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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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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June 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
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High-temperature plumbing and advanced reactors
The use of nuclear fission power and its role in impacting climate change is hotly debated. Fission advocates argue that short-term solutions would involve the rapid deployment of Gen III+ nuclear reactors, like Vogtle-3 and -4, while long-term climate change impact would rely on the creation and implementation of Gen IV reactors, “inherently safe” reactors that use passive laws of physics and chemistry rather than active controls such as valves and pumps to operate safely. While Gen IV reactors vary in many ways, one thing unites nearly all of them: the use of exotic, high-temperature coolants. These fluids, like molten salts and liquid metals, can enable reactor engineers to design much safer nuclear reactors—ultimately because the boiling point of each fluid is extremely high. Fluids that remain liquid over large temperature ranges can provide good heat transfer through many demanding conditions, all with minimal pressurization. Although the most apparent use for these fluids is advanced fission power, they have the potential to be applied to other power generation sources such as fusion, thermal storage, solar, or high-temperature process heat.1–3
International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference
Plenary Session
Tuesday, November 15, 2022|8:00–9:45AM MST|Honeysuckle
Speakers
David Victor, PhDProfessor of Innovation and Public PolicyUniversity of California, San Diego
Kim Petry, PhDDeputy Assistant Secretary for Spent Fuel and Waste DispositionUS Department of Energy
Erika Holt, PhDCo-Coordinator of the Project “PREDIS: PRE-DISposal management of radioactive waste"VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd.
Dr. Cha Sung SooPresident & CEOKORAD (Korea Radioactive Waste Agency)
Since the last IHLRWM conference, many countries have made significant progress in radioactive waste management. A common lesson learned is that tight communication between the social, political, and physical science experts is the key to success. In this plenary you will hear from some of the international leaders who have been successful merging these areas of communication in nuclear waste management. First, Dr. Erika Holt, representing the Finnish radioactive waste management program, will discuss the significant progress made in Finland to the point that the initial phase of the spent nuclear fuel geologic disposal facility is nearly complete and a license application to operate the facility has been submitted to the regulator. She will also discuss the plans for the European Union’s five-year strategic R&D plan and how that is shaped by the technical needs of both the technical and social science needs of the EU programs. Next, Dr. Cha Sung Soo will discuss the progress and status of the Korean program and their lessons learned during attaining their achievements. Then, Dr. David Victor, professor at the University of California, San Diego and Chair of California’s San Onofre Nuclear Plant Community Engagement Panel (CEP), will discuss his experience and lessons learned regarding community engagement, specifically focusing on effective communication between the technical communities and the public. To close it off, Dr. Kim Petry, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition for the US Department of Energy, will discuss the current direction and focus of the US nuclear waste program and what is needed to make it successful. There will be time at the end for a robust and energetic question and answer session with discussion between the audience and the panel members.
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