Nuclear power is often described as essential for climate goals, grid reliability, and energy security.

But here’s the real question:

Can we actually build it safely, on time, and on budget?

In this episode of Naked Nuclear, Danielle Allen sits down with Ahmet Tokpinar, Principal Vice President and General Manager of Nuclear Power at Bechtel, to unpack the boots-on-the-ground reality of building nuclear power plants in today’s world.

From geotechnical investigations and contractor qualification to long-lead supply chains and workforce development, this conversation moves beyond theory and into execution, exploring what it actually takes to deliver nuclear infrastructure at scale.

What We Cover

• What really happens before construction begins on a nuclear plant
• Why nuclear construction is fundamentally different from other mega-projects
• How contractors and subcontractors become “nuclear-qualified”
• The role of supply chains and long-lead equipment in schedule success
• Lessons learned from Vogtle Units 3 & 4
• What it means to build a first-of-a-kind plant in Poland
• How advanced reactors like Natrium change construction (and what stays the same) 

About our Guest

Ahmet Tokpinar is Principal Vice President and General Manager of Nuclear Power at Bechtel.

He leads Bechtel’s global nuclear portfolio, spanning large reactors, advanced reactors, operating plant modifications, and fuel cycle work.

With more than 30 years of experience in nuclear project execution and business strategy, Ahmet has played a leadership role in major projects including Vogtle 3 & 4, Poland’s nuclear deployment, and the Natrium advanced reactor.

About the Season

This episode is part of Season 3: How to Build a Nuclear Power Plant, a deep dive into the companies, people, and systems required to move nuclear from blueprint to grid.

Further Reading: 

https://www.bechtel.com/markets/nuclear-power/

https://www.bechtel.com/projects/vogtle-units-3-and-4/

https://www.bechtel.com/projects/poland-ap1000-nuclear-power-plant/

https://www.bechtel.com/projects/natrium-demonstration-project/

What happens when a nuclear engineering PhD student realizes that the book she needed as a child… doesn’t exist?

She writes it.

In this episode of Naked Nuclear, Danielle sits down with Zola Hind, Jamaican-born computer scientist turned nuclear engineering researcher at Bangor University — and author of Island Energy Superhero: A Kids’ Guide to Energies in the Caribbean.

From visualizing nuclear fuel behavior using astronomy-inspired methods… to printing her book in braille for visually impaired students… Zola is building an energy-literate Caribbean one classroom at a time.

This conversation explores:

• Why representation matters in energy education
• How nuclear engineering “chose” her
• What it means to fail forward in a PhD program
• The role of clean energy in Caribbean climate resilience

Whether you’re a student, parent, educator, policymaker, or just energy-curious , this episode will leave you thinking differently about who gets to be part of the energy transition.

 Get the Book

Island Energy Superhero: A Kids’ Guide to Energies in the Caribbean

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Island-Energy-Superhero-Energies-Caribbean/dp/1998245098

Official Website:
https://islandenergybook.my.canva.site/#home

The book is also available in select Jamaican bookstores and at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

About Zola Hind

Zola Hind is a PhD researcher in nuclear engineering at Bangor University with a background in computer science and data visualization. Her research focuses on novel methods for modeling and visualizing nuclear fuel behavior.

She is passionate about:

• Energy literacy
• Climate resilience in the Caribbean
• Accessibility and inclusion in STEM
• Making complex science understandable for everyone

In this episode, Danielle talks with Uchenna Ezibe about how the American Nuclear Society is shaping the future of nuclear education—starting as early as kindergarten. They dive into ANS’s hands-on programs like cloud chambers, educator training, and the new Accelerators initiative for high schoolers.

Learn how early exposure to nuclear concepts can spark student curiosity, close the literacy gap, and help build the next generation of clean energy professionals.

Highlights:

Why nuclear literacy shouldn’t wait until college

What it’s like to “see” radiation with a cloud chamber

How ANS is training both teachers and student leaders

Behind the scenes of the Accelerators program

What a near-peer mentorship network looks like in action

Mentioned Resources:

ANS K-12 hub: https://www.ans.org/nuclear

Navigating Nuclear curriculum: https://www.ans.org/nuclear/navigatingnuclear

Cloud Chamber program: https://www.ans.org/nuclear/cloudchamber

Accelerators (high school): https://www.ans.org/nuclear/accelerators

Educator resources: https://www.ans.org/nuclear/educatorresources

Volunteer as a nuclear ambassador: https://www.ans.org/nuclear/ambassadors

Contact Uchenna: [email protected]

Connect with Us:

Website: https://www.nakednuclear.com

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-allen

In this crossover episode between Naked Nuclear and Nuclearn’s The Future of Nuclear, we bring together two teams with different backgrounds but a shared philosophy: curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to try.

