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
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
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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
Jan 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
A series of firsts delivers new Plant Vogtle units
Southern Nuclear was first when no one wanted to be.
The nuclear subsidiary of the century-old utility Southern Company, based in Atlanta, Ga., joined a pack of nuclear companies in the early 2000s—during what was then dubbed a “nuclear renaissance”—bullish on plans for new large nuclear facilities and adding thousands of new carbon-free megawatts to the grid.
In 2008, Southern Nuclear applied for a combined construction and operating license (COL), positioning the company to receive the first such license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2012. Also in 2008, Southern became the first U.S. company to sign an engineering, procurement, and construction contract for a Generation III+ reactor. Southern chose Westinghouse’s AP1000 pressurized water reactor, which was certified by the NRC in December 2011.
Fast forward a dozen years—which saw dozens of setbacks and hundreds of successes—and Southern Nuclear and its stakeholders celebrated the completion of Vogtle Units 3 and 4: the first new commercial nuclear power construction project completed in the U.S. in more than 30 years.
The American Nuclear Society provides statements which reflect the Society's perspectives on issues of public interest that involve various aspects of nuclear science and technology. Position statements are prepared by key members whose relevant experience or publications inform the documents and then the documents are reviewed by ANS committees and divisions. The final position statements are approved by the Board of Directors.
Advanced Reactors — ANS-35-2022
Read the Statement
Assuring U.S. Global Nuclear Leadership — ANS-83-2021
Clearance of Solid Materials from Nuclear Facilities — ANS-50-2023
Creation of an Independent Entity to Manage U.S. Used Nuclear Fuel — ANS-22-2015
Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Reactors — ANS-13-2015
Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste — ANS-11-2017
More:Background Information
Disposition of Surplus Weapons Plutonium — ANS-47-2020
Diversity in the Nuclear Profession — ANS-66-2018
Domestic Production of Stable and Radioactive Isotopes — ANS-30-2022
Education, Training, and Workforce Development for Nuclear Science, Engineering, and Technology — ANS-85-2024
Fusion Energy — ANS-12-2016
Health Effects of Low-Level Radiation — ANS-41-2020
Interim Storage of Used or Spent Nuclear Fuel — ANS-76-2017
Licensing of Yucca Mountain as a Geological Repository for Radioactive Wastes — ANS-80-2017
Management of the Nation's Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Waste — ANS-3-2023
Nonproliferation — ANS-55-2023
Nuclear Energy's Role in Climate Change Policy — ANS-44-2022
More:Platform
Nuclear Engineering Licensure — ANS-61-2016
Nuclear Fuel Recycling — ANS-45-2014
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission — ANS-77-2022
Nuclear Technology's Critical Role In The World's Future Energy Supply — ANS-43-2019
Price-Anderson Act — ANS-54-2024
Risk-Informed and Performance-Based Regulations for Nuclear Power Plants — ANS-46-2017
Safeguards and Security for Advanced Reactors Using HALEU — ANS-84-2023
Safety of Nuclear Power — ANS-51-2021
Small Modular Reactors — ANS-25-2020
Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Systems — ANS-40-2024
Transportation of Radioactive Materials — ANS-18-2021
More:Backgrounder
U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants: A Vital National Asset — ANS-26-2017
The Use of Highly Enriched Uranium for the Production of Medical Isotopes — ANS-72-2022
The Use of Thorium as Nuclear Fuel — ANS-78-2020
