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
Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
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
Oct 2024
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
November 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
A proactive approach to reactor vessel aging management
Unit 2 at the Prairie Island nuclear power plant near Red Wing, Minn., underwent an outage in fall 2023, which included extensive work on the reactor vessel using a novel approach to replace baffle-former bolts and lower radial clevis insert bolts. The work relied on extensive analysis beforehand to determine which bolts to replace such that only the new bolts were structurally credited for performance of their safety function. This proactive approach eliminated the need for costly contingencies associated with inspections.
Educator Training
October 24, 2024|6:00–7:00PM (7:00–8:00PM EDT)
Available to All Users
Dive into the fascinating world of nuclear technology beyond electricity generation and explore the vital role nuclear science plays in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and space exploration. From life-saving cancer treatments to innovative food preservation techniques, this webinar will teach you all about how nuclear technology enhances our everyday lives. You will also gain insight into cutting-edge research and classroom-ready resources to inspire the next generation of scientists.
Presenter
Mary Lou Dunzik-GougarAssociate Dean of the College of Science and Engineering and Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Idaho State University
Moderator
John Mobley IVGraduate Student Research Assistant in Engineering Education Research, University of Michigan
Biographies
Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar
Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar is the associate dean of the Idaho State University (ISU) College of Science and Engineering, associate professor of nuclear engineering and a senior reactor operator at ISU’s Aerojet-General Nucleonics nuclear reactor, commonly known as the AGN-201. Presently, she coordinates the nuclear engineering curriculum at ISU and teaches core graduate and undergraduate courses. She also performs nuclear materials research and is involved in regional and discipline accreditations, ISU’s international program development, and reactor administration.
Mary Lou has published internationally and is recognized as principal investigator of productive research projects incorporating nuclear material irradiation and characterization and the associated management of radioactive material.
She has collaborated on a variety of projects and proposals in university, national laboratory, and international research environments. This includes her work as a joint appointee scientist at Idaho National Laboratory where she led the Simulation Institute for Nuclear Enterprise Modeling and Analysis fuel-cycle modeling project. She also worked at Argonne National Lab with various duties associated with pyroprocessing spent fuel and was also a high school science and math teacher in the U.S. and U.K.
Mary Lou has a B.S. in chemistry from Cedar Crest College and received an M.S. in environmental engineering along with her Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests include the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear fuels and materials development, spent fuel processing, and waste form development.
An ANS member since 1992, Mary Lou was on the ANS Board of Directors from 1996-1999. She is a member of the Accreditation Policy & Procedures Committee; Development Committee; Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Division; Education, Training and Workforce Development Division; the Special Committee on Government Relations; and is the faculty advisor for the ANS Idaho State University Student Section. She is an active member of the Idaho ANS Local Section and has served on numerous organizing committees for local and national meetings.
In 2011 and 2014, she was the recipient of ANS Presidential Citations in addition to the Landis Public Communication and Education Award in 2014.
John Mobley IV
John is a Ph.D. student in the Engineering Education Research program at the University of Michigan. His research interests encompass education, training, and workforce development within the U.S. nuclear sector—particularly within the purview and framework of advanced reactor designs and technologies—and disability studies within academia. He holds five degrees from Iowa State University: B.S. in Physics with a Nuclear Engineering minor; B.S. in Mathematics with Applications; Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Education Focus); M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration; and an MBA.
John has prior experience collaborating with organizations such as Ames National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Exelon Nuclear, and the Nuclear Innovation Alliance. He is an active member of the American Nuclear Society, serving as an executive member within the Education, Training, and Workforce Development Division; Young Members Group; and Student Sections Committee. As a legally blind individual, John is passionate about ensuring that higher education is accessible and guaranteeing that all students have the resources necessary to flourish.
Presentation Slides