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Division Spotlight
Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
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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Jun 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
June 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Argonne creates new methodology for digital twins
Hu
Argonne National Laboratory has added a new twist to digital twin technology for research into nuclear energy. According to Rui Hu, a principal nuclear engineer at Argonne, “Our digital twin technology introduces a significant step toward understanding and managing advanced nuclear reactors, enabling us to predict and respond to changes with the required speed and accuracy.”
The research of Hu and his colleagues, “Development of Whole System Digital Twins for Advanced Reactors: Leveraging Graph Neural Networks and SAM Simulations,” was published in the American Nuclear Society journal Nuclear Technology.
Virtual representation: A digital twin technology is an accurate virtual representation of a complex system. It is updated with real-time data from sensors applied to the physical system, such as a nuclear reactor.
June 8, 2022|11:00AM–12:00PM (12:00–1:00PM EDT)
Available to All Users
Join us for a special members-only conversation on the Netflix series, "Meltdown: Three Mile Island." ANS Executive Director / CEO Craig Piercy will talk to Lake Barrett to hear his perspective on the series and will discuss what really happened at Three Mile Island.
About Lake Barrett
Lake is an independent consultant in the energy field serving in both government and commercial capacities in the nuclear energy and nuclear materials management areas for over 5 decades. He currently actively supports the recovery of the Fukushima nuclear reactor accident serving as a senior advisor to the Japanese Government’s International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning and the Tokyo Electric Power Company. In these areas he has testified before the US Congress and has provided extensive public media explanations.
At the Department of Energy, he served as the Principal Deputy (10 years) and Acting Director (5 years) of the Office of Civilian Nuclear Waste Management reporting directly to five different Secretaries implementing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, which involved complex scientific repository site evaluations and statutory processes, utility contract management and litigation, the integration of spent fuel storage and transportation considerations for existing reactor sites and for separate central storage facilities, and international and regulatory programs. Also, he served in Defense Programs (currently NNSA) as a director to change and improve national security, safety, and environmental protection cultures and operations at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant leading to the successful restoration of plutonium operations and safe decommissioning.
At the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, he served at multiple senior technical and executive positions including being the onsite Director and senior federal official for the clean-up of the Three Mile Island reactor accident in the early 1980s.
Lake also served in multiple reactor design, construction, operation, and decommissioning positions for both submarine and commercial power reactors at Bechtel Power and Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, including the last nuclear refueling of the SSN Nautilus.
He has BS and MS engineering degrees from the University of Connecticut, a registered professional engineer, Fellow of the American Nuclear Society, served on many national and international committees, and has received various honors such as the President’s Meritorious Excellence Award, Secretary of Energy’s Gold Award, DOE and NRC Meritorious Service Awards, and the Congressional Award for Exemplary Service Finalist. He is currently active in his Christ Venice Church as a Trustee/Leader, including serving on various international humanitarian missions.
Resources
The following are past presentations about Three Mile Island conducted by Lake:
VT TMI Accident Workshop (Accident-Evacuation details)
ANS 2019 Lessons Presentation
General Accident-Cleanup Presentation
