act of nuclear terrorism. While Ukraine has practiced nuclear forensics as part of its counter nuclear smuggling efforts, officials sought to learn more about how to apply nuclear forensics in a post-detonation scenario. INL’s decades of research, expertise and support to U.S. nuclear forensics operations position it as one of the few entities capable of providing Ukraine with nuclear forensics support.
Since its days as the National Reactor Testing Station, INL has focused on proving that what people think can’t be done is in fact possible. In the past decade, the lab has repeatedly demonstrated to DOE and the nuclear industry that it can complete large, complicated nuclear projects on time and under budget. But there are two keys to success. The first is rigorous planning, which includes evaluating potential risks and establishing appropriate budgets and schedule reserves to respond to realized risks. The second is finding capable contractors and subcontractors and communicating clearly with them. Read about three INL success stories.
Check out our latest selection of published research from INL experts! Exploring the feasibility of municipal solid waste sorting and decontamination technologies, viable configurations for coupling nuclear energy production with thermal energy storage, cellphone sensors for explosion detection and more.
For 75 years, INL and its predecessors have drawn people from all over the world to the ever-growing community of southeastern Idaho. The laboratory has also brought opportunities to families already living within that community. For the Corsberg family, working at the INL complex throughout its many name changes, different contractors and unique missions has become a tradition spanning four generations, starting with John Corsberg in 1955. He worked at the Site for two years as a chemist for the Materials Test Reactor. Thirty years later, John Corsberg’s son, @Dan Corsberg, followed in his father’s footsteps when he started working at the lab as a software engineer for alarm filtering systems.
Following an extensive nationwide search, David Teter has been selected as INL’s next deputy laboratory director for management and operations and chief operating officer. Teter will begin his new role in the spring of 2025. He succeeds Juan Alvarez, who left INL in October to become executive vice president of laboratory operations for Battelle Memorial Institute. Teter brings nearly 30 years of experience at Los Alamos National Laboratory including extensive experience in strategic planning, managing large-scale infrastructure projects, stakeholder engagement and managing people.
Researchers are looking into artificial intelligence solutions that can make up the difference for the physical limitations of humans or the mental fatigue of monotonous tasks. INL Automation, Instrumentation & Controls has developed a technology that can accurately read analog gauges and convert and save those readings in a digital format for use in reactor simulations that reflect real-world situations.
Nine INL professionals are being recognized as Women Worth Watching and Emerging Leaders by Profiles in Diversity Journal . These exceptional individuals have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation and dedication to their work, inspiring many through their achievements and insights.
INL labor and employment attorney and senior litigation counsel Rebecca Young was recently featured in an interview with Magnate View Magazine , sharing invaluable advice for aspiring leaders. Young navigates complex legal challenges with composure and integrates sustainability and social responsibility into her decisions, exemplifying purpose-driven leadership, continuous learning and a steadfast commitment to ethical principles.
Meet Rod Bitsoi , division director for Advanced Manufacturing, Fabrication, and Calibration Services in our Facilities and Site Services organization. He leads a team that provides services like machining, welding and even specialized glass blowing to enable the laboratory's important research mission.
High Frequency or HF wireless communications technology has been around for a long time but is now being modernized to provide complementary communications solutions where needed. For example, in contested environments where communications systems like cellular or satellite may be unavailable or unreliable. Watch this video from INL wireless researcher Brandon Starks to learn more about our research in high frequency wireless communications.
Luis Ocampo Giraldo moved from Armenia, Colombia, to Morristown, New Jersey, when he was in eighth grade. While most teenagers struggle to navigate the many changes that come with adolescence, Ocampo Giraldo was also navigating the intricacies of a new country: learning a new language, adjusting to a new culture and, to keep things interesting, skipping a pivotal grade in school. Today, Ocampo Giraldo looks back on a journey not just of personal triumph, but one that’s a reflection of the inclusive culture at INL. In his position as a scientist in the nuclear nonproliferation division, Ocampo Giraldo says he’s thriving in a workplace that recognizes how elite talent and diverse perspectives are crucial to solving complex problems.
