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Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Going Nuclear: Notes from the officially unofficial book tour
I work in the analytical labs at one of Europe’s oldest and largest nuclear sites: Sellafield, in northwestern England. I spend my days at the fume hood front, pipette in one hand and radiation probe in the other (and dosimeter pinned to my chest, of course). Outside the lab, I have a second job: I moonlight as a writer and public speaker. My new popular science book—Going Nuclear: How the Atom Will Save the World—came out last summer, and it feels like my life has been running at full power ever since.
Plenary Session|Sponsored by ANS
Wednesday, November 18, 2020|10:00–11:30AM EST
You've probably heard the expression, "Perception is reality." Similarly, one's concept of risk is significantly affected by personal experience and knowledge. One of the most misunderstood aspects of nuclear is radiation. So, what's the best way to communicate about the risk of low-dose radiation (levels to which we regulate) with non-scientists/engineers? What do we know and what would we like to know about the effects of low-dose radiation? How do we get from the latest studies on the effects low-dose radiation to applying the results of that study to dose regulation? What changes can be made to radiation protection practices based on what we know now? In particular, what should or could ANS do? How does our understanding of risk in the nuclear industry impact our practices and performance? What are the next steps toward increasing our understanding of low-dose radiation effects and improving the implementation of what we know? Panelist experts will address these questions, with plenty of time for audience Q&A.
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