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Nuclear energy has the potential to make Canada’s oil and gas more attractive and free up more natural gas for export markets, says a University of Calgary researcher whose work is informing the decision-making processes in this emerging area.

“What energizes me the most about the nuclear discussion at the University of Calgary is the ability to study the nuclear question in an established oil and gas jurisdiction,” says , PhD, associate professor in the  and research fellow in the .

“That means not only having access to the expertise of colleagues across campus, but also being able to draw on the insights of industry and policy decision makers to help shape my applied research and teaching focus, giving me the opportunity to bring in the governance and regulatory policy angle in broader conversations.”

Tscherning’s work informs nuclear energy decision-making processes in the province, which he says is not going to take away from oil and gas, but be an add-on to the oil and gas conversation. 

“Nuclear energy could decarbonize Canada’s oil and gas operations and make our energy exports more attractive," Tscherning says. "It could also free up the export of natural gas to displace coal as part of the energy mix in key export markets, therefore achieving broader climate and sustainability objectives.”

Tscherning is a member of the five-person  that advises the provincial government about potentially advancing the nuclear energy industry in the province. 

Nuclear energy law and policy research at UCalgary

Tscherning looks at regulatory and policy reform related to the implementation and facilitation of nuclear energy projects in the province. This focus has allowed Tscherning to work more closely with colleagues at the School of Public Policy, including , PhD, as a collaborator on developing the School’s nuclear policy program that is focused on policy, research, education and public-engagement initiatives to inform the potential path for enabling nuclear energy deployment in Alberta.   

Tscherning’s work also includes studying the industrial applications of nuclear, such as the replacement of coal power plant assets with small modular reactors (SMRs), having been invited to present his research internationally at conferences with the . 

In July 2025, Tscherning, together with the and a leading Canadian law firm, organized a two-day conference in Calgary on nuclear law and policy development. The conference report has become a popular source of information on the challenges and issues arising from the Western Canadian nuclear discussion.

Expanding research focused on nuclear energy 

Tscherning is a member of ´şÉ«Ö±˛Ą Nuclear Energy Working Group, which was formed by the in response to growing provincial and industrial interest in nuclear energy and realization of the combined expertise on nuclear energy at the university.

The group brings together leaders from public policy, science, law, and engineering to co-ordinate research, education, and external engagement related to nuclear energy. Its initial priorities include mapping existing nuclear-related activities, connecting UCalgary to emerging Western Canadian nuclear talent initiatives, and creating a central point of contact for nuclear energy expertise.  

“We have strong expertise in nuclear energy across campus and bringing them together to collaborate will diversify the future of energy," says , BSc (Eng)'90, PhD, associate vice-president (Innovation).

Nuclear energy touches many dimensions in Canada

Nuclear energy research is inherently transdisciplinary, says Tscherning. 

“Transdisciplinary scholarship really shapes my research, but it also keeps my research fresh and keeps it applied. And I know that sometimes this means that the research is more complex and less linear, but it makes it very hands-on and pragmatic,” he says.

And this gives Tscherning an opportunity to explore multiple nuclear avenues with his students.

“We need to get the students in the transdisciplinary world to talk to each other," he says. "It's not just at the classic level of academics; it has to be the students, as well. Student-driven learning for the future.” 

As part of this focus, Tscherning draws his learnings from involvement with several international working groups on nuclear law education, including the based in Paris. 

Since law is a secondary degree in Canada, many students have worked in the oil and gas industry or government and policy already, giving them clear insights and experiences, Tscherning says. 

“Because the nuclear energy topic is so big, and so varied and complex, we need all hands on deck," he says. "That's also why a transdisciplinary focus at UCalgary with my transdisciplinary colleagues and their students is so important.”

Funding endorses the work with a growing focus across Western Canada

In November 2023, Tscherning and several colleagues were awarded a , offered by the  (ITS), for their project, "Transdisciplinary Policy & Regulatory Research on Small Modular Reactors."

The goal of the project was to examine the challenges of deploying SMRs in the oil and gas sector from legal and policy perspectives, and strengthen research on nuclear energy by creating a transdisciplinary research team. For this, Tscherning worked with team members from UCalgary, University of Eastern Finland, University of Economics in Katowice (Poland), United States Department of Commerce, and the University of Jyväskylä (also in Finland)."

“It was a huge endorsement and message of support by the University of Calgary that our research in nuclear is valuable,” says Tscherning. “I am immensely grateful for this opportunity, as it allowed me to work with amazing colleagues and gave our research credibility in the industry and the community more widely.”

Tscherning is now working on a funding proposal with the University of Alberta and  (GIEMS), based in Saskatchewan. 

GIEMS Executive Director Tom Kishchuk says the institute welcomes this opportunity to strengthen collaboration between Alberta and Saskatchewan in advancing nuclear research and development. 

“By connecting expertise across institutions, this effort contributes to building a stronger Western Canadian ecosystem for nuclear innovation, workforce development, and energy systems research," Kishchuk says. "GIEMS looks forward to supporting continued dialogue and collaboration that advances shared regional priorities in nuclear energy.”

Adds Tscherning: “If I can contribute to conversations through my work, then my work is done and I'm happy.”