ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Getting back to yes: A local perspective on decommissioning, restart, and responsibility
For 45 years, Duane Arnold Energy Center operated in Linn County, Ia., near the town of Palo and just northwest of Cedar Rapids. The facility, owned by NextEra Energy, was the only nuclear power plant in the state.
In August 2020, a historic derecho swept across eastern Iowa with winds approaching 140 miles per hour. Damage to the plant’s cooling towers accelerated a shutdown that had already been planned, and the facility entered decommissioning soon after, with its fuel removed in October of that year. Iowa’s only nuclear plant had gone off line.
Today the national energy landscape looks very different than it did just six short years ago. Electricity demand is rising rapidly as data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and electrification expand across the country. Reliable, carbon-free baseload power has become increasingly valuable. In that context, Linn County has approved the rezoning necessary to support the recommissioning and restart of Duane Arnold and is actively supporting NextEra’s efforts to secure the remaining state and federal approvals.
ANS provides various free resources for outreach events and activities, as well as Nuclear Ambassador training. See below for handouts, presentations, brochures, online tools to share, and more!
When did you decide to pursue a career in nuclear science and technology? Maybe you always knew. Or you met a nuclear engineer. Or you fell in love with nuclear science in high school chemistry or physics.
From kindergarten through high school graduation and beyond, students are gaining knowledge and forming opinions that will influence the rest of their lives, and you can play a huge part in supporting their learning journey! Share your passion for all things nuclear with students using resources ANS developed specifically for use in classroom visits, informal learning settings like afterschool and summer programs, virtual and in-person STEM events, or anywhere you care to spread knowledge about the benefits of nuclear science and technology.
If you're interested in becoming a Nuclear Ambassador, click this link!
Make radiation real with a FREE ANS Visualizing Radiation Cloud Chamber Kit. Perfect for K-12 presentations and public outreach events.
Make the complex world of nuclear easier to understand with these presentations. Designed specifically for K-12 students, they provide background knowledge for nuclear science and technology lab activities, such as those in Navigating Nuclear lessons and project starters.
Nuclear energy is a safe, reliable source of clean energy. Introduce students to the facts about nuclear energy and bust some myths, too.
Download
Learn about sources of background and man-made radiation. Then use a radiation monitor to compare radioactive sources.
Radiation is all around us. Cloud chambers are an engaging way to visualize it. Use this presentation to accompany a cloud chamber lab activity.
Radiation Dose CalculatorOne of our most popular pages on the entire website! Users can calculate their estimated annual radiation dose.
Isotope Discovery AppA dynamic tool that allows users to explore isotopes through an interactive periodic table and nuclide graph.
Virtual Field TripsTour a nuclear power plant, a national lab, or travel into deep space!
Careers BrochureDescribes various nuclear-related career paths as well as education requirements and pay range.
Visualizing Radiation PosterExplains alpha, beta, and gamma decay, including how this appears in a cloud chamber.
