ANS to hold teacher workshop at Annual Meeting in Atlanta on June 15

May 1, 2013, 6:00AMANS Nuclear Cafe

The American Nuclear Society's Center for Nuclear Science and Technology Information and the ANS Outreach Department will sponsor a full-day teacher workshop on Saturday, June 15, in Atlanta, Georgia. The workshop-Detecting Radiation in Our Radioactive World-is for science educators, including elementary, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, physical science, life science, environmental, and general science teachers. The workshop will be held the day before the beginning of the ANS Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

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Table of Nuclides at June 2012 workshop

This full-day workshop will prepare attendees to teach the basics about radiation, how we detect radiation, and the uses of nuclear science and technology in society. Teachers who complete the workshop will receive a wealth of materials-background information, hands-on activities, and supplementary resources-as well as a free Geiger counter. Career opportunities in nuclear science and technology will be highlighted during the sessions.

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"We're excited to be offering this overview of radiation and nuclear science to teachers," said Chuck Vincent, ANS Outreach administrator. "Workshop participants are always eager to receive their free Geiger counters and learn about hands-on demonstrations that they can use in their classrooms."

Scheduled presenters include:

  • Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar, assistant professor of Nuclear Engineering, Idaho State University, and research scientist at Idaho National Laboratory
  • Candace Davison, senior reactor operator and educational specialist, Breazeale Reactor, Penn State University
  • William "Art" Wharton, III, principal project engineer,

    Westinghouse Electrical Company; Monroeville, Pa.

  • Eric Loewen, past president of the American Nuclear Society, and chief engineer-General Electric, Wilmington, N.C.
  • William Wabberson, Facility Evaluation Board, SRNS,

    member of Savannah River Local Section of ANS, Aiken, S.C.

Other educators and nuclear specialists may also make presentations.

Please visit the ANS website for more information, including an informative announcement flyer and online registration form. The workshop will be limited in size to optimize interaction with presenters. Registration is on a first-come first-served basis.

There is a $89 nonrefundable registration fee-which includes continental breakfast, lunch, printed materials, and a Civil Defense Surplus analog radiation monitor-for teachers to reserve a place at the workshop. Hurry, registration fee is $135 after May 15.  The registration deadline is Tuesday May 28.

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Detecting alpha and beta particles with cloud chamber

Funding for the workshop is provided in part by individual and organizational contributions to ANS's Center for Nuclear Science and Technology Information.

The following video provides feedback from teachers and presenters who attended an ANS teacher workshop held before the 2011 ANS Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Fla.


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