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Division Spotlight
Radiation Protection & Shielding
The Radiation Protection and Shielding Division is developing and promoting radiation protection and shielding aspects of nuclear science and technology — including interaction of nuclear radiation with materials and biological systems, instruments and techniques for the measurement of nuclear radiation fields, and radiation shield design and evaluation.
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2025
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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.
2020 ANS Virtual Winter Meeting Plenary Session Speaker
Dr. Cool is currently the Technical Executive for Radiation Safety with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). In this role, he provides technical guidance in radiation safety and protection, and is actively involved in EPRI research on low dose radiation effects.
Dr. Cool received his B.S. degree in Biology from Houghton College. His Masters and Doctorate degrees are in Radiation Biology from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Dr. Cool retired from the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in July 2015, after more than 32 years of service. He was a Senior Executive and Senior Advisor overseeing and coordinating a wide range of activities related to radiation protection, safety and security of byproduct materials, decommissioning and waste management, radiation protection regulation, policy and guidance, and international standards.
Dr. Cool has been a leader in U.S. and international radiation protection, standards, and recommendations throughout his career. He is a member of the Main Commission of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, and Chair of ICRP Committee 4. He is a Council Member of the U.S. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements and was the Co-Chair of NCRP Council Committee 1 which produced NCRP Report 180, Management of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation: Radiation Protection Guidance for the United States. He has served on numerous panels and expert groups of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Nuclear Energy Agency.
Dr. Cool is a Fellow of the Health Physics Society.
Last modified October 26, 2020, 9:24am EDT
