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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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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.
Thursday, October 13th First Tour starts at 9am (several tours available but limited space)
Register for these when you register for the meeting. Cost: $15
Buses depart from the hotel lobby 30 minutes prior to the tour start time.
9:00am Tour: Bus Departs from Hotel 8:30am - Bus Returns to Hotel 10:00am
9:45am Tour: Bus Departs from Hotel9:15am - Bus Returns to Hotel 10:45am
10:30am Tour: Bus Departs from Hotel10:00am - Bus Returns to Hotel 11:30am
11:15am Tour: Bus Departs from Hotel10:45am - Bus Returns to Hotel 12:15pm
12:00pm Tour: Bus Departs from Hotel11:30am - Bus Returns to Hotel 1:00pm
The PULSTAR Reactor is a 1-MW pool-type nuclear research reactor which is administered by the Nuclear Reactor Program and located in Burlington Laboratory on the N.C. State north campus. The NC State reactor is one of two PULSTAR reactors built, and the only one still in operation. The other reactor was a 2 MW reactor at the University of Buffalo, which went critical in 1964 and was decommissioned in 1994.
Photo ID’s are required to be presented for every person attending the tour. No cell phones, cameras, bags (e.g., backpacks, purses, etc.), or weapons are allowed in the reactor facility. Contact the Manager of Engineering and Operations for more information.
The history of the Nuclear Reactor Program at North Carolina State University goes back to 1950 and the construction of the R-1 reactor, the first academic research reactor in the world. Since then, an additional three reactors have been built at three different sites on the NC State campus; R-2 & R-3 in the original “south” Burlington Lab, R-4 in the Bureau of Mines building, and the 1-MW PULSTAR adjacent to “north” Burlington Lab.Read more about the history of NC State’s Nuclear Reactor Program. Also view NCSU Libraries’ photo collection of these and other historical photos of the reactor.
Photo ID is required to enter the facility.
Last modified September 8, 2022, 4:08pm EDT
