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
Education, Training & Workforce Development
The Education, Training & Workforce Development Division provides communication among the academic, industrial, and governmental communities through the exchange of views and information on matters related to education, training and workforce development in nuclear and radiological science, engineering, and technology. Industry leaders, education and training professionals, and interested students work together through Society-sponsored meetings and publications, to enrich their professional development, to educate the general public, and to advance nuclear and radiological science and engineering.
Meeting Spotlight
Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS 2023)
May 7–11, 2023
Idaho Falls, ID|Snake River Event Center
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
Mar 2023
Jan 2023
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2023
Nuclear Technology
April 2023
Fusion Science and Technology
February 2023
Latest News
Wanted: Information leading to a neutron source for fusion energy R&D
The Department of Energy’s Office of Science published a notice in the March 27 Federal Register calling for input on technological approaches to a Fusion Prototypic Neutron Source (FPNS) for materials irradiation research under DOE-SC’s Fusion Energy Sciences program, as well as partnership models that could accelerate the construction and delivery of the facility. The request for information (RFI) calls for responses by May 11.
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.