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Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
June 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Nominations open for CNTA awards
Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness is accepting nominations for its Fred C. Davison Distinguished Scientist Award and its Nuclear Service Award. Nominations for both awards must be submitted by August 1.
The awards will be presented this fall as part of the CNTA’s annual Edward Teller Lecture event.
Chicago Local Section Event
March 7, 2023|7:00–8:00PM (8:00–9:00PM EST)
Available to All Users
Global interest in safe, clean, carbon-free and reliable power has attracted renewed interest in advanced nuclear reactor designs. The Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing (NEXT) Lab at Abilene Christian University (ACU) has partnered with the NEXT Research Alliance (NEXTRA) to design, build and operate a research reactor at ACU. This molten-salt cooled, liquid-fueled, research reactor will be the first advanced reactor licensed for operation by a university. NEXTRA is a collaboration between ACU, Texas A&M, The University of Texas, and Georgia Institute of Technology and is sponsored by Natura Resources. This talk addressed the advantages of molten salt reactors, the status of the Molten Salt Research Reactor, and plans for commercial deployment.
Established in 2016, NEXT is building a molten salt research reactor with the ability to create safe, clean energy, provide drinkable water, and produce medical isotopes that are used to treat cancer. NEXT has collaborated with colleagues from Georgia Tech University, Texas A&M University, and The University of Texas at Austin since 2019 as partners in their work. The year 2020 was pivotal for the project as NEXT received funding of $30.5 million from Natura Resources, secured their first patent, and began talks about building a state-of-the-art research space on the former property of Taylor Elementary School. The rapid growth has been both surprising and exciting as NEXT moves toward its ultimate goal of blessing the world with this unprecedented technology.
Presenter
Rusty Towell is the founding director for ACU’s premiere research project called NEXT (Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing). NEXT is focused on advanced reactor research and development. Rusty grew up in Texas and graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1990 with an Engineering Physics degree. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant while serving as an instructor at the Naval Nuclear Power School. Upon his discharge, he entered into postgraduate work, taking up studies at the University of Texas, where he earned a PhD in nuclear physics. Rusty completed a postdoctoral research fellowship with Los Alamos National Laboratory working on the PHENIX experiment at the Brookhaven National Lab, and in 2001 he joined the physics faculty at ACU.