Nick Touran’s Homepage

Research and Work

Technical Skills

Reactor Methods: Diffusion, depletion, stability, kinetics, perturbation theory, nuclear data uncertainty, finance, etc.
System Design: Multiobjective optimization, configuration management, reactor history, project management, non-linear regression
Reactor Codes: ARMI, DIF3D, MC², REBUS, MCNP
Programming: Python, Django, Javascript, Vue3, git, MPI, HTML, Perl, LaTeX, Jenkins, C/C++, FORTRAN
Computers: Linux, vim, Home Assistant, Apache, graphviz, pandoc, SQL, Dovecot, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, ESP8266, Jekyll, A+ Certified Technician :)

Writing

Nuclear Reactor Development History, a deep-dive into nuclear reactors of the past
Digital Superpowers, a book about open-source computer utilities (2019)
N. Touran, "A primer on energy, greenhouse gas, intermittency, and nuclear", whatisnuclear.com, 2017.
Nicholas W. Touran, John Gilleland, Graham T. Malmgren, Charles Whitmer, William H. Gates III, "Computational Tools for the Integrated Design of Advanced Nuclear Reactors", Engineering, 3,4, 2017, Pages 518-526, ISSN 2095-8099, https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENG.2017.04.016.
N. Touran and J. Yang, "Sensitivities and Uncertainties Due to Nuclear Data in a Traveling Wave Reactor," Proceedings of the PHYSOR 2016 Meeting in Sun Valley, ID, May 2016.
N. Touran and J. Lee. "A Modal Expansion Equilibrium Cycle Perturbation Method for Optimizing Fast Reactors," Nuclear Science and Engineering, 179.1, 85-103, 2015.
N. Touran, J. Cheatham, and R. Petroski, "Model biases in high-burnup fast reactor simulations," Proc. ANS Int. Topl. Mtg. on Advances in Reactor Physics and Linking Research, Industry, and Education (PHYSOR 2012), Knoxville, Tennesee 2012.
A Modal Expansion Equilibrium Cycle Perturbation Method for Optimizing High Burnup Fast Reactors (my Ph.D. dissertation)
N. Touran, P. Hejzlar, S. Mazurkiewicz, R. Petroski, J. Walter, C. Whitmer, "Technical Considerations and Capabilities of a Near-Term Deployable Traveling Wave Reactor Core," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 104, 934 2011.
N. Touran, "Performance of Thorium-Based Fuel for TRU Transmutation in Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 103, 811, 2010.
A. Imaura, N. Touran, & R. Ewing. "MgO-pyrochlore composite as an inert matrix fuel: Neutronic and thermal characteristics", Journal of Nuclear Materials, 389, 341-350, 2009.

Appearances

I really enjoy discussing with people about nuclear energy and other things. If you want to invite me for a discussion, etc., contact me.

