ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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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
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.
Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2024) Plenary SPeaker
Richard Griffith serves as the Energy & Homeland Security Portfolio Sr. Campaign Manager for the Resilient Energy Systems Mission Campaign which is a portfolio of Lab Directed Research and Development focused on fundamental research aimed at improving the Nation’s energy and related infrastructure resilience to intentional and man-made threats.
Richard also serves as Program Manager for Nuclear Energy Safety and Security and the Senior Manager of the Nuclear Energy Safety Technology organization, which enhances energy security and nuclear fuel cycle viability by leading cutting-edge research and development in energy conversation, safety, security, and safeguards.
Richard began his Sandia career in 1990 as a developer for the CONTAIN reactor safety analysis code. In 1998, Richard joined Sandia’s management team in the Engineering Sciences Center. He managed several technical departments, including Plasma and Aerosol Sciences, Microscale and Non-Continuum Sciences, Thermal Sciences, and Vulnerability Technologies. Richard also served as Deputy for the Chem/Bio National Security Program and as Deputy for Safety and Security in Nuclear Weapons Engineering Campaign 6, where he created and funded technology projects to develop nuclear weapon qualification capabilities.
In 2010, Richard became the Senior Manager of the Complex Systems for National Security organization. While serving in this role, Richard accepted additional responsibilities as Laboratory Lead for the Resilience in Complex Systems Research Challenge; Program Manager for the Disaster Management and Resilience Program in the International, Homeland, and Nuclear Security (IHNS) Program Management Unit; and IHNS Laboratory Directed Research and Development Investment Area Lead.
Richard has a master’s degree and PhD in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University. He also received a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Arizona State University. Since 2017, Richard has served as an external advisory board member for Texas A&M University’s Department of Nuclear Energy and for University of New Mexico’s Department of Nuclear Energy.
Last modified February 20, 2024, 7:46am MST
