UNM alum to present Nuclear Engineering seminar on public policy engagement

January 23, 2025 - Carly Bowling

The University of New Mexico’s Department of Nuclear Engineering will begin the Spring 2025 installment of its Seminar Series on Tuesday, Jan. 28 with a seminar by James Gover, Ph.D.

Gover’s lecture is titled “Bridging the Gap Between Engineering and Policy: My Experiences,” and will encourage engineers to get involved with public policy, with a particular focus on nuclear-related policy. He will aim to stimulate interest in engaging with the policy development process by describing his own policy development experiences that were “colossal failures” and others that were “partial successes” while offering ideas for the promotion of nuclear power in New Mexico.

Gover is a two-time UNM graduate. He received his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1965 and his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering in 1971. He worked at Sandia National Laboratories for 35 years, where he worked on radiation effects, firing set development and policy research. He was a professor and chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Kettering University for 13 years. Gover is currently self-employed and conducts economic development research.

He is the recipient of several awards and honors from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), including as a Life Fellow IEEE studying radiation effects in nuclear systems, IEEE-USA Congressional Fellow, IEEE-USA Committee Competitiveness Fellow, and more.

The Nuclear Engineering Seminar Series takes place on Tuesdays in Farris Engineering Room 2500 at 2 p.m.