Danielle comes from the world of storytelling and education; Phil comes from the world of digital nuclear operations and AI.

One explores the industry through conversations and community, the other builds tools to help the industry work smarter. Together, they compare notes on culture, creativity, learning curves, and the very real value of taking the first step even when you don’t have all the answers.

This episode is about nuclear — yes. But it’s also about the people building it, the mindset behind innovation, and why trying (and sometimes failing) is one of the most underrated skills in our field.

Learn more about Nuclearn:

Nuclearn.ai

Listen to 'The Future of Nuclear' Podcast here:

https://nuclearn.ai/1569-2/

What exactly is plasma, and why are some of the world’s brightest minds betting on fusion energy to power our future?

In this episode of Naked Nuclear, host Danielle sits down with Dr. Arturo Dominguez — Head of Science Education at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) — to break it all down in plain language.

From his own journey into plasma physics to PPPL’s groundbreaking research, Dr. Dominguez shares how fusion works, why it matters, and how students everywhere can get involved.

We dive into PPPL’s free Introduction to Fusion and Plasma Physics course — a beginner-friendly, online class designed to make complex science accessible for anyone curious about the future of energy. Whether you're a college student, a career switcher, or just fusion-curious, this episode will give you a clear view into the fascinating world of plasma, research at Princeton, and how fusion could become a key player in the clean energy race.

Check out more Resources:

Intro to Fusion & Plasma Physics Course:

https://www.pppl.gov/events/2023/introduction-fusion-energy-and-plasma-physics-course

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI): https://www.pppl.gov/science-undergraduate-laboratory-internships-suli

Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL): https://www.pppl.gov More about Dr. Arturo Dominguez: https://www.pppl.gov/people/arturo-dominguez

What happens when you unleash more power than every power plant on Earth — for just a few billionths of a second?

Welcome to After-Pop! — today, we’re diving into the Z Machine, the crown jewel of Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It’s the most powerful pulsed-power facility on the planet, capable of creating the same temperatures and pressures found inside stars, nuclear detonations, and planetary cores.

In this episode, we’ll break down:

• Why the Z Machine was built — and how it keeps our nuclear stockpile safe without detonations.
• How the Z-pinch and “pulsed power” concept work — explained in plain English with real-world analogies.
• How researchers are using it to advance fusion energy, the same reaction that powers the Sun.
• Just how powerful 80 terawatts really is — and why shockwaves from each test can be felt miles away.
• What these micro-bursts of power teach us about the future of clean energy, defense, and physics at the edge of what’s possible.

For a few nanoseconds, the Z Machine outshines the entire human race’s power output — a lightning strike made by human hands.

Wanna READ MORE?

• Sandia’s official Z machine page (overview, how it works, research)
  https://www.sandia.gov/z-machine/

• Sandia’s fusion research page
  https://www.sandia.gov/z-machine/fusion/

• Sandia’s energy research page
  https://www.sandia.gov/z-machine/research/energy/

• The video you mentioned (Inside the Most Powerful X-Ray Source in the World)
  https://www.asminternational.org/news/videos/-/journal_content/56/10192/43932389/VIDEO/

• World Nuclear News article on First Light test on Z
  https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/first-light-fusion-hails-success-of-initial-test-i

• Atlas Obscura page for general background & visual color
  https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-z-machine-albuquerque-new-mexico

In this Student Spotlight, we trace how childhood curiosity—sparked by Nikola Tesla and MythBusters—led Ryan Zerpa from building a Tesla coil in grade school to pursuing fusion research.

Ryan shares how he reframed a mostly-fission undergrad at Purdue Nuclear Engineering into a launchpad for fusion, what he learned working around pulsed-power experiments like Sandia’s Z Machine, and how Division I swimming forged the time-management and grit research demands.

We unpack his plain-language way of explaining fusion (from “why energy transition” to “how plasmas are tamed with lasers and magnets”), then close with his next step: a PhD in high-energy-density physics at the University of Rochester (LLE)—and his advice for students to ask relentlessly and feed their curiosity.

