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Conference Spotlight
2026 Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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
Nov 2025
Jul 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
December 2025
Nuclear Technology
November 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Reality of the road ahead
Craig Piercycpiercy@ans.org
As 2025 winds down, it seems nuclear energy in the U.S. is now well on its way toward a renaissance, or resurgence, or whatever optimistic term you may use in your daily conversations.
New reactor designs, projects, and partnerships are being announced on a near-weekly basis; valuations of publicly traded nuclear companies are hovering near all-time highs; and AI’s thirst for reliable, clean electricity remains largely unquenched. The overall investment climate for nuclear energy has thawed dramatically. These days, it seems everyone from big Wall Street banks to individual investors is trying to get a piece of the nuclear action.
It’s the perfect time to talk about failure.
Yes, I know “nuclear failure” is not a topic on which we in the nuclear community like to dwell. For those of a certain age, it brings back bad memories of events beyond our control that shifted the trajectory of companies, careers, and lives for decades.
Nomination Deadline
March 1 &
August 1
Presented at the
Annual & Winter Conference
Award
$2,500* and a Bronze Medallion
The Untermeyer & Cisler Reactor Technology Medal recognizes an individual(s) who have made outstanding scientific, engineering, or management contributions to the advancement of nuclear reactor technology. The contributions may involve technology development, reactor system design, safety, deployment, or operation. The award scope considers any fission-based reactor technology.
The award consists of an engraved medal and a monetary award of $2500*. The award is to be made twice per year, normally conferred during the ANS Annual or Winter Conference.
Nominees may be from any nation, must be living at the time the awardee is selected, and do not need to be ANS members.
*In lieu of a cash award, recipients can opt for travel reimbursement up to the award amount.
This award is a combination of the earlier independent Untermyer, Cisler, and Reactor Technology awards. The three awards were combined in 2023 by the ANS Honors & Awards Committee.
Nominations must include the completed nomination form accompanied by the following supporting documents:
The selection committee consists of seven (7) members – six (6) from the Honors and Awards Committee and one (1) from Atomic Energy Society of Japan, appointed by AESJ. They review the nominations and make their recommendation to the chair of the Honors and Awards Committee. If the committee determines that there is no candidate of sufficient merit, the committee may recommend that the award not be made in that year.
View Award