NEXT: Advanced Fission Reactor Research at an Undergraduate Institution

As the discovery of nuclear fission turns 80 years old, it is unfortunate that this tremendous energy source remains largely unused globally to address the need for abundant, safe, carbon-free energy on demand.  This regrettable situation can be rectified with the development of advanced reactors that are capable of meeting the world’s energy needs without the risk of proliferation.  To address this challenge, the Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing (NEXT) Lab has been launched at Abilene Christian University.  The NEXT Lab mission is to provide global solutions to the world's needs for energy that is less expensive and safer, water that is pure and abundant, and medical isotopes used to diagnose and treat cancer by advancing the technology of molten salt reactors while educating the next generation of leaders in nuclear science and engineering.  The NEXT Collaboration is focusing on advancing the technical readiness level of molten salt as a coolant in liquid fueled molten salt reactor. Our interdisciplinary team of undergraduate students and faculty members is currently commissioning a molten salt test loop that will allow for the testing of new sensors.  The current status of NEXT will be presented including the breath of research across many disciplines.