 I'm Chairman Allison McFarlane, and as many of you know, my background is in earth science. As a geologist, I value the insights that earth science provides from simply understanding why mountains exist to being able to anticipate coming climate changes. As a regulator, I believe the results of research and development in the earth sciences directly apply to the work we do. The earth sciences teach us that the natural world in which we live is full of complex processes, many of which we don't fully understand or even have knowledge of yet. While the untrained eye may see the earth as unchanging, earth scientists know it is dynamic, constantly remaking itself. Our understanding of the dynamic complex earth has a direct impact on the work we do to ensure the safe and effective use of nuclear materials for energy, research and medicine. I fell in love with earth science as an elementary school student and spent most weekends at the local science center where I was introduced to geology. At the beginning of my academic career, I was drawn to the earth sciences because of their real-world applications and eventually became a field geologist for that very reason. I plan to work with the talented earth scientists at the NRC to apply research results and insights to improve the way we regulate. As the body of knowledge surrounding the civil nuclear industry evolves, so must our approach to regulation. The information gained through our work in the earth sciences is paramount to our ability to guarantee a safe nuclear industry.