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Division Spotlight
Young Members Group
The Young Members Group works to encourage and enable all young professional members to be actively involved in the efforts and endeavors of the Society at all levels (Professional Divisions, ANS Governance, Local Sections, etc.) as they transition from the role of a student to the role of a professional. It sponsors non-technical workshops and meetings that provide professional development and networking opportunities for young professionals, collaborates with other Divisions and Groups in developing technical and non-technical content for topical and national meetings, encourages its members to participate in the activities of the Groups and Divisions that are closely related to their professional interests as well as in their local sections, introduces young members to the rules and governance structure of the Society, and nominates young professionals for awards and leadership opportunities available to members.
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
Apr 2025
Jan 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2025
Nuclear Technology
April 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
General Kenneth Nichols and the Manhattan Project
Nichols
The Oak Ridger has published the latest in a series of articles about General Kenneth D. Nichols, the Manhattan Project, and the 1954 Atomic Energy Act. The series has been produced by Nichols’ grandniece Barbara Rogers Scollin and Oak Ridge (Tenn.) city historian David Ray Smith. Gen. Nichols (1907–2000) was the district engineer for the Manhattan Engineer District during the Manhattan Project.
As Smith and Scollin explain, Nichols “had supervision of the research and development connected with, and the design, construction, and operation of, all plants required to produce plutonium-239 and uranium-235, including the construction of the towns of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Richland, Washington. The responsibility of his position was massive as he oversaw a workforce of both military and civilian personnel of approximately 125,000; his Oak Ridge office became the center of the wartime atomic energy’s activities.”
ANS Standards Board established the Risk-informed, Performance-based Principles and Policy Committee (RP3C) to support modernizing of ANS standards. RP3C’s activities for training and knowledge sharing of risk-informed, performance-based (RIPB) principles and practices include the RP3C Community of Practice (CoP). The purpose of this CoP is to support knowledge sharing of the development and application of RIPB principles and practices within the nuclear industry. This can include, but is not limited to, nuclear power reactors, research reactors, fuel cycle, and decommissioning. It can include U.S. domestic and international activities as well.
This CoP is formally sponsored and led by RP3C. The CoP is held virtually on the last Friday of a month and is open to all professionals interested in RIPB principles and practices. Membership to this CoP is open to all professionals interested in RIPB principles and practices. Those interested in being included in announcements may contact standards@ans.org. Information about the next presentation and links to past presentations are provided below. Many of the CoP presentations are posted to ANS’s Nuclear Science and Technology Open Research (NST Open Research) platform in the RP3C CoP Collection. A bibliography of CoPs posted in NST Open Research is regularly updated.
What is a Community of Practice?
Communities of Practice (CoPs) are group of professionals who share knowledge around a specific topic, craft, or profession. They can form organically or be directed. They can be physical, virtual, or combinations thereof.
Why are CoPs important?
CoPs are well established ways to support knowledge management and transfer. They are used frequently by organizations to help break down organizational barriers where information typically flows up and then down and across an organization. CoPs provide like-minded professionals an opportunity to share knowledge outside of the normal management and project process. CoPs enrich a professional's development and strengthen an organization's ability to manage knowledge effectively.
Next CoP Presentation on Friday, April 4, 2025, from 3:00-4:00pm EASTERN
Title: "Risk-Informed Performance-Based Structural Design for External Hazards" by Fred Grant with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
ZOOM JOIN LINK
Methodologies
These presentations discuss the development of RIPB methodologies that are higher level than an individual standard. This content is most relevant to those interested in understanding the benefits, challenges, and lessons learned during efforts to produce approaches and/or guidance that combine and/or synthesize information from multiple different standards.
Standards
These presentations discuss the development of standards that include RIPB methods and/or approaches. This content is most relevant to those interested in understanding the benefits, challenges, and lessons learned during efforts to revise an existing standard to incorporate RIPB principles as well as those developing new standards that incorporate these methods.
Concepts
These presentations discuss concepts that are foundational and/or complementary to RIPB methods. This content is most relevant to those interested in developing and/or applying RIPB approaches (e.g., standards or methodologies).
Applications
These presentations discuss tangible examples of applying RIPB methods in various contexts. This content is most relevant to those who would benefit from understanding the benefits, challenges, and lessons learned from implementing RIPB approaches (e.g., standards, methodologies, or guidance).
Perspectives
These presentations provide various perspectives on the role of RIPB principles, methods, and approaches in current topics or issues. This content is most relevant to those interested in understanding the status and potential future implementation of RIPB principles, methods, and approaches.
Informational
These presentations provide information about various topics related to RIPB principles, policies, and applications. This content is most relevant to those interested in learning about the important aspects of performance-based regulation history, ASME Section XI Division 2, and the next steps for the 10 CFR Part 53 rulemaking effort.
This CoP is formally sponsored and led by RP3C. The CoP is held virtually on the last Friday of a month and is open to all professionals interested in RIPB principles and practices. Membership to this CoP is open to all professionals interested in RIPB principles and practices. Those interested in being included in announcements may contact standards@ans.org. Information about the next presentation and links to past presentations are provided below. Many of the CoP presentations are posted to ANS’s Nuclear Science and Technology Open Research (NST Open Research) platform in the RP3C CoP Collection. A list of citations to CoPs posted in NST Open Research is regularly updated.
Next CoP Presentation on Friday, January 31, 2025, from 3:00-4:00pm EASTERN Title: “We Want Your Input! Setting the stage for improving RIPB guidance in the Risk-informed, Performance-based Principles and Policy Committee (RP3C) Guidance Document” by Steve Krahn (RP3C Chair) and Brandon Chisholm (RP3C Vice Chair)ZOOM JOIN LINK
Last modified March 28, 2025, 8:23am CDT