16: Why Nuclear Materials Science Can Expedite Our Path Towards a Cleaner Society (feat. Dr. Liz Kautz)

<p>In politics, warfare, and the environment, nuclear materials generate great impact in our lives. The public fears nuclear technology, but nuclear energy is one of the most reliable sources of clean power, and it will lead the transition towards the sustainable energy future of humankind.</p> <p> </p> <p>Today’s guest is Dr. Liz Kautz, a Materials Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. In this episode, Dr. Kautz guides us through the fundamentals of nuclear energy, the materials that make it happen, how to manage nuclear waste and much more!</p> <p> </p> <p>In this conversation, we discuss the following topics:</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">What are nuclear materials? (1:02)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The purpose of cladding materials in nuclear reactors (2:51)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Fusion and fission nuclear reactions (5:21)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">What makes an alloy a Nuclear alloy? (9:12)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The bad reputation of nuclear power (11:39)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Why are Uranium fuels special? (16:00)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The impact of nuclear on society (24:00)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The future of nuclear reactors (29:05)</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Reach out to Dr. Liz Kautz: </p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-kautz-69992214</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Join our <a href='https://discord.gg/49dCV3W4eN'>Discord community</a>! You can meet other passionate materials scientists and engineers from around the world, discuss the latest breakthroughs in MSE, share materials-related memes, and get career advice from experts in the field.</p> <p> </p> <p>For shorter segments and full video podcasts, subscribe to our channel on <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpUXt6ui8iC5npSizlfIJ2A'>YouTube</a>. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on <a href='https://www.instagram.com/itsamaterialworldpodcast/'>Instagram</a