The United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Material Management and Minimization (M3) will host the RERTR-2025 International Meeting. Argonne National Laboratory is organizing the meeting. We encourage you to check back regularly for the latest updates and information.
Purpose and Vision
RERTR-2025 is more than a meeting—it’s a recommitment to a global mission: the conversion of national and international research and test reactors to high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuels. By coming together as an international community, we strive to advance shared efforts in fuel qualification, fabrication industrialization, and nuclear innovation.
In a time of renewed focus on the novel applications of nuclear technology on unleashing energy applications, this year’s theme centers on how research reactors are catalyzing innovation towards nuclear technology deployment, advancing nonproliferation goals, and training the next generation of nuclear professionals.
Students Program
Due to the importance of research reactors to workforce development for expansive nuclear deployment and building upon the benefit of the student involvement during recent RERTR events, we are pleased to announce student participation will continue at RERTR-2025. This is an exciting opportunity for the RERTR community and the continued success of the program by involving the next generation of nonproliferation technical, research, and policy professionals. Students should be mindful of relevant deadlines for submission of travel grant applications.
Meeting Schedule
This year’s meeting will be held in the heart of Washington, D.C., with the following program:
- November 17 – Project Coordination Day (additional info to follow)
- 4:30 – 6:00 PM – On-Site Registration
- 6:00 – 7:30 PM – Welcome Reception
- November 18–19 – Technical Sessions
- November 20 – Optional Technical Tour (additional info and registration link to follow)
A virtual participation option will be provided; however, presenters are expected to attend in person to foster collaboration and discussion. In addition to oral presentations, poster presentations are also encouraged by in-person participants.
Important Deadlines
- Abstracts and Publication Release Forms: September 19, 2025
- Student Travel Grant Applications: September 19, 2025
- Final Oral and Poster Presentations (electronic): November 7, 2025
- Registration (in-person and virtual): November 10, 2025
- Final Papers Submission: November 30, 2025
Poster presenters must bring printed copies to the meeting. All final presentations and papers will be published on the RERTR website after the event.
Key Questions for RERTR-2025
Together, in addition to the traditional RERTR topics of reactor conversion analyses and HALEU fuel qualification, we aim to explore:
- How are existing and future research reactors making America and the World safer, more secure, and more prosperous?
- How are research reactors being used to enable the future of peaceful application of nuclear energy, by advancing nonproliferation, safeguards, and security?
- What role will research reactors play in the evolution of nuclear technologies and training the next generation of nuclear experts?
Call for Papers
We welcome papers and poster presentation submissions in the following topical areas:
- Reactors and Isotopes
- Core Design, Safety, and Utilization
- Planned Research Reactor Projects and Missions
- Evolution of Research Reactor Operations for Education, Workforce Development, and Next-Gen Reactor Demonstration
- Emerging Trends in Neutron Science and Isotope Production
- Benchmarking Data Development and Sharing
- HALEU Fuel: Qualification, Fabrication, and Supply Chain
- Novel technologies for scalability and effectiveness
- Supply chain resilience
- Innovative Nonproliferation Approaches
- Methodologies for addressing unique reactor conversions and nuclear materials
- Proliferation resistance
- Management of sensitive nuclear infrastructure
Questions?
Please address inquiries about the RERTR-2025 technical program to:
John Holland
Argonne National Laboratory
[email protected]
