Category Archives: Education

Nuclear Engineering PE Exam Workshop at June ANS Meeting

Posted on May 22, 2013 by pbowersox| 1 Comment

Sunday, June 16, 2013
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Learning Center

For American Nuclear Society members planning to sit for the nuclear engineering Professional Engineering exam, a professional development workshop, titled “Preparing for the Nuclear Engineering Professional Engineering Exam,” will be offered on Sunday, June 16, at the ANS Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

nuclear engineers 160x120Instructors will provide details on how registering to take the exam differs from state to state, plus an overview of the examination formats. The four basic skill areas—nuclear power, nuclear fuel cycle, interaction of radiation, and nuclear criticality/kinetics/neutronics—will be discussed in detail. For each skill area, the instructor will describe the topics and the skills to be tested.

Examples of questions will be presented in depth, after which students will work other typical test questions on their own. Instructors will provide assistance, then review solutions with the group. Students will be provided with the ANS study guide, including a sample exam and a list of recommended resources for continued study.

nuclear engineer 1 168x120Join us in Atlanta for “Preparing for the Nuclear Engineering Professional Engineering Exam” at the June ANS meeting.

NOTE: If you are unable to attend the ANS meeting in June to participate in the workshop, you can order a copy of the PE study guide—as a downloadable PDF file—at the ANS Store.

Early Bird Special meeting registration and hotel reservation, with complimentary in-room internet, is available through this Friday, May 24.  Reduced rate for the PE Exam Professional Development Workshop is also available through May 24. There is no need to be registered for the 2013 ANS Annual Meeting to participate in this Professional Development Workshop.

Still not convinced? Former ANS Young Members Group Chair Jennifer Varnedoe explains the many good reasons to get your Professional Engineer license.

orange cooling towers

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Posted in American Nuclear Society, Education, engineering, Meetings, Professional Divisions

National Nuclear Science Week: October 21-25 2013

Posted on May 16, 2013 by pbowersox| Leave a comment

Get to Know Nuclear

nnsw logo 200x151Mark your calendars well in advance for National Nuclear Science Week—the annual celebration of the remarkable achievements and contributions of nuclear science and technology. National Nuclear Science Week will be commemorated October 21–25, 2013.

curiosity rover 177x100From curing cancer, to powering our exploration of the Solar System, to helping maintain a thriving clean and green planet here at home, the world’s most powerful science and promising technology is well worth celebrating and exploring further. A great place to start is the official National Nuclear Science Week website, loaded with information and ideas on how to learn, teach, and celebrate nuclear science and technology. See the National Nuclear Science Week Celebration Guide for even more ideas.

Each day of the week of October 21‑25, participating organizations across the United States will promote different aspects of nuclear science:

  • Monday, October 21:  Get to know nuclear
  • Tuesday, October 22:  Careers in the nuclear fields
  • Wednesday, October 23:  Nuclear energy generation
  • Thursday, October 24:  Nuclear safety
  • Friday, October 25:  Nuclear medicine

national museum of nuclear science reactions welcome 160x100The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, in Albuquerque, N.M., is organizing the event and has made teacher resources available online here. The American Nuclear Society is helping to sponsor the week  and will be posting information and resources to help ANS local and student sections organize activities.

Enormous ALEPH detector was instrumental in discovering Higgs boson

Enormous ALEPH detector instrumental in discovering Higgs boson

Take a moment to consider how you can collaborate with teachers, Boy Scout and Girl Scout leaders, and others to promote National Nuclear Science Week. Introduce the next generation of  scientists and engineers to the applications of nuclear technologies in everyday life. Contact the ANS Outreach Department for assistance and suggestions.

More information will be coming as exciting events and activities are under development. Stay up-to-date by signing up for National Nuclear Science Week email updates.

Nuclear construction at Plant Vogtle, Georgia

Construction at Plant Vogtle, Georgia

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Posted in Education, K-12

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A Boy And His Atom – The World’s Smallest Movie

Posted on May 3, 2013 by pbowersox| 1 Comment

A group of IBM researchers have created the world’s smallest movie – starring 130 atoms (well, the oxygen atoms of carbon monoxide molecules).  An atomic-scale must-see!

That’s definitely a lot of fun.  But the real fun is how they did it.  A great “making of” documentary below.  Enjoy!

