ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Operations & Power
Members focus on the dissemination of knowledge and information in the area of power reactors with particular application to the production of electric power and process heat. The division sponsors meetings on the coverage of applied nuclear science and engineering as related to power plants, non-power reactors, and other nuclear facilities. It encourages and assists with the dissemination of knowledge pertinent to the safe and efficient operation of nuclear facilities through professional staff development, information exchange, and supporting the generation of viable solutions to current issues.
Meeting 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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jun 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2025
Nuclear Technology
July 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Take steps on SNF and HLW disposal
Matt Bowen
With a new administration and Congress, it is time once again to ponder what will happen—if anything—on U.S. spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste management policy over the next few years. One element of the forthcoming discussion seems clear: The executive and legislative branches are eager to talk about recycling commercial SNF. Whatever the merits of doing so, it does not obviate the need for one or more facilities for disposal of remaining long-lived radionuclides. For that reason, making progress on U.S. disposal capabilities remains urgent, lest the associated radionuclide inventories simply be left for future generations to deal with.
In March, Rick Perry, who was secretary of energy during President Trump’s first administration, observed that during his tenure at the Department of Energy it became clear to him that any plan to move SNF “required some practical consent of the receiving state and local community.”1
Scouts of all ages anywhere in the world can learn about nuclear science and technology through the Get to Know Nuclear patch developed by the American Nuclear Society and the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Girl Scout Council.
Get to Know Nuclear is earned by scouts working together. Many troops hold in-person workshops where troops earn the patch in a single day, but workshops don’t have to be in person! Workshops can be completed virtually or using a combined approach.
We’ve gathered the resources troops need to hold a patch event online or person-to-person. And we’re happy to connect you with an ANS member experienced in Get to Know Nuclear patch events to assist your troop. Just contact us at askanything@ans.org
The BSA offers a Nuclear Science Merit Badge, which was developed with assistance from American Nuclear Society members. The resources provided here may also be used in meeting some of the Nuclear Science Merit Badge requirements.
Requirements
Requirements to earn Get to Know Nuclear focus on learning about nuclear science and technology through teamwork and engaging activities. While the requirements are most suitable for older scouts, they are also flexible, so scouts of all ages can get to know nuclear!
Discuss: What is the electromagnetic spectrum? What are atoms? How are they structured? What is the difference between an atom and an isotope? What makes an atom stable?
Learn about atomic structure and more
Radiation Basics PowerPoint (includes atomic structure)
Activities (do one)
Contact
Last modified March 6, 2024, 12:25pm CST