What you’ll learn

• Why Tesla, fields, and hands-on tinkering pulled Ryan toward electromagnetism and fusion

• How to turn a fission-heavy curriculum into fusion-useful skills (transport theory, fluids → plasmas)

• What pulsed-power/HEDP experiments aim to do and why nanosecond timing matters

• The student-athlete toolkit for research: discipline, recovery, and focused practice

• A simple, audience-friendly way to explain fusion—and why storytelling in science matters

• Practical advice for aspiring students: persistence beats perfection

  
  

  • Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) — overview of the national lab and mission:
    https://www.sandia.gov/ Sandia National Laboratories

  • Z Pulsed Power Facility (“Z Machine”) — Sandia’s pulsed-power/HEDP platform:
    https://www.sandia.gov/z-machine/  | About Z: https://www.sandia.gov/z-machine/about-z/ Sandia National Laboratories+1

  • Purdue University — Nuclear Engineering — program home:
    https://engineering.purdue.edu/NE Purdue Engineering

  • Ryan’s PhD site — University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE)
    https://www.lle.rochester.edu/homepage/

What does it mean to be the #1 nuclear engineering program in the country?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Todd Allen, department chair of the University of Michigan’s Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences (NERS) program, to explore the history, mission, and future of a department that blends technical excellence with human-centered education. From submarines to art tunnels, this conversation offers a 360° look at what makes Michigan a true nuclear powerhouse.

We cover:

• How a student-led movement after WWII became the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project

• How Michigan is preparing students for advanced nuclear innovation

• The creation of a living memorial through art and engineering

• Undergraduate and graduate experiences in one of the world’s most well-funded and research-rich departments

• The Harper All Stars and how mentorship and scholarships are shaping the next generation

• The OECD Global Forum on Nuclear Energy Science, Technology & Policy, hosted at Michigan this fall

• 🔬 Michigan NERS Main Page
  https://ners.engin.umich.edu

• 🕊️ History of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project
  https://ners.engin.umich.edu/academics/harperacademy/
  https://www.charlesharpercharities.org/harper-academy-4-future-nuclear-engineers

• 🎨 Phoenix-Themed Tunnel Art Installation
  https://news.engin.umich.edu/2023/08/a-nuclear-engineering-education-inspired-by-art

• 🧑‍🎓 Harper Academy All Stars (Charles Harper Charities)
  https://ners.engin.umich.edu/2024/09/16/harper-academy-all-stars-support-ners-research
  https://www.charlesharpercharities.org/harper-academy-4-future-nuclear-engineers

• 🌍 OECD Global Forum on Nuclear Energy Science, Technology & Policy – Hosted at U-M
  https://ners.engin.umich.edu/2024/07/01/u-m-to-host-oecd-nea-global-forum-on-nuclear-energy

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help us amplify the future of nuclear energy.

Follow Naked Nuclear  for more episodes that strip away the jargon and dive deep into the people, programs, and power behind nuclear science.

Ever wonder how tiny particles can power whole cities? In this After-Pop! we follow our previous episode with Ikhwan Khaleb and dive into the world of reactor physics — the science behind nuclear chain reactions, neutrons, and keeping everything safe and steady.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What reactor physics actually means (and why it matters).

• The “life cycle” of a neutron, from birth to absorption.

• How scientists keep reactors balanced using criticality.

• What students study in reactor physics classes.

Wanna learn more about reactor physics straight from the (peer-reviewed) source?

Checkout these guides:  

1. Stacey, W. M. (2018). Nuclear Reactor Physics (3rd ed.). Wiley-VCH.

   • Comprehensive textbook covering neutron life cycles, chain reactions, and reactor kinetics.

2. Lamarsh, J. R., & Baratta, A. J. (2017). Introduction to Nuclear Engineering (4th ed.). Pearson.

   • Widely used undergraduate text explaining the fundamentals of reactor physics in accessible language.

3. Duderstadt, J. J., & Hamilton, L. J. (1976). Nuclear Reactor Analysis. Wiley.

   • Classic reference on neutron transport, diffusion theory, and criticality.

4. American Nuclear Society (ANS). (2021). Nuclear Science and Technology Basics.

   • Introductory resource created by professional nuclear engineers.
     https://www.ans.org/nuclear-basics/

5. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). (2022). Reactor Concepts Manual: Nuclear Physics Fundamentals.

   • A regulatory training document explaining fission, chain reactions, and control systems.
     https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/students.html

Ikhwan Khaleb tells the story of moving from Malaysia to study in the University of Michigan’s NERS program, learning reactor physics in a second language, and turning TikTok into a platform for clear, visual nuclear education. We cover UMich coursework and labs, cultural adaptation, the grind of an international job search, and how engineering work at Holtec fuels his social media explainers.

Links & Resources

• University of Michigan — Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences (NERS) — department homepage (program overview, news, people). ners.engin.umich.edu

• NERS Graduate Admissions & Applying to the Program (application materials, contact info for Grad Admissions). ners.engin.umich.edu

• NERS Labs & Research Groups (list of labs, facilities, and the Nuclear Power Simulation Lab / Ford Reactor VR resources). ners.engin.umich.edu

• NERS Graduate Program overview (MSE & PhD program descriptions and program expectations).