Price for buffet lunch is $15 (includes complimentary parking in the hotel garage).

If you plan to eat, please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 865-679-9854 by Friday, April 5.

 If you choose not to eat, a charge of $7 will cover parking and event arrangements.

The formal meeting begins at 11:55 a.m.

Dr. Pointer will discuss the evolving domestic and global energy climate that is driving renewed interest in deployment of nuclear energy. He will present a brief primer on nuclear energy system design as a foundation for further discussion of the mission-driven design differences associated with small modular reactors, microreactors and advanced reactors. He will also introduce the technological challenges that are driving today’s research and development activities.

Dr. Pointer obtained his PhD in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee in 2001. He led the Engineering Simulations Section of the Nuclear Engineer Division at Argonne National Laboratory before joining ORNL as a Distinguished R&D Staff member in 2012.

He has more than 20 years of experience in the design and safety of nuclear systems, including conventional light water reactors, advanced reactors using gas, liquid metal or molten salt coolants and high-power accelerator systems. His work has focused on the advancement and qualification of modeling and simulation tools for nuclear energy systems, especially computational fluid dynamics and the acceptance of results contemporary high-resolution methods running on high performance computers for projection of performance, assessment of safety and operations planning in these applications.

He leads a team of more than 250 scientists and engineers who are focused on R&D activities supporting accelerated deployment of advanced nuclear energy system, nuclear fuel, and fuel cycle technologies.

For more information on TSK and its meetings, please email TSK secretary, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 865-679-9854.