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Students Solving Problems for ISS and Beyond: Inspiring the Next-Generation

Students Solving Problems for ISS and Beyond: Inspiring the Next-Generation Session Title: Students Solving Problems for ISS and Beyond: Inspiring the Next-Generation Session Description: NASA High school students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) mission is to empower and inspire students through a Project-Based Learning program where 7-12 grade students learn 21st century skills and can launch their careers through participation in the design and fabrication of real-world valued products for NASA. With six different tracks consisting of Design & Prototype, Culinary Challenge, Softgoods, Precision Machining, Software, and Video Challenge, students are given the opportunity to create solutions for the International Space Station (ISS), the Moon, and beyond. Many projects are requested by the Crew to help ease living conditions, giving students the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of Astronauts. Other projects come directly from NASA and its partners. Join our session to learn how NASA is working with teachers across the country to mentor the next generation of scientists and engineers to solve some of NASA’s greatest challenges. Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the NASA HUNCH Program, including the program objectives, goals, and strategic partnerships for middle school and high school outreach and advocacy efforts. 2. Identify the innovative strategies NASA is using to work with middle and high school students to solve real-world problems 3. Use the knowledge gained to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers Session Track: Advocacy & Outreach Specialized Focus Area: Women in Government and Military Learning Level: Foundational Session Format: Listen & Learn Speaker Qualifications: 1. Deboshri Sadhukhan • Current Job Title: Deputy Project Manager • Topic Experience (years of experience related to proposed topic): 1-5 years • Biography: Deboshri Sadhukhan is an engineer for NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). She has worked on numerous projects — from International Space Station (ISS) fluid technologies, to Orion European Service Module propulsion, to planetary science missions and other game-changing technologies. Her roles have ranged from Project Manager to System Safety Lead. She currently serves as a GRC Regional Mentor for the High school students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) program. She also serves as Deputy Project Manager for an ISS payload and Safety & Mission Assurance Lead for a Radioisotope Power Systems project. In these roles, she oversees each phase of a project from beginning to end and provides leadership to increase the reliability, maintainability and system safety of hardware and personnel throughout the system life cycle. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The University of Akron. 2. Nancy Hall • Current Job Title: Project Manager • Topic Experience: 20+ years • Biography: Nancy Rabel Hall earned a B.S. degree in Space Sciences from Florida Institute of Technology and a M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo. She has been at NASA Glenn for over 30 years. She has led several International Space Station experiments that studied how the behavior of fluids and fluid systems behave differently in microgravity as compared to here on Earth. She is also the High school students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) project manager, a program that allows students to design and fabricate hardware and softgoods for NASA as well as participate in a culinary and video challenge. She enjoys talking to the public and students about the work being done at NASA as well as showing students how math and science can be fun. She is an amateur radio operator, enjoys playing golf, and reading science fiction and fantasy books.

HUNCH↗
NASA NTRS2024

San Joaquin Valley Health & Air Quality II: Assessing Urban Heat Island Distribution and its Intersections with Air Quality to Understand Converging Vulnerabilities

The city of Stockton, California, located within the San Joaquin Valley (SJV), is a major hub for agricultural production and has endured the continuous threat to community health from nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and increasing temperatures. The convergence of these issues occurs within historically segregated communities that are disproportionately facing health risks related to heat and air quality. Little Manila Rising (LMR), a social and environmental justice (EJ) advocacy non-profit, partnered with NASA DEVELOP for a second term project to evaluate county wide urban heat islands, sociodemographic vulnerability, landcover classification, and the convergence of these variables. We utilized Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) data to produce a land surface temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index map. They added Centers for Disease Control (CDC) socioeconomic data from 2020 to identify which communities in Stockton were more susceptible to these environmental factors. Additionally, we used NAIP imagery to create a landcover map differentiating developed infrastructure from tree canopy cover. We discovered that south Stockton, where LMR resides, had the worst convergence of heat, air pollution, low canopy coverage and sociodemographic vulnerability compared to northern and rural parts of the city. This was further substantiated by statistical analysis showing a strong positive relationship between areas of high LST and low vegetation. The results provided LMR with compelling evidence to use in their EJ advocacy, and in their efforts to inform state officials of the discriminatory issues they face.

