Significant research work has been completed in the development of risk-based inservice inspection (ISI) and testing (IST) technology for nuclear power plant applications through the ASME Center For Research and Technology Development. This paper provides technology that has been developed for these engineering applications. The technology includes risk-based ranking methods, beginning with the use of plant probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), for the determination of risk-significant and less risk-significant components for inspection and the determination of similar populations for pumps and valves for inservice testing. Decision analysis methods are outlined for developing IS1 and IST programs. This methodology integrates nondestructive examination data, structural reliabilityhsk assessment results, PRA results, failure data, and expert opinion to evaluate the effectiveness of IS1 programs. Similarly, decision analysis uses the output of failure mode and causes analysis in combination with data, expert opinion, and PRA results to evaluate the effectiveness of IST programs. Results of pilot applications of these ASME methods to actual nuclear plant systems and components are summarized. The results of this work are already being used to develop recommended changes in IS1 and IST requirements by the ASME Section XI and the ASME Operation and Maintenance Code organizations. A perspective on Code and regulatory adoption is also outlined. Finally, the potential benefits to the nuclear industry in terms of safety, person-rem exposure, and costs are summarized.

Research (2015). During her two years at Georgetown University her interest in exposing and helping minority students navigate their STEM careers flourished as she accepted her first adjunct position, affording her the opportunity to teach and advise undergraduate and graduate level students. Serving as an instructor and researcher, exposed her to a number of wellestablished and emerging educational practices that related to fostering students' academic achievements, interest, and professional development. It was during this time that she decided to turn her sights completely to diversity and inclusion issues within STEM education and embark on a career that would allow her to make a meaningful contribution on diversifying the scientific workforce and empowering those interested in STEM, regardless of their background.Dr. Huderson was a 2015-2017 American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science and Technology Policy (AAAS S&T) Fellow in the Engineering Education and Centers' division (EEC) at the National Science Foundation, where she provided leadership on developing, coordinating, and implementing support for programs that foster an inclusive climate for pre-collegiate and collegiate STEM students. Currently Dr. Huderson serves as the Manager of Engineering Education at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), where she is responsible for advancing and managing the research, development, promotion, implementation, and assessment of products and services that will help colleges of engineering develop their curricula and faculty. She also manages all ASME/ABET operational activities, annual program evaluator selection and assignment to ABET accreditation visits, and ASME evaluator recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation.

The main objective of structural design is to insure safety, functional, and performance requirements of a structural system for selected target reliability levels, for specified period of time and for a specified environment. As this must be accomplished under conditions of uncertainty, risk and reliability analyses are deemed necessary in the development of such methods as risk-informed load and resistance factor design for piping. This paper provides a summary of the methodology and technical basis for reliability-based, load and resistance factor design suitable for the ASME Section III, Class 2/3 piping for primary loading, i.e., pressure, deadweight and seismic. The methodology includes analytical procedures, such as the First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) for calculating the LRFD-based partial safety factors for piping. These factors were developed in this paper for demonstration purposes, and they can be used ultimately in LRFD design formats to account for the uncertainties in strength and in the load effects. The technical basis provided in the paper is suitable for a proof-of-concept in that LRFD can be used in the design of piping with consistent reliability levels. Also, the results from additional projects in this area, including future research for piping secondary loads, will form the basis for future code cases.

For many years, risk analysis has been used extensively to inform decisions by government and industry. Different methodologies have been employed, resulting in differences in terminology and approach that make it difficult to compare the results of analyses in different fields. Dealing with terrorist threats requires prioritizing the allocation of resources across a broad spectrum of possible targets. Therefore, a common approach is needed to allow comparison of risks. This paper provides a brief outline of an approach that will allow the results of risk analyses performed using current methodologies to be expressed in a common format and terminology to facilitate resource allocation decisions. The results of a risk analysis should never be the only basis for decision-making, but a decision made without employing risk analysis will probably not result in the best outcome.

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