Honoring Legacy, Shaping the Future: Todd Allen Endowed as Chihiro Kikuchi Collegiate Professor
NERS gathered to celebrate the interdisciplinary impact of nuclear energy and public policy at the University of Michigan.
On November 8, 2024, the University of Michigan’s Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences (NERS) department gathered to honor the endowment of the Chihiro Kikuchi Collegiate Professorship to department chair Todd Allen. This capstone event concluded the two-day symposium, Phoenix Project: From Kikuchi to Fastest Path, celebrating both the legacy of Professor Chihiro Kikuchi, a pioneering nuclear physicist, and the future-forward vision Allen brings to the role.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Mingyan Liu, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who highlighted the honor’s significance within Michigan Engineering. Faculty, alumni, and friends then heard reflections from notable figures in nuclear science and policy, including Steven E. Aumeier of Idaho National Laboratory, Kumar Sridharan of the University of Wisconsin, John Kotek of the Nuclear Energy Institute, and Jessica Lovering of Good Energy Collective. Each speaker underscored Allen’s unique career journey, from a research scientist to a prominent leader in nuclear policy, and his efforts to make nuclear energy more accessible and integrated with public needs.
Allen’s speech, titled “Why Are We Here?” traced his career’s influence from Kikuchi’s own path—a blend of technical innovation and advocacy for nuclear energy’s role in society. He acknowledged Kikuchi’s pioneering work in the 1950s, particularly his contributions to solid-state physics and his advocacy for public understanding of nuclear energy, which continues to inspire NERS’s goals today.
The event culminated in Liu bestowing Allen with the Professorship Medal, followed by a reception where attendees celebrated the contributions of Kikuchi and Allen, envisioning the future of nuclear energy and policy. The professorship endowment marks a significant milestone for NERS, underscoring its commitment to merging scientific advancement with social engagement—principles central to both Kikuchi’s and Allen’s legacies.
The Phoenix Project: From Kikuchi to Fastest Path symposium took place over two days and featured discussions on nuclear history, education, policy, and emerging technologies. Sponsored by the Fastest Path to Zero Initiative and Good Energy Collective, the symposium provided a platform for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to collaborate on shaping the future of nuclear energy.