In February 2025, Texas A&M University is set to host the INMM Pebble Bed and TRISO-Fueled Reactors Nonproliferation Workshop, bringing together leading experts, students, and practitioners to tackle the challenges associated with safeguarding advanced nuclear reactor technologies. Organized by the Texas A&M INMM Student Chapter, the Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives (NSSPI), and the Institute for Nuclear Materials Management (INMM), this event will focus on nonproliferation and safeguards issues related to Pebble-Bed and TRISO-fueled reactors. It will take place February 4rd through 6th, with a registration and a reception being held on February 3rd.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has identified the ability to safeguard small modular reactors (SMRs) and Generation IV reactors as a critical capability in its Department of Safeguards Long-Term R&D Plan, released in 2013. Among these, pebble bed reactors and other reactors using TRISO fuel are considered promising technologies for near-term deployment. Recent milestones, such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval of the construction permit for Kairos Power’s Hermes demonstration reactor in 2023, underscore the urgency of advancing safeguards approaches, tools, and techniques tailored to these reactor types.
The workshop will explore strategies for addressing the safeguards and nonproliferation challenges these reactors present through a series of presentations, discussions, and campus facility tours. Keynote addresses from prominent figures in the field will enrich the event. Tentative speakers include Warren “Pete” Miller, former Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the U. S. Department of Energy, Laura Rockwood, Non-Resident Senior Fellow of the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCNDP); Lars van Dassen, Executive Director of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS); and Jeremy Whitlock, Senior Technical Advisor in the Department of Safeguards of the IAEA.
Organizers are currently accepting abstracts for the workshop, with a submission deadline of January 6, 2025. Registration deadlines are January 10, 2025, for non-U.S. citizens and January 24, 2025, for U.S. citizens. Additional details are available on the NSSPI website.
This workshop underscores the commitment of NSSPI and the Texas A&M INMM Student Chapter to advancing research and collaboration in nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation. Participants will gain valuable insights into the latest developments in the field while contributing to critical discussions shaping the future of nuclear nonproliferation.