In the Spotlight: Dr. Nick Touran

Happy Monday, friends! Logan here. Today’s episode is a bit different than what you may be used to seeing on Middle Tech’s feed. Instead of highlighting a founder or innovator building in Kentucky, I wanted to bring on an industry expert in a field that I believe can, and should, play a large role in Kentucky’s future in the coming decades: energy - specifically, nuclear energy.

The energy space has captured my curiosity for quite awhile now. After all, energy is the origin of everything. Prosperity is downstream of energy, and in my mind, nothing is more important for America right now than bringing more power onto the grid. That energy, however, needs to be sustainable and resilient, which is why I believe we should be leaning heavily into building more nuclear reactors (followed by solar, natural gas, and wind).

All of this has recently become relevant to Kentucky thanks to the recent creation of the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority - signaling that our state is ready to dedicate resources to establishing a nuclear energy ecosystem. I expect this to become a very relevant topic in our state, which is why I invited a nuclear engineer onto the pod to dive deep into the technology and dispel some common misconceptions about nuclear energy.

Dr. Nick Touran spent 16 years designing and developing next-generation molten salt-cooled reactors at TerraPower, the Bill Gates-backed advanced reactor company. In addition to his work as a nuclear engineer, Nick is also a consultant, an educator, and an advocate who has dedicated his career to making nuclear energy more understandable and accessible. While in college at the University of Michigan, he started whatisnuclear.com, a resource that helps people understand nuclear at any level - serving industry experts, investors, governments, and the general public.

Beyond his technical expertise, he’s a thought leader in the nuclear industry, an advocate for innovation in energy, and an author. If you’re interested in nuclear, I highly recommend following his account on X.

What We Discussed:

Why nuclear energy deserves a second look

Nick shares why nuclear isn’t the villain many people assume - and how better education around radiation, accidents, and waste could flip public perception on its head.

Building next-generation reactors at TerraPower

We dive into how TerraPower’s Natrium reactor blends old and new tech - using liquid sodium, molten salt storage, and advanced safety features to create cleaner, more flexible nuclear power.

How China is racing ahead in nuclear innovation

Nick explains how China’s massive investment in nuclear - from mega-cranes to molten salt reactors - has left the U.S. decades behind, and why that’s fueling new urgency at home.

The real story behind nuclear waste

Nick breaks down how countries like Finland are already safely storing nuclear waste for millennia, and why the real challenge in the U.S. is political, not technical.

Energy, AI, and America's future

We connect the dots between abundant, clean energy and the AI-driven economy ahead - and why nuclear could be the foundation for America’s next era of innovation.

We hope you enjoy this episode! If you have any thoughts after listening, feel free to shoot me a message at [email protected]

Have a great week, friends!

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