Join us for the Nuclear Nonproliferation Technical Group’s inaugural topical meeting

October 22, 2013, 6:00AMANS Nuclear CafeLenka Kollar

800px-Uscapitolindaylight-210x210The American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Nonproliferation Technical Group (NNTG) will host its first embedded topical meeting during the ANS Winter Meeting on November 10-14, 2013, in Washington, DC. The theme is "Nuclear Nonproliferation - First Fission to the Future" and will kick off with the opening plenary on Tuesday, November 12, at 8:00 a.m. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The invited speakers for the opening plenary include Laura Holgate, Senior Director of the National Security Council, and Rose Gottemoeller, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

ANS Annual / Winter Meetings: What goes in, and why YOU should attend

October 18, 2013, 8:57PMANS Nuclear CafeWill Davis

ANS Nuclear Cafe recently took the opportunity to ask a number of nuclear professionals and ANS staff members some questions about attending the organization's annual meetings - the ANS Annual Meeting held in the summer, and the ANS Winter Meeting held in late autumn.  The answers we received help us understand not only the benefits of attending these meetings, but also the work that goes into preparing large events with over a thousand attendees.

National Nuclear Science Week 2013 Is Next Week – Just Around the Corner

October 17, 2013, 6:00AMANS Nuclear CafeSuzy Hobbs Baker

NNSW13Poster 220x281In case you haven't already seen all of the tweets, facebook posts and posters, I am thrilled to let you know that next week is National Nuclear Science Week for 2013! For the past two years I've been very lucky to participate as a Steering Committee member for this educational and very fun event, which continues to grow exponentially each year thanks to our fantastic team of nuclear educators.

Washington offers great history and culture for ANS members at Winter Meeting

October 16, 2013, 2:57PMANS Nuclear CafeErik Rancatore

When it comes to taking in a city, I am the consummate planner. I need to make sure that every minute in a new city is taken advantage of with particular planning to the history of the city, as well as taking in the current culture. Washington, D.C., home to the American Nuclear Society's annual Winter Meeting on November 10-14, provides the perfect opportunity for ANS members to blend both of these together in planning out activities outside the conference.

How painful will the coming spike in natural gas prices be?

October 1, 2013, 10:00AMANS Nuclear CafeRod Adams

There is a good reason for American nuclear energy professionals to learn more about the dynamics of the natural gas market. We have been told numerous times that cheap natural gas is making our technology less and less viable in the competitive market place. Natural gas (also known as methane) is a terrific product, but it has been promoted as being capable of supplying a much larger portion of our overall energy demand. That promotional effort is putting us all at risk of a severe hangover when the low price bubble bursts.

Decommissioning of Private Assets is Public Matter in Japan; TEPCO Forges Ahead

September 26, 2013, 1:56PMANS Nuclear CafeWill Davis

FukushimaDaiichi5and6breakwall

Fukushima Daiichi Units 5 (left) and 6 (right) seen in October 2012 behind the newly completed breakwall.

Earlier this month, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe conducted a visit to Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station to examine conditions at the site and to gauge TEPCO's response to numerous ongoing problems. When Abe spoke to reporters after the visit, he mentioned (for reasons still unknown) that he had suggested to TEPCO that it decommission Unit 5 and Unit 6 on the site, so that it could focus its efforts squarely on the work required to recover from the nuclear accidents at Units 1, 2, and 3. This was reported with some surprise in many quarters.