Meet Alejandro Ramos Ballesteros . As a postdoctoral research associate at INL, Ballesteros irradiates salts to find the most resilient, efficient and safe compound for the new generation of nuclear reactor fuels and energy storage systems. Contributing to the future of renewables and energy security is his greatest motivation.
We recently celebrated the valuable contributions of our INL postdoctoral researchers by bringing them, their mentors and lab leaders together to honor their achievements. Our postdoc program advances research, solves complex problems and provides opportunities for postdoc researchers to develop their skills and advance their careers.
Chantelle Garn is a dedicated administrative assistant supporting INL’s Regional and Industry Engagement group. She plays a crucial role in raising INL’s profile by strengthening our regional and community ties with key industry, government and academia stakeholders. Her support ensures the lab remains a key player in fostering regional growth and collaboration.
INL Director John Wagner recently accepted the prestigious Chamber Hall of Fame award from the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce recognizing the lab for profound, continual contributions within our community. The award criteria also considered business longevity and stability, community impact and engagement, reputation and integrity, economic contributions and employee development and well-being. INL has been involved with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce for many years and a proud supporter of the Idaho Falls business community for 75 years.
Meet Jessica Meiers , an analytical chemist at INL focused on chemically separating fission product samples, carbon dating organic samples, synthesizing glass and mixing gases. Her work provides training aids and calibration standards for people around the globe.
We are fine-tuning the electric vehicle industry with artificial intelligence. Our researchers, like Mayuresh Savargaonkar, Ph.D. , work with industry partners and take problems found in online reviews and categorize them using AI. Once the data has been compiled, it's easy to see the connections and solve charging problems.
In 1961, in the desert of Idaho, the 美国军队 created a nuclear plant so portable it could be moved by truck. Six decades later, we're reviving their vision of atomic power on the go. Check out this documentary-style video by INL's Mark Richardson , Rett Longmore , Donna Kemp Spangler and Cory Hatch to learn more.
We sat down with six U.S. veterans working at INL to learn more about what inspired them to join their branch of the military, and to discuss how their service has helped them in their careers. Nearly 9% of our workforce are veterans. Many of them are still on active duty or in the reserves, and we work hard to provide support to them as they continue to serve our country while helping us carry out our innovative research at INL.
Social media influencer and science educator Kyle Hill recently visited INL, and got an inside look at the next generation of nuclear reactors. Take a look as he shares his thoughts on microreactors – compact and portable nuclear reactors envisioned to provide carbon-free power to support energy-intensive industrial processes, military bases and remote communities.
Discover how INL and AMP are revolutionizing waste sorting with machine learning technology, simplifying the recycling process and making sorting faster than ever.
INL is excited to be inspiring students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). From sending scientists and engineers into classrooms around the state, engaging students with our STEM trailer, hosting a variety of STEM events and opportunities, like our high school STEM internship program, we have a ton of ways for everyone to get involved in our STEM education programs.
Arizona State University student Maddox Turner was the winner of the 2024 Nuclear Science Week Multimedia Contest, earning him an opportunity to visit INL. During his visit, he accepted an award for his entry and toured some of INL's world-class nuclear facilities.
Labor News, Advocacy, and Engagement...I was child abducted to here from Eastern Europe :(...
2 个月I worked on the Sun's Hydrogen Fusion Energy Technology at the Department of Energy at NETL in Pittsburgh... Invented a new way to convert Hydrogen Plasma Energy... https://www.facebook.com/groups/1427094857543795/permalink/3523848621201731/?app=fbl
August 2023 Massage Therapist
2 个月This is cool I’m gonna be looking over all of this! I am hoping to oneday finish my computer information technology degree and work for INL or intern there! You do so much good it’s just something to be proud of!