Urban Heat Islands↗
DOE OSTI2024

Sentiment analysis of the United States public support of nuclear power on social media using large language models

This study utilized large language models (LLMs) to analyze public sentiment in the United States (US) regarding nuclear power on social media, focusing on X/Twitter, considering climate change challenges and advancements in nuclear power technology. Approximately, 1.26 million nuclear tweets from 2008–2023 were examined to fine-tune LLMs for sentiment classification. We found the crucial role of accurate data labeling for model performance, with potential implications for a 15% improvement, achieved through high-confidence labels. LLMs demonstrated better performance compared to traditional machine learning classifiers, with reduced susceptibility to overfitting and up to 96% classification accuracy. LLMs are used to segment the US public tweets into policy and energy-related categories, revealing that 68% are politically themed. Policy tweets tended to convey negative sentiment, often reflecting opposing political perspectives and focusing on nuclear deals and international relations. Energy-related tweets covered diverse topics with predominantly neutral to positive sentiment, indicating broad support for nuclear power in 48 out of 50 US states. The US public positive sentiments toward nuclear power stemmed from its high power density, reliability regardless of weather conditions, environmental benefits, application versatility, and recent innovations and advancements in both fission and fusion technologies. Negative sentiments primarily focused on waste management, high capital costs, and safety concerns. The neutral campaign highlighted global nuclear facts and advancements, with varying tones leaning towards positivity or negativity. An interesting neutral theme was the advocacy for the combined use of renewable and nuclear energy to attain net-zero goals.

Energy & Fuels↗
DOE OSTI2022

Careers in STEM: A Latina Perspective

Three Latina computing professionals at a large national laboratory reflect on the circumstances affecting the low representation of this segment of the population in STEM fields, and computing in particular. Here, the authors share highlights of their path to STEM careers and some of the efforts they are involved in for broadening participation in computing. They consider the roles of minority serving institutions, representation and mentoring, and advocacy.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2022

The fast neutron source at UTK: a project with Massimo Salvatores

This article is dedicated to the memory of Massimo Salvatores and offers an overview of the history of the design of the Fast Neutron Source (FNS) flexible experiment system at the University of Tennessee. Our collaboration with Massimo set much of the over-arching design goals and inspired the concept that we have today. The decision to design the FNS as a subcritical assembly rather than a critical one stems back to discussions with Massimo Salvatores and his advocacy for subcritical Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) which coincides with lower licensing time, costs and greater safety for a university-operated nuclear experimental facility. The second contribution of Massimo to the design concept of the FNS was the direct instruction to design the FNS as an extremely flexible facility. This article provides an update on the current design concept and discusses the future innovations in design optimization of flexible, re-configurable nuclear experiments.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Women in Environmental Science

Despite the prominent role that women have traditionally played in environmental activism and initiatives to promote environmental justice, women’s representation in most environmental science fields remains low. The first environmental laws in the U.S., established in the 60’s and 70’s, were propelled by movements evolved out of male dominated scientific professions, mainly engineering. To this day, environmental fields are still perceived as not open to women. Yet the field being so broad, it offers many opportunities for women scientists to contribute to the advancement of science and technology needed to address the most pressing environmental issues. To this end, the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechonology organized a session at its 2019 General Meeting entitled Women in Environmental Science that showcased the work of women leading efforts in environmental fields. The session was convened by Dr. Gemma Reguera (Michigan State University) and Dr. Arpita Bose (Washington University in St. Louis) and included 4 additional speakers whose work spans basic and applied environmental research yet impacts discovery-driven science, technology development, science policy and communication, in addition to environmental advocacy and stewardship. The talks highlighted the career path of women-led teams whose research and professional activities are contributing to the development of “biobased solutions to DOE mission challenges in energy and environment”.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Innovations in Building Energy Modeling: Research and Development Opportunities for Emerging Technologies

