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
NRC’s David Wright visits the Hill and more NRC news
Wright
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is in the spotlight today for three very different reasons. First, NRC Chair David Wright was on Capitol Hill yesterday for his renomination hearing in front of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee. Second, the NRC released its updated milestone schedules according to the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA) and the executive orders signed by President Trump last month; and third, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday, 28 former NRC officials have condemned the dismissal of Commissioner Hanson earlier this month.
Renomination: EPW Committee chair Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.) opened the hearing with a statement praising Wright’s experience and emphasized the urgency of stable leadership at the NRC.
“China is executing a rapid build-out of its nuclear industry,” Capito said. “The demand for clean, baseload power is skyrocketing as we position America to win the AI race.”
April 17, 2025|5:00–6:00PM (6:00–7:00PM EDT)
Available to All Users
Radiation is all around us—but how risky is it, really? Robert Hayes, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering at NC State University, puts radiological risk into perspective using data-driven comparisons and real-world examples. He examines how radiation exposure is measured, what levels are considered safe, and how public perception often diverges from scientific consensus.
Robert Hayes is an Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University and a joint faculty member at Savannah River National Laboratory. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, Certified Health Physicist, and Fellow of both the Health Physics Society and the American Physical Society. His research focuses on radiological risk assessment, radiation shielding, nuclear forensics, nonproliferation monitoring, retrospective dosimetry, air monitoring, and nuclear waste management. He previously held senior technical roles at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and the former Nevada Test Site, supporting operational radiation protection and safety analysis. Dr. Hayes also serves on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advisory Committee on Nuclear Security, contributing to national guidance on radiological safety and risk communication. His work integrates experimental measurements, regulatory compliance, engineering modeling, and public engagement to advance radiological protection in both technical and societal contexts.
Christopher Perfetti is an Associate Professor in the Nuclear Engineering Department at the University of New Mexico. Prior to his appointment at UNM, Chris was an R&D scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he served as the Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis Method Team Lead for the SCALE Code Package. Chris received BS and MS degrees in nuclear and radiological engineering from the University of Florida in 2007 and 2008, respectively, and his PhD in nuclear engineering from the University of Michigan in 2012. His research interests include sensitivity and uncertainty analysis method development, Monte Carlo method development, advanced reactor core design, nuclear criticality safety, radioisotope production, and radiation shielding. Chris has served as the Chair of the American Nuclear Society’s Reactor Physics Division, Chair of the Alpha Nu Sigma National Honor Society, Chair of the Trinity (NM) ANS Local Section, and Chair of the Oak Ridge/Knoxville ANS Local Section. He currently serves as the Secretary of the ANS Education, Training, and Workforce Development Division, as the Chair of the Adult Education Committee for the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, and as the General Chair of the upcoming M&C2025 topical meeting. In his free time, Chris enjoys cycling, hiking, and taking his daughters to museums.