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
Accelerator Applications
The division was organized to promote the advancement of knowledge of the use of particle accelerator technologies for nuclear and other applications. It focuses on production of neutrons and other particles, utilization of these particles for scientific or industrial purposes, such as the production or destruction of radionuclides significant to energy, medicine, defense or other endeavors, as well as imaging and diagnostics.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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
Jan 2025
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
A more open future for nuclear research
A growing number of institutional, national, and funder mandates are requiring researchers to make their published work immediately publicly accessible, through either open repositories or open access (OA) publications. In addition, both private and public funders are developing policies, such as those from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the European Commission, that ask researchers to make publicly available at the time of publication as much of their underlying data and other materials as possible. These, combined with movement in the scientific community toward embracing open science principles (seen, for example, in the dramatic rise of preprint servers like arXiv), demonstrate a need for a different kind of publishing outlet.
Challenge: Rejuvenate nuclear technology infrastructure and facilities.
How: There is an urgent need to rejuvenate and build the infrastructure, facilities, and skilled associated scientific staff involved in the research, testing, development, and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. Maintaining this national testbed is critical to support vibrant commercial nuclear businesses.
Background: Developing new technologies and their use in nuclear applications is an expensive proposition. Due to the high level of quality and reliability required for nuclear applications, navigating the complex path from development to implementation and profitable production can be a daunting and cost prohibitive process. Ensuring that there is clear guidance for new and existing suppliers will lead to competitive and cost-effective options available in nuclear technologies markets. In addition, having reliable, consistent guidance will assist regulators in quickly processing new applications.
Developing the national assets of research and test facilities, be they government-operated or commercial, would provide a consistent basis for testing and approving new technologies. This applies not only to new technologies, but also to the development of replacement equipment needed for older systems.
For years, the attitude has been to operate systems to failure, because by then there would have been a replacement system, process, or part. Then is now. In many cases the replacement system or process, or more frequently the needed parts to maintain the current capability, does not exist. Now it will cost more to consider, design, build, and operate the needed replacement facilities. Now it will cost even more to restore needed systems to prior standards, and even more to meet many of the current standards.
The higher costs are coming at a time when it is more difficult to acquire the necessary funds to perform everything that nuclear professionals are being requested to perform. On top of that, additional funds are required for infrastructure maintenance to keep plants operating into the future. None of these funds are stable into the long term. Companies are spending significant funds to replace operations due to aging infrastructure. They must also finance ongoing maintenance program upgrades, which in turn lead to more spent on maintenance. Additional costs are being incurred working off legacy and deferred maintenance and facilities upgrades to extend their lives. Many times, issues arise due to the cost associated with upgrades and replacements.
Last modified May 12, 2017, 1:23am CDT