Building energy modeling (BEM) is a multipurpose tool for building energy efficiency (EE). The U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office (BTO) seeks to expand the use and effectiveness of BEM in the design and operation of commercial and residential buildings with the goal of achieving lasting reductions in total and peak energy use. This report identifies gaps and outlines recommended initiatives to achieve this goal, based on a combination of technical analysis and stakeholder input. In addition to BTO, this report can benefit BEM professionals (architects, mechanical engineers, energy consultants, building auditors, equipment manufacturers, and BEM software vendors) and BEM clients (building owners and operators, EE program administrators, EE service providers, policymakers, and policy and code jurisdictions such as states and cities). This report was developed in two phases. In the first, BTO worked with a team from Navigant Consulting (now Guidehouse) to characterize objectives, opportunities, and current activities; identify gaps and barriers; and define initiatives. To collect input, Navigant conducted telephone interviews and workshops with industry experts. The initial phase produced a draft report, which was released for public review in 2016 and yielded over 400 comments. Based on these comments, BTO compiled a second draft report that addressed many of those comments while acknowledging changes that had occurred both at BTO and in the industry. Unlike the first draft report, the second focused much more heavily on BTO’s own role, portfolio, and activities. BTO is a direct player in the BEM field - it funds the development of several significant software packages that are embedded in commercial products - and transparency about its goals and future plans is requisite. BTO recognizes that a great number of other public and private organizations contribute to the BEM enterprise. With the second draft report, BTO did not attempt to produce a blueprint for the industry as a whole, but rather a working document BTO can use to iteratively solicit stakeholder input and synthesize it into a program. BTO released the second draft report for public review in 2019. The second round of review generated 83 pages of feedback and comments - almost exactly the length of the draft report itself - a significant portion of which was collected and synthesized by IBPSA-USA Advocacy Committee. This final report incorporates this feedback. This report does not address the use of BEM in support of building-based grid services, a recent BTO initiative called Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB). In 2019, BTO published a report that specifically addresses the role of BEM - and other “integration” technologies - in GEB.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

The security implications of global climate change. Workshop summary

The Center for Global Security Research (CGSR) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) hosted a workshop titled, “The Security Implications of Global Climate Change” on January 5-7, 2021, convened virtually due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. The workshop included participants from scientific/technical, defense, diplomacy, advocacy, and academic communities in the United States as well as from U.S. allies.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Geothermal Entrepreneurship Organization (GEO) Accelerating Technology Transfer, Testing and Adoption of Cutting-edge Extreme Environment Drilling

The Geothermal Entrepreneurship Organization launched in 2019 with the goal of building a geothermal innovation ecosystem at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), and in the State of Texas at large. The theses underlying the work of GEO were 1) that with targeted advocacy, recruitment, organization, and coalition building, research institutions with legacy excellence in petroleum and geosystems engineering could become engines of geothermal innovation, research and development; 2) that startups were the appropriate vehicle to speed these innovations from the lab into the field, and building a geothermal startup ecosystem in Texas would not only advance next generation geothermal concepts into the field, but also help spur oil and gas engagement in the space, and 3) that with targeted engagement, education, and recruitment across stakeholders in the oil and gas industry and the State of Texas generally, the oil and gas industry, and other legacy oil and gas entities in the State could become sources of large scale deployment of geothermal energy. The overall goal was to create a ‘snowball’ effect, where targeted impactful actions would catalyze self-sustaining, organic growth of a new geothermal ecosystem in the State of Texas. That goal was achieved through GEO’s work. To test its theses, GEO began work by interviewing and recruiting UT Austin faculty and alumni into geothermal. At the beginning of the GEO project, there was no geothermal activity ongoing within the UT Austin Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering Department, the Bureau of Economic Geology, or the Jackson School of Geoscience, and many faculty approached had not before considered how their skillsets might apply in the space. By the end of the project period, three major research consortia focused on geothermal were launched as a result of GEO’s work, one at the Bureau of Economic Geology, one within the Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering Department, and another organized by GEO across six research institutions across the State of Texas, called the Texas Geothermal Institute. Geothermal curricula was launched at UT Austin, and UT Austin began attracting new geothermal enthusiasts into its faculty, including Dr. Silviu Livescu, former Chief Scientist of Baker Hughes. Startups recruited and mentored by GEO launched, raised funding, and deployed (or are currently deploying) their concepts in the field. By the end of the project period, the GEO concept expanded to faculty beyond UT Austin to other institutions, like Texas A&M, the University of Houston, and Rice University, and geothermal engagement began at those institutions as well. Multiple faculty members and alumni across these institutions launched geothermal startup companies, launched geothermal research consortia, and/or began teaching geothermal courses. In 2020, GEO launched what was to become the largest geothermal conference in the world by its second year, ‘PIVOT – From Hydrocarbons to Heat’, and the resulting momentum catalyzed the Society of Petroleum Engineers to launch a geothermal technical section, drove more startups to launch out of the ecosystem, and drove actors in the State of Texas, NGOs, and stakeholders globally to become engaged. Riding this momentum, the Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance was launched, the first ever industry association dedicated to advancing geothermal energy in the State of Texas. The Texas geothermal ecosystem after only two years of building and support is now robust, quickly growing, and self-sustaining. By 2021, the Texas geothermal ecosystem had attracted the attention of philanthropists, funding entities, media, and influencers outside of Texas, and GEO’s executive director was invited to give a TED talk about oil and gas engagement in building the future of geothermal energy, which elevated the success of the ecosystem to a global audience.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Can the United States Maintain Its Leadership in High-Performance Computing? - A report from the ASCAC Subcommittee on American Competitiveness and Innovation to the ASCR Office

