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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.
2020 ANS Virtual Winter Meeting Plenary Session Speaker
U. S. Department of Energy, Retired
Alex Larzelere is the former Federal Director for the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy’s Modeling and Simulation Energy Innovation Hub. As such, he was involved with developing the original vision, writing the Funding Opportunity Announcement, and conducting the Merit Review Process that resulted in CASL. Over the next six years, Alex executed the “light federal touch” for the oversight of the Hub. Alex has been involved with advanced computing and modeling and simulation for about 30 years in a variety of roles. These include, running technology transfer programs, helping to start the Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI) for the simulation of nuclear weapons, working for private industry, and starting his own companies.
He is the author of, “Delivering Insight, the History of the First 10 Years of ASCI”. Also, Alex served in the U.S. Coast Guard, sailing on cutters in Southeast Alaska. He is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Alex Larzelere is now retired, traveling with his wife, Mary Ann, playing with his grandson, and writing his memoirs.
Last modified November 4, 2020, 9:43am EST
