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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!
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September 2025
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August 2025
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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.
Technical Session|Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion
Saturday, April 5, 2025|1:40–3:00PM MDT|Valle Grande 2
Session Chair:
Keenan R. Kresl-Hotz
Alternate Chair:
Melissa A. Moreno
Session Organizer:
Ashley Machado
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The Evolution of Radioisotopic Thermal Generators
1:40–2:00PM MDT
Olivia M. Belian (New Mexico State)
Paper
Architecture of a Nuclear Propulsion Structure for Interstellar Travel
2:00–2:20PM MDT
Grace E. Bittlingmaier (Beam Alpha)
Do Low Radioactivity Space Nuclear Systems Need a Complete Safety Analysis Review?
2:20–2:40PM MDT
Ana Laura Villicaña (Georgetown Univ.)
Conceptual Design of a 100kW Heat Pipe Cooled Yttrium Hydride Moderated Micro Reactor
2:40–3:00PM MDT
Ryan J. Sei (Missouri Univ. Science and Technology), Liatris Parker-Reece (Missouri Univ. Science and Technology), Steph Moore (Missouri Univ. Science and Technology)
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