ANS holds teacher workshop in Washington, DC
The American Nuclear Society's Public Education Program launched the ANS Winter 2011 Meeting and Nuclear Technology Expo with a one-day teacher workshop on Saturday, October 29, in Washington, DC. The workshop-Detecting Radiation in Our Radioactive World-is designed for science educators (including biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, physical science, life science, environmental, and general science teachers) at the high school and middle school levels. The workshop was held prior to the ANS Winter Conference, October 30-November 3, 2011.
The following video provides an overview of ANS's role in sponsoring teacher workshops and features footage from interviews conducted during the June 2011 ANS Teachers Workshop, held in Hollywood, Fla.
The full-day workshop prepares attendees to teach the basics about radiation, how we detect radiation, and the uses of nuclear science and technology in society. Teachers who completed the workshop received a wealth of materials-background information, hands-on activities, and supplementary resources-and a Geiger counter. Career opportunities in nuclear science and technology were highlighted during the sessions, and each teacher received a messenger bag braded with an ANS logo.
Teachers working on an activity to illustrate Rutherford's principles.
"We're excited to offer this overview of radiation and nuclear science to teachers in the Washington, DC area," said Chuck Vincent, ANS Outreach administrator. "Workshop participants are always eager to receive their free Geiger counters and learn about hands-on demonstrations that they can use in their classrooms."
ANS President Eric Loewen (left) and ANS Interim Executive Director Roger Tilbrook (right) speak to a room full of teachers attending the workshop.
Workshop presenters included:
- Peter Caracappa, radiation safety officer/clinical assistant professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Candace Davison, senior reactor operator and educational specialist, Breazeale Reactor, Penn State University
- Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar, assistant professor of nuclear engineering, Idaho State University, and research scientist at Idaho National Laboratory
- Eric P. Loewen, president-American Nuclear Society, chief engineer-General Electric, Wilmington, N.C.
Peter Caracappa speaks about radiation and health physics at the workshop.
