Is Nuclear’s Future Big Reactors, SMRs, or Microreactors? (ft. Colby Arsenault)
Podcast:The Atomic Exchange Podcast Published On: Thu Apr 02 2026 Description: In the 60th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous are joined by Colby Arsenault, a master’s student in nuclear engineering at McMaster University, for the latest entry in their student spotlight series. They discuss how Colby found his way into nuclear, why portrayals like Chernobyl can sometimes spark curiosity rather than fear, and what his reactor physics research reveals about the future of the industry. The conversation then turns to one of nuclear’s biggest questions: will the future belong to large conventional reactors, SMRs, or microreactors? Tune into this episode for a thoughtful discussion on where nuclear may be headed next.