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
Nuclear Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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
Feb 2025
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
February 2025
Latest News
Colin Judge: Testing structural materials in Idaho’s newest hot cell facility
Idaho National Laboratory’s newest facility—the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL)—sits across the road from the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF), which started operating in 1975. SPL will host the first new hot cells at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) in 50 years, giving INL researchers and partners new flexibility to test the structural properties of irradiated materials fresh from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) or from a partner’s facility.
Materials meant to withstand extreme conditions in fission or fusion power plants must be tested under similar conditions and pushed past their breaking points so performance and limitations can be understood and improved. Once irradiated, materials samples can be cut down to size in SPL and packaged for testing in other facilities at INL or other national laboratories, commercial labs, or universities. But they can also be subjected to extreme thermal or corrosive conditions and mechanical testing right in SPL, explains Colin Judge, who, as INL’s division director for nuclear materials performance, oversees SPL and other facilities at the MFC.
SPL won’t go “hot” until January 2026, but Judge spoke with NN staff writer Susan Gallier about its capabilities as his team was moving instruments into the new facility.
Advanced Reactor Safety (ARS)
Plenary Session
Tuesday, June 18, 2024|8:00–9:45AM PDT|Palm A
Speakers Click on a photo to view the speaker's bio (if available)
For the opening Plenary for the Advanced Reactor Safety Conference, we have invited four distinguished leaders in advanced reactor safety to talk about where we go in the future. While the conference focuses on current and recent past work in ARS, we know there are issues and gaps that we as an ARS community need to address. The Panel includes Anna Gomez-Cobo the Head of the Safety Assessment Section at the IAEA who will talk about upcoming activities and interests at the IAEA, and Dr. Han-Gon Kim, President of the Innovative SMR Development Agency who will discuss issues related to SMR development in Korea. In addition, Anders Gilbertson, Senior Project Manager from the NRC division of Advanced Reactors, and Craig Stover, Senior Program Manager from EPRI’s Advanced Nuclear Technology Program, will discuss challenges in licensing and building the numerous advanced reactor designs being developed in the U.S.
Additionally, we will be honoring Dr. Ian Wall by presenting him with the Theo (Tommy) Thompson Award for lifetime contributions in the field of nuclear reactor safety.
To join the conversation, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
