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
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
Meeting Spotlight
2027 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
October 31–November 4, 2027
Washington, DC|The Westin Washington, DC Downtown
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
Nov 2024
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
December 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
November 2024
Latest News
Disney World should have gone nuclear
There is extra significance to the American Nuclear Society holding its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, this past week. That’s because in 1967, the state of Florida passed a law allowing Disney World to build a nuclear power plant.
John Kessler (J. Kessler and Associates, LLC)
Proceedings | 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference (IHLRWM 2017) | Charlotte, NC, April 9-13, 2017 | Pages 14-19
Many countries have separate regulations for used nuclear fuel (UNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW) storage, transportation, recycling, and disposal. In general, each regulation sets a maximum annual dose or health risk just for that waste management component (storage, transportation, or disposal). In addition to dose or health risk limits, many of the regulations either specifically require or recommend that the health risk to members of the public be kept As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) using Best Available Technology (BAT). Again, ALARA and BAT requirements are to be applied only to the system that it is subject to the regulation. This paper provides some examples of the impacts of health risk from the entire back end of the fuel cycle from attempts to minimize risk from just one part of the back end of the fuel cycle. With separate regulations that minimize individual dose rates for storage, transportation, and disposal, the overall health risk from the back end of the fuel cycle may not be minimized. This calls into the question whether ALARA and BAT concepts should be part of compliance.