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
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2026
Nuclear Technology
March 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
NN Asks: What’s needed to get space nuclear off the ground?
Kate Kelly
For decades, the thrill of space exploration has ignited the imaginations of engineers, scientists, and innovators alike. The dream of expanding humanity’s reach beyond Earth continues to attract the brightest minds, fueling groundbreaking advancements. As we set our sights on missions that venture farther and last longer in the cosmos, one truth stands out: Nuclear technology is the key to unlocking these bold ambitions. Its impact goes far beyond any single mission, driving a surge of momentum that not only propels space exploration but also energizes the entire nuclear ecosystem—sparking innovation and growth in an era of unprecedented opportunity.
Workshop
Thursday, April 4, 2024|1:30–4:00PM EDT|Engineering Design and Innovation Building Room 326
Session Organizers:
Carolina Dutra (Penn State University)
Luiz Aldeia Machado (Penn State University)
Want to learn about Nek5000? In this hands-on workshop, Dr. Elia Merzari (PSU) and PSU students will guide attendees as they explore this open-source computational fluid dynamics code known for its scalability and precision. Nek5000 combines spectral methods with finite element techniques, making it versatile for various nuclear energy applications. It can conduct DNS, LES, and unsteady RANS simulations and accommodates both incompressible and low-Mach models. All attendees are expected to bring their personal computers. No prior experience with using the software is required.
Speaker
Elia Merzari
Dr. Elia Merzari received his Ph.D. from the Tokyo Institute of Technology with a thesis on the use of advanced computational fluid dynamics techniques for the simulation of flows in rod bundles. After graduation, he remained at the same institute as a Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science fellow. In 2009, he joined Argonne National Laboratory, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as a regular staff in 2010. At Argonne, Dr. Merzari served in several roles in the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program, for which he currently is the thermal-fluids lead. In 2019, he joined the faculty at Penn State as an associate professor. Dr. Merzari’s research relies on predictive large-scale simulations of turbulence to improve our physical understanding of complex flows and to ultimately design safer and more efficient nuclear reactors.
To join the conversation, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