The United States (U.S.) is no longer the unambiguous leader in the vitally important field of high performance computing (HPC). Japan, the European Union (EU), and China have fielded systems that are on par with our fastest supercomputers. The supply chain for everything from semiconductors to scientific software is globally distributed. Yet our economic future and security depend critically on our ability to innovate faster than our competitors, and the speed of innovation depends increasingly on large-scale computational science and engineering and thus HPC. How should the United States respond to this challenge? This report seeks to initiate a new and potentially transformative national discussion on this vital question. The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program is well-positioned to make informed, targeted decisions about where the United States should cooperate and where it should compete in the global market for scientific exploration and discovery. By setting its sights on problems critical to our nation and the world, by establishing productive new collaborations, and by making strategic investments, ASCR can restore and maintain U.S. scientific leadership in the critical areas described in this report while strengthening our research infrastructure and training a large, diverse cohort of scientists. In doing so, ASCR and its scientists will pave the way for a secure and prosperous future for America. For more than 30 years, the ASCR program has provided the HPC and networking capabilities and expertise needed to support DOE’s mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States. The program now faces the challenge of developing and deploying the next generation of HPC systems and technologies, as well as supporting the application of HPC and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to a wide range of scientific and engineering research problems. Through its research and development efforts, the ASCR program must also advance the state of the art in HPC and accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and technological innovation. Fulfilling this promise will require significantly increased investments, as well as innovative policies and programs. This subcommittee is aware that we are making recommendations and calls for action at a time when federal resources are limited. We understand that a wide range of competing priorities must be balanced by the nation’s leaders and that there is a need to leverage resources in new ways and seek efficiencies in facilities and operations. However, we must not let these realities limit our imagination or silence our advocacy. The ASCR program is a key part of the U.S. research infrastructure and an important component of economic growth and U.S. competitiveness. ASCR has a responsibility to pursue its mission, including advanced scientific computing, applications of AI technologies, and the required advanced research facilities, with determination and enthusiasm. To fulfill the scientific enterprise’s responsibility to the nation, the ASCR program must not only develop and publish a clear vision with an associated list of goals, priorities, and recommendations but also demonstrate scientific leadership by consistently securing long-term funding. This will allow the program to build on its achievements to date, to realize its ambitious vision, and to make lasting contributions to the field.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Artificial Intelligence for Natural Gas Utilities: A Primer

Modern natural gas utilities face numerous challenges and competing priorities from various stakeholders. Policymakers, customers, and advocacy groups want to see gas utilities improve performance on safety, reliability, resilience, affordability, and environmental stewardship. State utility regulators — public utility commissions — are responsible for overseeing utility performance, ensuring that ratepayer funds are being spent in the public interest, and aligning utility goals with public goals. The use of new technologies is critical to enabling cost-effective performance on these attributes. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a widely used term among utilities and regulators, but the term means different things to different stakeholders, and it is often used to describe data analytics approaches that fall short of the formal definition of AI, which is: “…the ability of a machine to receive inputs and produce a behavior or reaction similar to that of an intelligent human being.” AI (and related tools, techniques, and technologies) can help utilities solve current and emerging challenges. By combining customer and system data with analytical tools and technologies, AI can augment human decision-makers by assisting in identifying problems and events before they occur, enabling resources to be more efficiently directed across utility infrastructure. The intended primary audience for this primer is state regulators, although utilities and other stakeholders might also find it useful and relevant to improve their awareness of AI. The objectives of this primer are to: (a) offer a set of broadly applicable definitions for AI and related terms, allowing regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders to speak the same language; (b) discuss how AI is currently being implemented in the gas utility sector; and (c) understand the challenges affecting AI solutions and how tools might be implemented in the future. This primer fits within NARUC’s goals of providing impartial information to improve the ability of public utility commissions to regulate in the public interest. As such, this primer does not seek to recommend AI over any other investment, nor does it endorse any particular vendor, product, or approach. It does seek to prepare state regulators to oversee AI investments by sharing information about the current landscape of commercially available tools. To these ends, the primer is organized as follows: Section I discusses the current environment in which natural gas utilities operate and how AI, when thoughtfully designed and implemented, can enable utilities to achieve performance goals; Section II offers definitions of AI and related terms within the data analytics discipline; Section III provides three current opportunities for which AI can offer solutions: replacing aging gas distribution infrastructure, preventing excavator damage to gas distribution infrastructure, and improving energy efficiency programs. This section discusses each problem statement in detail. Second, Section III includes a discussion of how costs and benefits of investments to solve each problem are measured. And third, this section offers real-world examples of utility implementation of AI solutions; Section IV discusses challenges with implementing AI, both from the perspective of utilities and regulators; Section V suggests areas in which AI could feasibly be implemented in the near future; Finally, Section VI offers concluding thoughts and areas for further research.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Safer Foundation Solar Demands Skill Collaborative

