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Division Spotlight
Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy
The mission of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy Division (NNPD) is to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology while simultaneously preventing the diversion and misuse of nuclear material and technology through appropriate safeguards and security, and promotion of nuclear nonproliferation policies. To achieve this mission, the objectives of the NNPD are to: Promote policy that discourages the proliferation of nuclear technology and material to inappropriate entities. Provide information to ANS members, the technical community at large, opinion leaders, and decision makers to improve their understanding of nuclear nonproliferation issues. Become a recognized technical resource on nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, and security issues. Serve as the integration and coordination body for nuclear nonproliferation activities for the ANS. Work cooperatively with other ANS divisions to achieve these objective nonproliferation policies.
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
Nuclear Technology
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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.
Student members are an important part of the American Nuclear Society. You are tomorrow's leaders and will shape the future of nuclear science and technology. Join ANS today to connect with others in the worldwide nuclear community, take advantage of opportunities to advance your education and career, and play an active role in advocating for the future of nuclear technology.
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Connect.
Students are ANS’s fastest growing membership base and represent the future of the Society and the nuclear field. We have more than 60 active Student Sections with new sections added every year. Our student members organize and host an annual Student Conference attended by nearly 500 students. ANS is an association created by and for people like you.
Learn.
Take your education outside of the classroom by participating in our Mentor Match program; we’ll pair you with an experienced professional in your area of interest. Or travel to an ANS meeting to make connections in person – students receive substantially discounted registration rates and can save even more by applying for financial support offered for national meetings.
We’re here to support your academic pursuits as well – apply for one of our need or academic merit scholarships or take advantage of full electronic access to all ANS publications, including our three highly-respected scientific journals. ANS also has an online library of on-demand webinars covering a variety of topics that you can use to dive deeper into your area of study or learn about something entirely new.
Change the world.
ANS members are rising to meet the unique challenges of our time. We ceaselessly advocate and educate to expand the clean, safe, and reliable energy source we know nuclear to be. In recent years, ANS has introduced nuclear science and energy curriculum into K-12 classrooms throughout the country, reaching 1.6 million students and counting. We’ve also created the ANS Rapid Response Taskforce to provide accurate and scientifically grounded information to the media. Finally, ANS works on behalf of its members to advocate for policies to advance nuclear science and technology at the national and state levels.
Join ANS and help us shape the future of nuclear today.
Last modified August 21, 2023, 2:33pm CDT