Investing in what comes next

The 2026 ANS Annual Conference, "Net Out and Power Up," brought the nuclear community together in Denver at the end of May. Over four days at the Sheraton Denver, we heard from exceptional speakers on the most consequential questions facing our field; how fusion and fission can complement each other, how to meet surging electricity demand, and what it takes to sustain American nuclear leadership. The embedded topicals on nuclear fuels and materials and on fusion energy added real technical depth. It was exactly the kind of gathering that reminds us why this community is so remarkable.

That energy and commitment is precisely what I want to channel as I close out my term as president of the American Nuclear Society. Because sustaining it year after year, conference after conference, requires more than enthusiasm. It requires investment.

ANS has spent decades building the scholarships, fellowships, and outreach programs that develop the next generation of nuclear professionals. These help compose the infrastructure of our workforce pipeline, the programs that make it possible for a talented student to pursue a career in nuclear engineering or for a kindergartner in Oak Ridge to take her first steps toward a life in science. All of it depends on philanthropic support from members who believe in what our Society does.

I have made philanthropic fundraising the central focus of this final stretch of my presidency, because I believe it is the most durable thing I can do for ANS. Officer terms like mine are fleeting, but a well-­resourced membership organization can continue reaching new students and serving nuclear career professionals long after any single president has moved on. That is the kind of legacy I want to leave when my term ends.

Throughout 2026, you will see our fundraising campaign in support of the ANS Nuclear Career Development Fund take shape with information about programs supported by the fund and giving opportunities at every level and recognition for those who step forward. Whether you are in a position to make a major gift or simply want to make your first contribution, there is a place for you in this effort. No gift is too small when the goal is this important. Please visit ans.org/donate to learn more, or reach us at [email protected]. Together, we can power our nuclear future.

I concluded my first President's Column in Nuclear News by saying that, by collaborating, we could ensure the continued growth and global impact of nuclear energy. With the benefit of the perspective I have gained throughout my term, I am now more sure than ever that together, we can secure a cleaner, brighter, and more secure future.