Nuclear Energy is a large domestic source of clean, nearly greenhouse gas-free energy, making major contributions toward meeting our nation’s current and future energy demands. However, it faces a myriad of challenges that could impede realizing its full potential for addressing economic, environmental and energy security goals. The event was held June 6-8, 2012.

Research on the nanoscale has been captivating laboratories since the mid 1980s and was elevated to national prominence in 2000 by the formation of the US National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), sponsored by both the Executive and Legislative branches of the US Government. With focused research efforts from 15 Federal Agencies, NNI and related nanoscience programs have already revolutionized huge expanses of high technology (e.g., electronics and medicine). Extension of nanotechnology research to energy related fields is currently underway. Until now however, no concerted effort has been made in the area of Nuclear energy.

Nuclear Energy is a large domestic source of clean, nearly greenhouse gas-free energy, making major contributions toward meeting our nation’s current and future energy demands. However, it faces a myriad of challenges that could impede realizing its full potential for addressing economic, environmental and energy security goals. Nuclear energy might greatly benefit from adaptations of nanoscale methods and materials in order to overcome these challenges and achieve a continued or an expanded role in the long-term energy platform.