ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
August 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Dr. Don W. Miller was an internationally recognized expert in the advancement of instrumentation and control systems for nuclear power plants. He was a member of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) from 1972 until his death in 2015. He was elected as ANS Fellow, and served as a member of the prestigious Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.
Dr. Miller was born on March 16, 1942. A Professor Emeritus, Dr. Miller had a twenty-year career as professor and chair of the Nuclear Engineering Program and director of The Ohio State University Nuclear Reactor Laboratory in the former Mechanical Engineering Department from 1977-1997.
In 2009, ANS established the Don Miller Award sponsored by the Human Factors, Instrumentation & Controls Division. Miller was the first recipient of the award, which recognized his outstanding engineering research, development, licensing and project achievements in the fields of nuclear worldwide. He also received the ASEE Glenn Murphy Award and MAE’s 2010 Bertha Lamme Feicht Award for teaching accomplishments.
“His ability to continue his life’s work amid the health challenges he faced is an example to all of us,” Ted Quinn said about his longtime friend and colleague. Quinn, chair of the Ohio State University Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering’s (MAE) Nuclear Engineering External Advisory Board, noted that Miller’s lasting legacy of instrumentation and control greatness at Ohio State is recognized around the world.
Dr. Miller was known for his community leadership, elected to four terms as a member of the Westerville, Ohio Board of Education from 1976-1971. He served as a member of The Ohio School Board Association and was listed in “Who’s Who in America” in 1988 for his contributions to the Westerville community.
Dr. Miller received a BS degree and an MS degree in physics from Miami University and MS and PhD degree in nuclear engineering from The Ohio State University.
Miller was a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a senior member of the Instrument Society of America and a member of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).
Dr. Don W. Miller passed away on August 28, 2015.
Read Nuclear News from July 1996 for more on Don.
