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Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Radiation Protection & Shielding
The Radiation Protection and Shielding Division is developing and promoting radiation protection and shielding aspects of nuclear science and technology — including interaction of nuclear radiation with materials and biological systems, instruments and techniques for the measurement of nuclear radiation fields, and radiation shield design and evaluation.
National Meeting
2020 ANS Annual Meeting
June 8–11, 2020
Online Virtual Meeting
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
May 2020
Jan 2020
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
June 2020
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
April 2020
Latest News
U.S. nuclear capacity factors: Resiliency and new realities
In the early years of the Nuclear News capacity factors survey, any factor over 70 was deemed excellent; any factor under 50 was considered poor. By that standard, all but two operating U.S. power reactors chalked up excellent performance during 2017–2019. A record 809.4 TWh of electricity was generated in the United States from nuclear energy in 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), besting the record of 807.1 TWh set in 2018.
Nuclear News staff developed the capacity factors survey in the early 1980s as a way to identify the most productive reactors in an expanding fleet. Fleet improvement was the industry’s self-identified goal, but no one could anticipate the startlingly rapid pace of improvement, spurred by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), which boosted fleetwide performance to highs that continue today.
View Recipients
Downloads: Download Nomination Form
Nomination Deadline
March 1
Presented at the
Annual Meeting
The ANS Award for Meritorious Performance in Operations Award recognizes outstanding performance by both licensed and unlicensed personnel in the operation of nuclear facilities. It can be awarded to a single individual or a group who work as a team.
The outstanding performance may be activities of the following type:
Nominees need not be ANS members, but shall be individuals of good character who are, or who have been, active in nuclear operations.
The award consists of an engraved plaque to be presented to the recipient(s) at an OPD function at the ANS Annual Meeting.
This award was established in 1984 on the recommendation of the Operations and Power Division (previously known as the Reactor Operations Division) Honors and Awards Committee. A major objective is to encourage exemplary performance in nuclear operations and to recognize truly meritorious contributions irrespective of organizational affiliation.
Nominations of worthy candidates for the award are solicited by the chair of the OPD Honors and Awards Committee and can be submitted by any member of the Society. The award need not be given in periods when qualified candidates are not submitted. Multiple awards are allowed in a year when more than one exceptionally qualified candidate is submitted.
The award is intended for both licensed and unlicensed personnel who comprise an active part in the operation of a nuclear facility and who have performed in an exemplary manner.
Indications of such performance may be the following:
A panel constituted and chaired by the chair of the OPD Honors and Awards Committee makes the selection of the recipient. The national ANS Honors and Awards Committee is available for consultation and review as appropriate.
Nomination forms and supporting documents (in Word or Adobe Acrobat) should be emailed to honors@ans.org.
Hard copies can be mailed to:
Honors and AwardsAmerican Nuclear Society555 N. Kensington AvenueLa Grange Park, IL 60526-5535
View Award
