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 Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
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
Jun 2024
Jan 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Australian undergrads take on tokamak project
A computer rendering of a tokamak device designed by students at the University of New South Wales. (Credit: UNSW)
A recent article on Australia’s ABC News website highlighted the work of undergraduate physics and engineering students at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to design, build, and operate their own small nuclear fusion reactor. The ambitious work, known as the AtomCraft project, is being led by associate professor Patrick Burr with the objective of producing a student-built tokamak reactor by the end of 2026.
Australia-based HB-11 Energy and U.K.-based Tokamak Energy have partnered with UNSW for the project.
Research goals: The AtomCraft project has the following research goals for participating students, according to its website:
Our team aims [to] make the world’s first fusion reactor entirely designed, built, and operated by students. And [to] do so in 2 years. You will develop innovative solutions to engineering challenges across many engineering disciplines, work closely with industry partners, and be part a vibrant team of enthusiastic and dedicated people who want to push the boundaries of what is possible with fusion energy.
Timothy L. Phero (Boise State), Kaelee A. Novich (Boise State), Kiyo T. Fujimoto (INL), Amey R. Khanolkar (INL), Benjamin C. Johnson (Boise State), Michael D. McMurtrey (INL), David Estrada (Boise State), Brian J. Jaques (Boise State)
Proceedings | 13th Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control & Human-Machine Interface Technologies (NPIC&HMIT 2023) | Knoxville, TN, July 15-20, 2023 | Pages 1651-1660