The milestones and accomplishments achieved in Safer’s Solar Demands Skill Training program required a collective effort of stakeholders. The ability to achieve the desired results and impact lives of the population we serve works best when collaborating with community stakeholders such as community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, community activists, local law enforcement, community residents, employers, and elected and appointed officials. We are working harder than ever to place clients in-demand careers and high-growth industry sectors. Our employer engagement with high growth sectors continues to increase, we have been able to deepen our relationships in this space by providing in demand stackable credential training. Launched our initiative in the green job space by partnering with organizations like ComEd, the Department of Energy, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and manufacturers that helped to train clients in the green jobs and renewable energy space. By the end of the year, we will have completed our tenth cohort of photovoltaic solar installation training. The training has been used as a foundation for solar panel installers to acquire new skills in in the green jobs career pathways, such as sales and customer service. It has also served as a pipeline to union-level trade positions through the skills participants obtained through partnership engagement. Safer Foundation's policy and advocacy team plays a major role in expanding opportunities for people with records to over one hundred occupations, including the trades. This reform has allowed many to secure living wage employment, reducing the high recidivism rate within Illinois. Safer continues to build our social enterprise with Reconstructive Technology Partners (RTP). RTP is introducing people with records to the construction trades such as solar, carpentry and electrical through residential remodeling of homes on smaller construction projects. Understanding the need to have a greater community presence, outreach was extended to a boots on the ground model, including, but not limited to door-to-door engagement, DE-EE0008571 Safer Foundation Page 4 of 29 local radio broadcasting and print ads in local newspapers. We continue to seek innovative ways to increase Safer Foundations' presence in the renewable energy space. Outreach efforts gave us an opportunity to share critical reentry information and opportunities about our PV installer program. Giving us reach with local and national audiences alike. We launched a systematic approach to improving client data and client tracking through an evidence-based practices initiative. That implemented an agency wide cross-functional data management system. The system supported our goal of reviewing, evaluating, and making recommendations to improve operational processes, program delivery, information sharing, and more. Played a significant part in the success of the solar program. Finally, economists around the nation agree that there is a significant labor shortage. The shortage directly threatens our ability to sustain our economic growth; if employers do not have access to the workers they need, it can lead to a shutdown in the economic recovery. The demand for Safer Foundation services is more important and impactful than ever. We will continue to build upon our 50 years of experience to address the challenges ahead and serve more people in a better way. We are confident we will accomplish beautiful things that benefit everyone involved because together, we are powerful.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Capacity Density Considerations for Offshore Wind Plants in the United States

The United States is a rapidly emerging market for offshore wind energy, with a project pipeline estimated at over 52 GW as of May 31, 2023 (Musial et al. 2023). The capacity density, measured in megawatts per square kilometer (MW/km 2 ), is a crucial parameter for estimating the magnitude of the development pipeline and the nameplate potential of existing lease areas. The offshore wind energy industry is comprised of diversity of participants, including developers, governmental bodies, investors, environmental advocacy groups, and researchers. These various stakeholders use capacity density in different ways as a key metric for evaluating the potential of individual offshore wind lease area or even a section of ocean space. This report presents our assessment of capacity density values in the current pipeline of emerging U.S. offshore wind farms and a detailed list of the main factors that influence capacity density. This understanding is critical for planning of future lease areas, for estimating the technical resource potential for offshore wind on the U.S. outer continental shelf (OCS), and for estimating ocean space requirements needed for meeting state and national goals for a carbon neutral energy transition.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

