Dr. Todd Allen
Chair and Professor
Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences
University of Michigan

Abstract

Transitioning to a net-zero economy is complex and involves developing new technologies (including nuclear energy), determining pathways to expand into wider use of these technologies, and determining the decision-making processes and policy choices to optimize success.  This talk will frame this transition for nuclear energy within three concepts, Energy Technology Complexity, System-informed Decision-Making, and Community-appropriate Capacity Expansion, that are the key considerations through which optimal transitions can be made.

Biography

Dr. Todd Allen is Professor at the University of Michigan and a Senior Fellow at Third Way, a DC base Think Tank, supporting their Climate & Energy Portfolio.  He is the Founding Director of the Fastest Path to Zero Initiative, aimed at identifying the combined technologies and social acceptance that moves towards decarbonized systems.   He is also the Co-Director of the University of Michigan’s hydrogen initiative, MI Hydrogen.  He was the Deputy Director for Science and Technology at the Idaho National Laboratory from January 2013 through January 2016. Prior to INL he was a Professor in the Engineering Physics Department at the University of Wisconsin, a position held from September 2003 through December 2012 and again from January 2016-December 2018.  From March 2008-December 2012, he was concurrently the Scientific Director of the Advanced Test Reactor National Scientific User Facility at INL. Prior to joining the University of Wisconsin, he was a Nuclear Engineer at Argonne National Laboratory-West in Idaho Falls. His Doctoral Degree is in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan (1997) and his Bachelor’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering is from Northwestern University (1984).  Prior to graduate work, he was an officer in the United States Navy Nuclear Power Program.

Monday, January 27. 2024
4:30 pm seminar
Lampe 371

zoom link upon request