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
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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.
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
The Honorable Annie Caputo was sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Aug. 9, 2022, and is serving the remainder of a five-year term ending June 30, 2026. Commissioner Caputo previously served on the NRC Commission from 2018 to 2021.
Commissioner Caputo has over two decades of government and private- sector experience in nuclear energy and security policy. Caputo has a distinguished career as a nuclear engineer and, policy advisor, and has made significant contributions related to federal nuclear energy policy.
Prior to her most recent appointment as an NRC Commissioner, she consulted for the Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory, promoting international collaboration on advanced nuclear reactors. Prior to her work at INL, she served a short-term assignment with the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, where she assisted with the National Nuclear Security Administration’s portfolio.
Prior to joining the NRC, she spent over 13 years as a staff member in the U.S. Congress advancing key policies and initiatives related to nuclear regulation, science and technology, energy, and the environment. She served as senior policy advisor for Sen. John Barrasso and former Sen. James Inhofe when each were chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Notably, she supported the Senators’ work on nuclear energy policy and NRC oversight.
From 2005-2006 and 2012-2015, she worked for the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, overseeing a variety of nuclear energy issues. She supported then-Chairman Joe Barton and Fred Upton with oversight of DOE and NRC. Prior to her positions on Capitol Hill, she worked for Exelon Corporation in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in both nuclear generation and governmental affairs.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, with an emphasis in communications. She previously studied Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University.
Early in her career she worked as a ski instructor and patroller, and served as a volunteer firefighter/emergency medical technician. In addition to her many accomplishments, she brings ingenuity to her hobbies as an avid quilter and crafter.
Last modified July 26, 2024, 11:41am EDT