The Early History of Nuclear Reactor Development, Colloquium at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, NJ, 2024-12-18
The History of Nuclear Reactor Development, Colloquium at University of Michigan NERS, MI, 2024-11-15
Microreactors, Macro Problems, Decouple podcast with Chris Keefer, 2024-11-12
Atomic Action, Presentation to Baltimore Climate Tech Meetup, 2024-11-06
Paper Reactors to Power Reactors, Decouple podcast about Rickover with Chris Keefer, 2024-11-05
Cracking the Nuclear Innovation Nut, Decouple podcast with Chris Keefer, 2023-12-21
Primer on Nuclear Reactors, Deep Future podcast with Pablos, 2023-12-15
Age of Miracles Episode 3, Can We Make Nuclear Cheap?, podcast guest, 2023-11-03
Nuclear Now showing at University of Washington with Seattle Friends of Fission, discussion, 2023-10-18
Nuclear Now showing at Meaningful Movies Tacoma, discussion, 2023-09-27
Climate Solutions Summit at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, Panelist, 2023-04-28
Nuclear 101, a general nuclear presentation at the The Seattle Skeptics and Science Enthusiasts group, 2023-03-21
CLEAN & GREEN: GENERATION ATOMIC TALKS NUCLEAR ENERGY, Moderator for a panel on nuclear outreach at Bickersons brewhouse, 2023-03-02.
From Local to Global Energy Issues and Climate Change, panelist at Seattle Town Hall, 2022-10-25
Seattle-based nuclear engineer Nick Touran discusses how nuclear energy can fit in with green energy sources - and how to manage the risks, a discussion on Climate Talk, RadioTacoma KTAH 101.9 FM with John Doherty of the Citizens' Climate Lobby, 2022-08-14
Global Politics and Energy on a Warming Plant at Bickersons Brewhouse, a public outreach event I did with Prof. Scott Montgomery hosted by Cascadia Climate Action and Seattle Friends of Fission, 2022-08-10
Preserving Nuclear History ft. Nick Touran, Nuclear Barbarians Podcast, 2022-01-06
Nuclear 101 in 2021, an online presentation and Q&A about nuclear, 2021-12-14
National Academy of Sciences Distinctive Voices — How offshore nuclear power stations can help achieve rapid deep decarbonization An hour-long talk at a (virtual) NAS speaking event about nuclear reactors built in shipyards and operated offshore 2021-02-10
Where We Go Next 13: Nuclear Energy Can Save the World An in-depth discussion on an (absolutely amazing) podcast covering the case for nuclear energy, 2020-12-23
Hope, Hype, Hubris, and Deep Decarbonization Decouple Podcast with Chris Keefer 2020-12-15
Science Friday — Shipping Nuclear Power Out To Sea A 17-minute discussion on nationally-syndicated radio about nuclear reactors on ships 2020-10-30
Analytic Endeavors Ep. 21 - Dispelling Thorium Myths with Nick Touran A podcast about Thorium Myths, 2020-10-30
Engineering // Virtual Curiosity Expo at the Pacific Science Center 2020-05-29
Thorium AMA with Nick Touran (actually a pretty broad nuclear overview for local Andrew Yang supporters) 2020-02-04
Panelist at Curiosity Days: Climate Change, Pacific Science Center [Event page]
Moderator of Nuclear Fusion Panel | CleanTech Breakfast Series, 2018-02-14 [Writeup and video]
Energy and Climate Policy at the Crossroads: Will the World Act on Climate Change Fast Enough? — Climate Science on Tap, 2017-12-12 [Video]
Nuclear Energy and Climate Change in the 21st Century — University of Washington, 2017-11-04 [Video]
Featured Character in The New Fire, a documentary by David Schumaker about a new generation of people trying to build new generation nuclear reactors.
Alternative Energy and Climate Change: The Nuclear Option — Shoreline Community College Global Affairs Center, 2017-04-18
Making the Case for Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century — Seattle Town Hall, 2017-04-04 [Video]
Climate on Tap — Naked City Brewery, Seattle, WA, 2016-11-01
Next Generation Nuclear Power — Ada's Technical Books, Seattle, WA, 2016-06-29
Speaking at various elementary, middle, and high schools
The Promise of Tomorrow, #153 — Syndicated radio, 2011-08-01
Nuclear Careers to Heat up? — Michigan Radio environment report, 2009-08-12

Hobbies & non-Nuclear Interests

Ham radio: Amateur Extra, digital, SDR, GNURadio, portable & remote operation
Home automation: Contributor to Home-Assistant platform, blogger, creator of infopanel.
Motorcycles: Riding, maintenance
Outdoors: Soccer, skiing, boating, hiking, camping, scuba diving
Reading: History, literature, politics, anything
Electronics: Late 1800s physics, oscilloscopes, vacuum pumps, high voltage
Music: Classic rock, electronic dance, rap, country, bass guitar, MIDI
Photography: Quadcopter photography, regular photography