The Intermountain West is at the center of a nuclear renaissance as Utah, Idaho and Wyoming quickly expand nuclear energy. But there’s a growing concern—the U.S. may not have the workers to support the growth, especially in radiation safety, known as health physics.
At the 2026 John Horan Health Physics Symposium on April 10, national experts, researchers and state and federal leaders gathered at the University of Utah to examine the changing nuclear landscape and the strain on the radiation safety workforce.
“Nuclear energy in the U.S. has an excellent safety record with over 60 years of operational experience. This is in no small part due a workforce of dedicated and highly trained radiation safety professionals. These individuals devote their careers to ensuring workers and the public are kept safe from radiation exposures so that society can benefit from nuclear science and technology,” said Frederick Monette, executive director of Environmental Health and Safety at the U and a board-certified health physicist with over 35 years of experience. “Advanced nuclear technologies show promise of improving on this already excellent safety record—in tandem with health physicists and radiation control technicians. The U and the Utah System of Higher Education is well situated to help meet future workforce needs!”
The meeting reflected the excitement of the country’s nuclear resurgence, drawing one of its largest crowds in years. Speakers ranged from Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Jeff Yap, who highlighted the rapid rise of radioactive cancer treatments, to U reactor facility director Ted Goodell, who gave a state-of-the-union on the U.S. research reactor fleet, alongside broader discussions about advanced reactors and industry growth.
Continue reading Lisa Potter’s “Nuclear is booming. The workforce isn’t ready” on @theU.