Monmouth College's Chris Fasano goes nuclear
Physics professor discusses future of energy, international security
Monmouth, Ill. (03/10/2026) — In its last session before spring break, Monmouth College's long-running Great Decisions series featured a discussion on the global implications of nuclear technology, energy production and national defense.
At the heart of a talk by Chris Fasano, Pattee Professor of Physics and Engineering and chair of Monmouth's School of Engineering, Sciences, and Innovation, was correcting a common misconception.
"We tend to think of nuclear technology as only weapons," said Fasano, who joined the faculty in 1998. "But nuclear technology and advancing energy production may be an even larger influence on global systems."
Electricity in demand
A central theme of Fasano's talk was the rapidly growing global demand for electricity. As societies transition from fossil fuels toward electrified technologies, a significant increase in electricity consumption is expected.
"Electricity is what makes everything run," he said. "And we're increasing our demand on electricity in a number of important ways." The expansion of artificial intelligence is also contributing to this demand, as AI systems rely on massive data centers that consume enormous amounts of energy.
"When you type something into ChatGPT, you probably don't think about what happens behind the scenes," Fasano explained. "You're connecting to a big data center and using a remarkable amount of energy for each query." Large-scale data centers can require the output of entire power plants to operate, and the number of these facilities continues to grow rapidly.
"The challenge," Fasano said, "is the speed at which data centers require additional power."
A new generation of nuclear reactors
Fasano highlighted the potential of advanced nuclear reactors as a way to meet these increasing energy needs while reducing fossil fuel consumption. Unlike traditional nuclear plants, which are large and custom-built, newer designs are smaller, standardized and manufactured in factories.
"It's not your grandfather's nuclear reactor anymore," Fasano said. One example is the microreactor, a compact nuclear reactor capable of producing between one and 20 megawatts of electricity. "A microreactor is built in a factory and can fit on a semi-trailer. You drive it to the site, install it, and when it needs refueling, you swap it out." A larger design known as a small modular reactor can generate up to 300 megawatts of electricity while maintaining the advantages of standardized production and lower costs.
"They're smaller, easier to manage and standardized," he said. "That's a major advancement compared to traditional reactors."
Such reactors could potentially power small cities, remote regions or industrial facilities that require large amounts of electricity.
Geopolitical opportunities and challenges
Fasano noted that increased nuclear energy production could also reshape global politics. If countries rely more on locally generated electricity, the geopolitical importance of oil could decline.
"If you can make electricity locally and electrify transportation, oil becomes less important," he said. "And if oil becomes less important, countries may fight less over it."
However, expanding nuclear technology also introduces new challenges. More reactors mean more nuclear material circulating globally, raising concerns about security and oversight.
"The real issue isn't the technology itself," Fasano explained. "The key is controlling the materials." While the scientific principles behind nuclear weapons are well understood, access to nuclear material remains tightly regulated. "Getting the materials is the hard part."
Energy and modern defense systems
Fasano also described how energy demand is increasingly linked to national defense technologies. Advanced military systems, from missile detection networks to hypersonic vehicles, require enormous computing power and electricity. "There's a big ramp-up happening right now in defense technologies," he said.
Recent innovations include stealth materials, hypersonic weapons, drones and new sensing systems capable of detecting threats in real time. These technologies depend on sophisticated computing systems that consume large amounts of energy. One example is the proposed "Golden Dome" missile defense system, which would integrate advanced sensors, artificial intelligence and defensive technologies designed to intercept incoming threats.
"To make that kind of system work, you need huge amounts of computing power," Fasano said. "And all of that requires energy."
Looking ahead
As global demand for electricity continues to rise, Fasano argued that nuclear energy may play an increasingly important role in meeting the world's needs while reducing carbon emissions.
"What I'm trying to convince you of," Fasano told the Great Decisions group, "is that making electricity, however we do it, is a big deal, and it's going to become an even bigger deal."
Now in its 46th year on campus, the Great Decisions series will continue after spring break with additional speakers addressing major global issues and international relations.
Media Attachments