Science and technology reporter John Roach does a fine job on the story at NBC News.

Thanks to International Business Machines Corporation

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Posted in Education, K-12, Nuclear Matinee, Science & Engineering Education

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ANS to hold teacher workshop at Annual Meeting in Atlanta on June 15

Posted on May 1, 2013 by pbowersox| 1 Comment

The American Nuclear Society’s Center for Nuclear Science and Technology Information and the ANS Outreach Department will sponsor a full-day teacher workshop on Saturday, June 15, in Atlanta, Georgia. The workshop—Detecting Radiation in Our Radioactive World—is for science educators, including elementary, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, physical science, life science, environmental, and general science teachers. The workshop will be held the day before the beginning of the ANS Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

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Table of Nuclides at June 2012 workshop

This full-day workshop will prepare attendees to teach the basics about radiation, how we detect radiation, and the uses of nuclear science and technology in society. Teachers who complete the workshop will receive a wealth of materials—background information, hands-on activities, and supplementary resources—as well as a free Geiger counter. Career opportunities in nuclear science and technology will be highlighted during the sessions.

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“We’re excited to be offering this overview of radiation and nuclear science to teachers,” said Chuck Vincent, ANS Outreach administrator. “Workshop participants are always eager to receive their free Geiger counters and learn about hands-on demonstrations that they can use in their classrooms.”

Scheduled presenters include:

  • Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar, assistant professor of Nuclear Engineering, Idaho State University, and research scientist at Idaho National Laboratory
  • Candace Davison, senior reactor operator and educational specialist, Breazeale Reactor, Penn State University
  • William “Art” Wharton, III, principal project engineer,
    Westinghouse Electrical Company; Monroeville, Pa.
  • Eric Loewen, past president of the American Nuclear Society, and chief engineer–General Electric, Wilmington, N.C.
  • William Wabberson, Facility Evaluation Board, SRNS,
    member of Savannah River Local Section of ANS, Aiken, S.C.

Other educators and nuclear specialists may also make presentations.

Please visit the ANS website for more information, including an informative announcement flyer and online registration form. The workshop will be limited in size to optimize interaction with presenters. Registration is on a first-come first-served basis.

There is a $89 nonrefundable registration fee—which includes continental breakfast, lunch, printed materials, and a Civil Defense Surplus analog radiation monitor—for teachers to reserve a place at the workshop. Hurry, registration fee is $135 after May 15.  The registration deadline is Tuesday May 28.

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Detecting alpha and beta particles with cloud chamber

Funding for the workshop is provided in part by individual and organizational contributions to ANS’s Center for Nuclear Science and Technology Information.

The following video provides feedback from teachers and presenters who attended an ANS teacher workshop held before the 2011 ANS Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Fla.

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Posted in American Nuclear Society, Education, K-12, Meetings, Teacher Workshops

Friday Nuclear Matinee: Nuclear Power – How It Works

Posted on April 26, 2013 by pbowersox| 3 Comments

With Unit 6 returning from a planned maintenance outage earlier this week, all 8 reactors at the world’s largest nuclear electrical generating station are now online, generating emission-free electricity from the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario, Canada (“Full Power at the Bruce“).

So… who better to demonstrate “How Nuclear Power Works” than Ontario Power Generation, owners of “The Bruce” (and owner/operators of the Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations)?  Unless it would be Bruce Power, licensed developers and operators of the Bruce station.  But let’s start here with a fine feature by OPG.  Enjoy!

(also including bonus features on Hydroelectric Power and Thermal Power which are quite interesting in their own right)


Thanks to Ontario Power Generation

opg nuclear power how it works 336x201

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Posted in Education, Nuclear Matinee

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Nuclear Matinee: Powering America – Managing Nuclear Waste

Posted on December 20, 2012 by pbowersox| 3 Comments

The nuclear energy industry is the only large-scale energy producer responsible for managing and storing (and paying for) all the wastes generated by the process [in contrast to, for example... dumping wastes into the atmosphere].

This short video takes viewers inside the system for handling spent nuclear fuel, and explores the option of recycling and reprocessing to aid in resolving the long term storage issue.

Thanks to The Heritage Foundation for the video. We also highly recommend the full documentary on America’s nuclear power industry at http://heritage.org/poweringamericafilm/.

