Allison M. Macfarlane

Dr. Allison M. Macfarlane is Professor and Director of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs within the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. She is a leading expert in energy and environmental policy, with a specialized focus on nuclear policy. Dr. Macfarlane has held significant positions in both academic and government sectors, including her notable role as the first geologist and third woman to chair the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission from 2012-2014.

Dr. Macfarlane earned her Ph.D. in Earth Science from MIT in 1992, with a thesis on metamorphism, deformation and plutonism in the Langtang region of the central Nepal Himalaya. She received a National Science Foundation Fellowship from 1988-1991. Her undergraduate degree is a B.Sc. with Summa Cum Laude from the University of Rochester (1986), where she received Highest Distinction in Geology for her work on strontium and neodymium isotopic studies of Bermuda's volcanic rocks.

Her research expertise spans energy policy, science and technology policy, and sustainable resource policy, with particular emphasis on nuclear energy production, nuclear waste management and disposal, regulation, nuclear nonproliferation, and broader energy policy frameworks. Dr. Macfarlane's work bridges technical, social, and policy dimensions of nuclear issues, informed by her unique background as both a geologist and policy expert.

Analysis of Dr. Macfarlane's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on nuclear waste management challenges, particularly regarding small modular reactors, deep borehole disposal, and long-term policy solutions. Her work demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach that combines geological knowledge with policy analysis, addressing both technical aspects of nuclear waste disposal and broader governance issues. She has increasingly focused on the relationship between nuclear energy and climate change mitigation efforts.

• Wilson Center Scholar, Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars (2019-2020)
• Fulbright Distinguished Chair, Flinders University and Carnegie Mellon University (2018)
• Member of the Board, American Institute of Physics (2018-present)
• Alumni Achievement Award, University of Rochester (2017)
• Chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (2012-2014)
• Commissioner, U.S. Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Energy Future (2010-2012)
• Chair of the Science and Security Board, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (2008-2012)

Dr. Macfarlane has demonstrated leadership in numerous collaborative research initiatives and policy projects. During her tenure at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, she pushed for greater public dialogue, international engagement among nuclear regulators, and stricter safety protocols following the Fukushima accident. She has also advocated for more family-friendly workplace policies. Her research supervision spans interdisciplinary projects connecting earth sciences with policy analysis, particularly in nuclear waste management contexts.