Ep 03: Todd Allen, University of Wisconsin

In this episode we interview Todd Allen, one of the top U.S. experts in nuclear energy. Todd’s played a critical role in supporting the advancement of the next generation of nuclear technologies serving roles throughout our national lab system, in academia, the think-tank world and more. In this episode Todd’ reveals tremendous insights around:

• The function of our national lab system in prototyping reactors and creation of user facilities to revitalize innovation on this front
• Walking through various permutations of fuels, coolants, and approaches towards proving new technologies
• Turning points in the history of commercial nuclear development, here in the US and abroad, and the recent resurgence of nuclear excitement
• His contribution towards shaping policy at Thirdway, the clean energy think tank, and launching their first advanced nuclear summit.
• We talk about the concept of prize based incentives and how they might apply to the nuclear space
• Most importantly concrete steps how the can DOE restructure their efforts to best encourage innovation
• At the very end he also offers a nugget regarding communication strategies to the public as well