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Posted in Education, Environmental Benefits of Nuclear, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Nuclear Matinee, spent fuel, Spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, Yucca Mountain

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What to read about nuclear energy online

Posted on December 19, 2012 by dyurman| 10 Comments

How to avoid information overload on the Internet

By Dan Yurman

 One thing I learned in the five years that I published my nuclear energy blog Idaho Samizdat is that there can be too much nuclear information.  This lesson was brought home with the mind-crushing rush of information that hit the wires during the height of the Fukushima crisis.  But what about keeping up with the news on the nuclear industry in ordinary times?

If your employer can afford it, your firm subscribes to one or more of the specialty newsletters that tap in at $2,000 or more per year for a subscription.  In return, readers get detailed, expert news and analysis that would never, ever show up in the mainstream news media.  I worked for such a specialty newsletter for five years and remain grateful for subscriber support since it meant the difference, metaphorically speaking, between a having a roof over my head and sleeping under a bridge.

However, because of copyright restrictions, most of these newsletters contain web beacons or other electronic devices that are designed to stop a firm from buying one subscription and then emailing each issue to its employees.  While there is the copy machine dodge, that is so 20th century.  Plus, waiting for the inter-office mail to deliver a bootleg copy puts you one day behind your electronically wired-in colleagues.

So, what’s a nuclear pro to do to stay current without shelling out the equivalent of a new car lease down payment?  The answer is there are a number of free news services available on the Internet that can go a long way to keep your mental inbox full of interesting stuff.  Here’s a short list of free sources.

Online services

Nuclear Town Hall – This is a seven-day-a-week, and twice-a-day on weekdays, summary of links to business and political news about nuclear energy.  Based in Washington, DC, it has a global perspective and also a special section on nuclear energy OP EDs and opinion pieces.  Resolutely pro-nuclear in every respect it even cites nuclear bloggers when it sees something of interest.  You can read the updates on the website or subscribe to it by email.

World Nuclear News – This is a five-day-a-week service that publishes short news reports about the global nuclear industry.  Based on London, it is available on the website, or via email delivery by the time U.S. readers are pouring their second cup of coffee.  A searchable archive allows readers to dig into the background of breaking news.

NEI Smartbrief – Sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Institute, it picks up news clips from the mainstream media and posts a brief summary of about half a dozen of them a day with links to the original source online.  The brief is published weekdays except major holidays.

Nuclear Power Daily – Like NEI Smartbrief, this daily nuclear news summary relies on wire services and other sources.  Like NEI Smartbrief, it is an advertising supported service.

Google News – Google News allow you to search by keywords and to set up news alerts based on them.  You can set up as many alerts as you want and have the alerts delivered by email or RSS feed.  You can select instant delivery or once a day.

Nuclear Energy blogs are a great source of information often posting news in specialized developments days or weeks ahead of the mainstream news media.  A great starting place is the blog roll list of links here on ANS Nuclear Cafe.

Books

There is another “what to read” issue, and that is how to answer questions from in-laws, friends, and the occasional non-nuclear colleagues who genuinely want to know more about nuclear energy.  Here’s a reading list that you can clip and save.  All of these books are in print and most can be found in a public library or through interlibrary loan.  The major online book selling services stock these volumes.

Three must reads – Start here

The Power to Save the World: The Truth About Nuclear Energy, by Gwyneth Cravens

Terrestrial Energy: How Nuclear Energy Will Lead the Green Revolution and End America’s Energy Odyssey, by William Tucker

Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto, by Stewart Brand

Further reading for generalists

Nuclear Energy: What Everyone Needs to Know, by Charles D. Ferguson

Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century, by Ian Hore-Lacy

The Reporter’s Handbook on Nuclear Materials, Energy, and Waste Management, by Michael Greenberg et.al

Histories

Nuclear Firsts: Milestone on the Road to Nuclear Power Development, by Gail Marcus

The Rickover Effect: How One Man Made a Difference, by Ted Rockwell

Plentiful Energy: The Story of the Integral Fast Reactor, by Charles E. Till and Yoon Il Chang

Nuclear Silk Road: The Koreanization of Nuclear Power Technology, by Byung-Koo Kim

Nonproliferation

Physics for Future Presidents, by Richard A. Muller

The Making of the Atomic Bomb, by Richard Rhodes

The Spread of Nuclear Weapons, by Scott D. Sagan and Kenneth N. Waltz

Single Issues

Radiation and Reason, by Wade Allison

Nuclear Reactions: The Politics of Opening a Radioactive Waste Disposal Site, by Chuck McCutcheon

Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock that Shaped the World, by Tom Zoellner

Sustainable Development / Climate Change

Storms of my Grandchildren, by James Hansen

The GeoPolitics of Energy: Achieving a Just and Sustainable Energy Distribution by 2040, by Judith Wright and James Conca

Sustainable Energy – Without The Hot Air, by David JC MacKay

General Reference

Nuclear Energy Encyclopedia - a single volume - by Steven B. Krivit (Editor), Thomas B. Kingery (Editor), Jay H. Lehr (Series Editor)

& & &

If you have a favorite news source, or best book on nuclear energy, please post your suggestions in the comments.

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Dan Yurman published the nuclear energy blog Idaho Samizdat from 2007 to 2012.

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Posted in book review, Education, News, nuclear blogsosphere, nuclear technology, Social Media

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Nuclear Cafe Matinee: Powering America – How A Nuclear Plant Works

Posted on December 7, 2012 by pbowersox| 2 Comments

When you get right down to it… to many people, nuclear power can seem rather mysterious. Fortunately, this short video takes viewers inside US nuclear power plants and explains the nuts and bolts of how a nuclear plant operates—as told by the people who actually maintain and operate them.

Thanks to The Heritage Foundation for the video. We also highly recommend the full documentary on America’s nuclear power industry at http://heritage.org/poweringamericafilm/.

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Posted in Education, Nuclear Matinee

ANS Video Interview: Women in Nuclear Technology

Posted on November 9, 2012 by pbowersox| Comments Off

What will be the future influence of women in nuclear science and technology What can be done to encourage more women and girls to enter nuclear science and energy fields—and to stay in the “technical track”? How important are role models?

How important is “acing” that math test for becoming an engineer?  How important is “acing” puzzle-solving?  Is the widespread prevalence of technology, and the changing image of science and scientists in popular media, having a positive influence?  What is influencing change in regard to women in nuclear technology?

Mimi Limbach, senior vice president at Potomac Communications Group; Gwyneth Cravens, author of Power to Save the World: The Truth about Nuclear Energy; and Margaret Harding, president and chief executive officer of 4 Factor Consulting, talk about these issues and more with Dan Yurman of the ANS Public Information Committee.

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Posted in American Nuclear Society, Education, K-12, Nuclear Matinee

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President-elect Hoffman charters new ANS student section at Chattanooga State

Posted on November 7, 2012 by pbowersox| Comments Off

American Nuclear Society President-elect Donald Hoffman recently visited the ANS Student Section at Chattanooga State Community College. Hoffman thanked the students for their outstanding participation at the recent Department of Energy public hearing on proposed mixed oxide fuel technologies for Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear plants, and laid out a vision for the future for ANS, in a presentation before a large audience of 60–70 attendees.

President-elect Hoffman also presented the founding charter for the ANS Chattanooga State Student Section—the most recent to join the network of ANS student sections at colleges and universities across the country.

Brad Guhne (Secretary), Carl Flemister (Co-VP), Kelly Copeland (Treasurer), Lisa Miller (Faculty Advisor, Lead Instructor), Don Hoffman, Brennan Miles (Co-VP), Alex Woods (President), Sam Snyder (Chattanooga Section Chair)

ANS Nuclear Cafe caught up with Alex Woods, president of the Chattanooga State ANS student section. “Donald Hoffman’s passion for the American Nuclear Society and its development was quite infectious. The presentation was impressive throughout, and his good humor, accessibility, and dedication was very inspirational for all of us, to make the absolute most of our new charter at Chattanooga State. It was a pleasure and an honor that he visited our campus.”

Alex Woods continued: “The importance of our charter’s establishment, in my opinion, is that of outreach. I feel like the public relations side of the nuclear industry is lacking. Much of the general public is quick to make assumptions about nuclear energy—based on stereotypical and inaccurate information. Having fresh, youthful faces to engage the public is of critical importance to correct this problem.

“As we are in a whirlwind of work with our new chapter, we are adding student members all along the way. I would guess there are about 40 members presently. We have several proposed plans of outreach, in schools and public forums, as well as fund raising activities, community, and charitable events, and so forth. It promises to be a very busy year. We are extremely fortunate to have such a broad scope of support, that provides us with wonderful guest speakers as well as tours of a variety of industry related facilities.

