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
Human Factors, Instrumentation & Controls
Improving task performance, system reliability, system and personnel safety, efficiency, and effectiveness are the division's main objectives. Its major areas of interest include task design, procedures, training, instrument and control layout and placement, stress control, anthropometrics, psychological input, and motivation.
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.
ANS serves educators, students and everyone interested in nuclear science and technology. Sign up below to receive news and resources for in and out of the classroom.
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Navigating Nuclear: Energizing Our World
In 2018, ANS set the ambitious goal of ensuring every teacher and student in America has access to fact-based nuclear science and technology resources. Navigating Nuclear: Energizing Our World™, the K-12 nuclear science and energy curriculum created in partnership with Discovery Education and lead funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, was a first step in achieving that goal. The program has reached more than 1.6 million students since its launch.
Learn more about nuclear science and technology
Nuclear Ambassadors
ANS helps get students excited about nuclear through classroom visits by nuclear professionals across the country. Volunteers from ANS's vast network of Local and Student Sections help with classroom learning activities while opening students' eyes to the world of possibilities nuclear careers have to offer.
Contact us if you would like an ANS member to visit your classroom or if you're an ANS member and would like to volunteer.
Check out our growing collection of resources
Educator Training
ANS makes teaching nuclear science a little less intimidating and empowers educators to inspire their students with confidence. The Society offers educator workshops and free webinars to allow educators to learn directly from nuclear experts in the field.
Learn more about our educator training resources
Pathways to Nuclear
The nuclear workforce is growing and ANS is helping ensure we can meet the needs of the evolving industry. Students can learn about careers through virtual and in-person visits with ANS Nuclear Ambassadors, interviews with professionals in a wide range of nuclear careers, and profiles of people making an impact on our world.
Discover your own pathway to nuclear
ANS Accelerators
The ANS Accelerators are a student-led group that brings together high school students nationwide to learn about nuclear science and technology. The Accelerators host monthly virtual meetings dedicated to sharing knowledge, connecting with their peers, and learning from professionals in the field.
Accelerate your nuclear learning journey
Last modified January 16, 2025, 3:04pm CST