CMIP7 data request: land and land ice priorities and opportunities

The Land and Land Ice Theme in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 7 (CMIP7) represents the current understanding of physical processes in land surface ecosystems, hydrology, cryosphere, and their physical interactions with other Earth system components. Simulations from Earth system models (ESMs) could provide crucial information for assessing planetary safety, such as critical tipping elements, and be used to inform climate risks for improving climate impact assessments and policy decisions. This paper presents a collaborative effort to identify scientific opportunities in the Land and Land Ice Theme of the CMIP7 Data Request. The proposed opportunities build upon advances in ESMs, including new freshwater system and land ice processes being included in CMIP7, as well as the scientific community's demand for high-frequency and sub-grid-scale land surface outputs. In total, 25 variable groups that contain 716 variables have been identified to be potentially available to the broad scientific audience for performing analysis in land–atmosphere coupling, hydrological processes and freshwater systems, glacier and ice sheet mass balance and their influence on the sea levels, land use, and plant phenology. Key reflections from this data request effort include advocacy for closer engagement between the user community and modeling groups, reduction in the technical barriers to tracking existing parameters and defining new variables, and more streamlined variable management. These will be essential to enhance the usability and reliability of CMIP7 outputs for climate and Earth system research and applications to a broad audience that relies on the CMIP7 endeavor.

Li, Yue [Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (Uni↗
DOE OSTI2026

Mapping the Gap: Analysis of Nuclear Cybersecurity Education in U.S. Universities

The U.S. nuclear sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by the expansion of advanced reactors, digital modernization of legacy systems, and increasing interest in nuclear energy to meet AI-fueled energy demands. However, the cybersecurity talent pipeline is not keeping pace with this growth. This paper investigates the significant gap in nuclear cybersecurity education and proposes scalable strategies for colleges to address this critical need by promoting it as a viable and essential career path. Through a multi-institutional landscape analysis of 16 cybersecurity and 12 nuclear engineering programs, we found that nuclear cybersecurity is largely absent from university curricula. Most students are unaware of the field’s existence, and few institutions offer hands-on training or interdisciplinary exposure. This lack of awareness leads to a shortage of specialized talent, forcing nuclear facilities to retrain generalist hires or rely on costly external consultants. We present a framework for early pipeline cultivation grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory and workforce development principles. Proposed solutions include student-led clubs, guest lectures, modular classroom kits, and summer boot camps. By increasing visibility and access to nuclear cyber content, we aim to break the self-reinforcing cycle of low awareness and limited specialization. This work underscores the critical role of education and advocacy in cultivating early interest and guiding students toward this emerging field. We call on academic institutions, national laboratories, and industry stakeholders to collaborate in establishing nuclear cybersecurity as a distinct and accessible career path within the broader cybersecurity and nuclear engineering ecosystems.

99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
NASA NTRS1986

Conceptual definition of a technology development mission for advanced solar dynamic power systems

An initial conceptual definition of a technology development mission for advanced solar dynamic power systems is provided, utilizing a space station to provide a dedicated test facility. The advanced power systems considered included Brayton, Stirling, and liquid metal Rankine systems operating in the temperature range of 1040 to 1400 K. The critical technologies for advanced systems were identified by reviewing the current state of the art of solar dynamic power systems. The experimental requirements were determined by planning a system test of a 20 kWe solar dynamic power system on the space station test facility. These requirements were documented via the Mission Requirements Working Group (MRWG) and Technology Development Advocacy Group (TDAG) forms. Various concepts or considerations of advanced concepts are discussed. A preliminary evolutionary plan for this technology development mission was prepared.

Migra, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Magnetic suspension - Today's marvel, tomorrow's tool

NASA's Langley facility has through constant advocacy of magnetic suspension systems (MSSs) for wind-tunnel model positioning obtained a technology-development status for the requisite large magnets, computers, automatic control techniques, and apparatus configurations, to contemplate the construction of MSSs for large wind tunnels. Attention is presently given to the prospects for MSSs in wind tunnels employing superfluid helium atmospheres to obtain very high Reynolds numbers, where the MSS can yield substantial enhancements of wind tunnel productivity.

Lawing, Pierce L.↗