“I can certainly say that we are all eager to work to the best of our abilities and resources to establish a charter that will make the overall ANS national organization very proud. The MOX hearing was a gigantic success, for example, and could not have been so without the enthusiastic participation of the students in the nuclear curriculum at Chattanooga State.

“To brag on my fellow students, I am very fortunate to be in the company of such intelligent, focused, and determined students, particularly with regard to the nuclear power operations discipline at the college. They are an impressive group of people to say the least. Our plan is to make President-elect Hoffman, the American Nuclear Society, our mentors, and our faculty very proud of our accomplishments, this year and beyond.”

Lisa Miller, ANS faculty advisor and lead instructor in nuclear power, adds: “The ANS Student Section at Chattanooga State gives students the opportunity to organize and work together on Section activities year-round, both on-campus and in professional settings, as well as the very important opportunity to meet and interact with nuclear professionals in the field. The students are incredibly motivated—they respond so well when professionals like Mr. Hoffman give their time, and organize themselves so very well in outreach activities. The Section fosters leadership development that will serve the students very well throughout their careers and life paths.”

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Alex Woods studies health physics and radiation protection at Chattanooga State Community College, and is President of the ANS Chattanooga State Student Section.  Future plans include working at a Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear power installation in the field of Radiation Protection, and eventual eligibility to qualify for the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists. In the longer term, he plans to achieve the status of a Certified Health Physicist. He finds the applications of health physics with regard to matters of national security and genetic biodosimetry to be of particular interest.  Alex Woods is the recipient of a Kent W. Hamlin Memorial Scholarship in 2012-2013.

Lisa Miller is a Nuclear Power Instructor in the Engineering Technology Division at Chattanooga State Community College, and is Faculty Advisor for the ANS Chattanooga State Community College Student Section.

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Posted in American Nuclear Society, ANS Student Sections, college colleges university universities, Education, Science & Engineering Education, Tennessee Valley Authority

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Friday Nuclear Matinee: E=mc² is incomplete (!)

Posted on November 2, 2012 by pbowersox| Comments Off

Albert Einstein’s famous equation E=mc² explains, of course, why a nuclear power reactor can generate so much electricity in such a relatively tiny space, while using such a relatively tiny amount of fuel. Electricity from other forms of energy, say tidal or wind motion, sunlight, chemical bonds (burning things)… well, nuclear fission and fusion, thanks to E=mc², are definitely in their very own league.

But it may be surprising to learn that E=mc² isn’t the whole story of Einstein’s famous equation. What if an object has no mass (m) such as light, or the object is moving? MinutePhysics to the rescue!

And now get this: Henry Reich, creator of the MinutePhysics series (over 43 million views on YouTube), will virtually be at the American Nuclear Society’s Winter Meeting in November at the San Diego Town and Country Resort. That is, he will be a distinguished virtual panelist during the “Telling the Nuclear Story Using Online Video and Broadcast” session—mark your calendars for Tuesday afternoon, November 13 at 2:30, in the Pacific Salon Three room at the resort.

And definitely… check out more of the amazing MinutePhysics series at the MinutePhysics youtube page.

 

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Posted in Education, K-12, Meetings, Nuclear Matinee, physics

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ANS Nuclear Cafe Matinee: Large Hadron Rap!

Posted on October 26, 2012 by pbowersox| Comments Off

The ANS Nuclear Cafe Matinee presents loyal readers—and loyal viewers—with an all-time great video: “Large Hadron Rap”!

The video went “viral” in 2008 at about the time of the startup of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, and has more than 7.5 million views to date on YouTube, and multiples more worldwide in classrooms, in translation, etc. You will definitely want to add yours to that number.

And now get this: Science communicator Katherine McAlpine (a.k.a. rapper “AlpineKat”)—writer, producer, and performer of the Large Hadron Rap—will be at the American Nuclear Society Winter Meeting in November at the San Diego Town and Country Resort. She will be a distinguished panelist during the “Telling the Nuclear Story Using Online Video and Broadcast” session—mark your calendars for Tuesday afternoon, November 13 at 2:30, in the Pacific Salon Three room at the resort.

