Pageants, Power, Progress: Miss America’s Nuclear Advocacy

By: Kayley Deaton

September 7, 2023 

Miss America Grace Stanke, a nuclear engineer, sat down with Fissionary co-hosts Mary Carpenter and Jordan Houghton for a conversation on her “origin story” with both pageants and nuclear power, as well as the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the nuclear industry.

How does one become a nuclear advocate? What does it mean to advocate for nuclear energy? Grace said it starts with sparking curiosity with your audience—and not shying away from the fears that people have long been fed.

“Hey, well, you know, neighbor Jim, did you eat a banana for breakfast this morning? Great, you ingested radiation because there’s a naturally occurring isotope in it, like, it’s that sort of stuff that makes people realize, oh, wait, why am I scared of this?”

Don’t be afraid to talk about safety and waste—and the nuclear industry’s record on both fronts. Grace covers the importance of showcasing all the ways that nuclear science is improving people’s everyday lives because that tends to change a lot of perspectives. Additionally, a nuclear advocate should “make nuclear cool again” especially when it comes to enticing younger generations with broader backgrounds into the industry.

“There’s always a place for everyone no matter your interest, no matter your passion, no matter your joy. And that’s an incredible thing about the nuclear industry, is there’s a place for everyone.”

Overall, Grace admits that her work as a nuclear advocate is a long game. It’s not about turning everyone in the room into nuclear’s #1 fan after a single hour; it’s about getting them comfortable with challenging their own positions on nuclear energy.

“A lot of what I do with both kids and nursing home residents and Congressmen alike, spark the curiosity. Get them interested enough that they’re Googling it on their own after I’m done talking to them.”

Fissionary will ask every guest this season to describe the future of nuclear energy in one word. Grace’s word was “innovative”: “the people are innovative,” she explained. “As challenges arise, we’re ready to solve them. As people look and see the issues that are happening, we’re ready to be there to tackle those issues, to create new designs, new technologies, new strategies.”