OREANDA-NEWS. GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and Duke Energy today announced that registration for the 7th Annual Nuclear Science Week “Big Event” is open. The University of North Carolina Wilmington will be the focal point of the local activities taking place October 20-22.

Nuclear Science Week is a week-long celebration that advances education and generates awareness about the achievements of the nuclear sciences. This year, GEH and Duke Energy are contributing as presenting sponsors to help support the celebration.

Hosted by the Wilmington Area Local Section of the American Nuclear Society, the three-day event intends on bringing national attention to the area through a series of interactive and educational workshops, keynote speakers, panel discussions and industry tours.

“A key focus this year will be showcasing how current and future nuclear technologies are harnessed for the benefit of humanity,” said Derek Bass, Wilmington Big Event 2016 Chair and Lead System Engineer at GEH. “The strong regional presence of high technology enterprises in the state provides a rich environment for innovation to support this benefit.”

The Big Event has an array of keynote speakers lined up including Maria Korsnick, Chief Operating Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, Glen Watford, Vice President and Chief Engineer at GEH and several other industry leaders and influencers.

The celebration of nuclear science became a national effort in 2010 when the Smithsonian affiliated National Museum of Nuclear Science and History convened the first Nuclear Science Week, hosted in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with smaller celebrations held across the country.

About GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

Based in Wilmington, N.C., GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a world-leading provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. Established in 2007, GEH is a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic vision to create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and service opportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required to effectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety. Follow GEH on LinkedIn and Twitter @gehnuclear.

About Duke Energy Progress

Duke Energy Progress owns nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides about 12,900 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.5 million customers in a 32,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.4 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 24 million people. Its Commercial Portfolio and International business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.