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Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Nuclear Installations Safety
Devoted specifically to the safety of nuclear installations and the health and safety of the public, this division seeks a better understanding of the role of safety in the design, construction and operation of nuclear installation facilities. The division also promotes engineering and scientific technology advancement associated with the safety of such facilities.
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!
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Feb 2025
Jul 2024
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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.
Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2023) Plenary SPeaker
Brad Tomer is Acting Director and serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) at the Idaho National Laboratory leading efforts to accelerate demonstration and deployment of advanced nuclear energy technology. Brad has extensive experience in moving technologies from research and development phase to commercial deployment in both the public and private sector.
Prior to NRIC, Brad served as Interim CEO and VP of Operations for Avitas Systems, a GE Venture offering robotic-based data collection techniques and cutting-edge analytics and artificial intelligence to drive predictive industrial insights and actions in the electric power and oil and gas industries. Brad is former Chief Engineer and General Manager of Advanced Technology for GE Oil and Gas where he was responsible for developing and implementing engineering processes and procedures and developing advanced technologies across the oil and gas value stream.
Prior to GE, Brad served as Chief Operating Officer at the National Energy Technology Laboratory implementing science and technology programs across the energy industry. While at NETL, Brad served as Director of the Office of Major Demonstrations overseeing a multi-billion-dollar investment in carbon capture, utilization, and storage from large point source emitters of carbon dioxide. In addition, Brad served as NETL’s Director for the Strategic Center for Natural Gas and Oil developing and implementing research and development programs in oil and gas exploration, production, infrastructure, and utilization.
Brad has an engineering Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University, an MBA from George Mason University, and a Masters degree from West Virginia University.
Last modified April 11, 2023, 6:43am MDT