If you haven’t heard, experiments with the Large Hadron Collider confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson. Got a minute? See this Matinee featuring a Minute Physics video explaining what that was all about.

And definitely, see more fantastic science rap videos at Katherine McAlpine’s homepage.

 

 

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Posted in American Nuclear Society, Center for Nuclear Science & Technology Information, Education, K-12, Meetings, Nuclear Matinee, physics

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NA-YGN announces 14th annual Roddy Nuclear drawing contest

Posted on October 16, 2012 by lscheele| 4 Comments

By Laura Scheele

The 14th annual North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN) drawing contest is now underway! The drawing contest teaches 4th and 5th grade students about the wonders of nuclear science and technology by engaging them creatively. This year’s theme is Roddy Nuclear Builds Tomorrow—with an emphasis on the importance of new plant construction for the future of nuclear and growing energy demands.

Roddy Nuclear is a nuclear fuel pellet cartoon character who can fit into the palm of a child’s hand. Roddy provides as much energy as almost 2000 pounds of coal and 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas. NA-YGN also offers classroom resources, such as a PowerPoint presentation, to introduce nuclear energy topics to middle school students (see links below).

Click to Enlarge

Don’t delay—the deadline for NA-YGN Chapters to host their area contests and submit their top 10 drawings is Friday, October 26! The top 5 drawings will be showcased at the 2012 ANS Conference in San Diego, Cal., on November 11-15 (so be sure to register now). Winners will be selected online at Clean Energy Insight and announced by December 1 .

The 2013 NA-YGN Annual Contest Winning Submission

For More Information

NA-YGN’s announcement of the 2012 Roddy Nuclear drawing contest

Contest guidelines, instructions and awards

How to host the drawing contest (for Educators)

How to host the drawing contest (for Parents and Students)

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Laura Scheele is the Communications and Public Policy Manager for the American Nuclear Society’s Communications and Outreach Department. She also serves as the ANS Liaison to North American Young Generation in Nuclear.

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Posted in Education, K-12, North American Young Generation in Nuclear

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Nuclear Matinee: A Look at an Online Nuclear Science & Technology Course

Posted on October 12, 2012 by pbowersox| 7 Comments

A free college-level internet course surveying the theory, design, and operation of commercial nuclear power reactors is starting soon! This course will be taught by Larry Foulke, PhD, PE, former president of the American Nuclear Society.

“A Look at Nuclear Science and Technology” is aimed at scientifically inclined individuals who want to learn more about nuclear energy and the nuclear power industry. It will address subjects such as: What is nuclear energy? What is its history? Who are its heroes? Why is it controversial? How do nuclear power plants work? What about nuclear weapons? What are the stereotypes and misconceptions?

Dr. Foulke explains more in this video introduction:

See the Course Website for the course syllabus, FAQ, and how to sign up!

 

 

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Posted in college colleges university universities, Education, Nuclear Matinee

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Mars Rover Curiosity featured in ReActions

Posted on October 10, 2012 by pbowersox| Comments Off

From the American Nuclear Society to teachers interested in the nuclear sciences

The September/October edition of ReActions, an American Nuclear Society information resource newsletter for teachers, is available online. This issue features NASA’s fascinating, nuclear-powered rover Curiosity, which is busy making discoveries as it explores the Gale Crater on the surface of Mars. For example, Curiosity again made news and history just a few weeks ago when it discovered an ancient stream bed, from a time when water flowed across the surface of the red planet.

ReActions features some of the many ways that nuclear science and technology is important in everyday life, and includes one of the many classroom group research activities available through ANS. Teachers will want to be sure to use the many ANS information resources available for their students, and the many online information resources in the issue.

This issue of ReActions also takes an in-depth look at the hows and whys of the use of radioisotope power systems in historic space missions, such as the Curiosity rover, with guest contributor Wes Deason of the ANS Aerospace Nuclear Science and Technology Professional Division.

ReActions is a great resource for K-12 science teachers to keep up-to-date on developments in nuclear science education. The newsletter highlights hands-on activities that teachers can use in the classroom, as well as ANS online educational resources and materials.

ReActions also has information on the upcoming ANS teacher workshops in San Diego (November 10—register now, early registration (save $35) ends this Thursday) and Phoenix (December 6–8 and February 24). See the ReActions issue online for more details.

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Posted in Education, plutonium, Publications, Space Applications