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
Accelerator Applications
The division was organized to promote the advancement of knowledge of the use of particle accelerator technologies for nuclear and other applications. It focuses on production of neutrons and other particles, utilization of these particles for scientific or industrial purposes, such as the production or destruction of radionuclides significant to energy, medicine, defense or other endeavors, as well as imaging and diagnostics.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott 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
May 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
June 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Nuclear moratoriums crumble around the world
The recent surge in positive sentiment about nuclear as the most viable answer to global energy needs and decarbonization goals has found governments around the world taking steps to reverse course on decades-old bans, moratoriums, and restrictions on new nuclear development.
2025 topic
Secure digital control systems for advanced reactors / Advancement of enabling technologies for advanced reactors.
VIEW RECIPIENTSSUBMIT NOMINATION
Nomination Deadline
March 1
Presented at the
Annual Conference
Monetary Award*
$1,000
The Special Award recognizes an individual or group for outstanding achievements in a specific area of work. The Board of Directors selects a different topical area for the award each year on the recommendation of the Honors and Awards Committee.
2025 Special Award Description:
Instrumentation and Control (I&C) serves as the central nervous system of most industrial processes. Digital I&C will be crucial to operation and safety of new generation of nuclear reactors because it would facilitate autonomous operation and hands-off maintenance of plants augmented by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The current generation of nuclear power plants have benefitted from digital I&C for both safety and non-safety related services through gains in efficiency and versatility. This experience will help solidify the foundation for implementation of digital I&C systems in advanced reactors.
Nominees may be from any nation, but they must not be deceased at the time the awardee is selected. The nominee need not be an ANS member.
The award may be presented to one or more individuals at the ANS Annual Conference. It consists of a plaque, $1,000 monetary award*.
*In lieu of a cash award, recipients can opt for travel reimbursement up to the award amount.
The Special Award was established in 1962 and has been awarded each year when eligible candidates are nominated and selected. The topics for the awards have come from the many varied areas of nuclear science and engineering fostered by the Society.
The selection of the topics should continue to reflect the wide variety of subjects in which ANS members are prominent contributors. Future awards should be made in areas different from those in which previous Special Awards have been given. The award topic should be of timely interest to the Society and should reflect current Society affairs and activities. The topic should not be tailored to suit a particular individual or team who would undoubtedly receive that award.
With the extensive collaboration on many projects by groups of people ranging from two or three up to several, nominations of teams or small groups can be expected and are certainly appropriate for many areas that might be selected for the award. Possible restrictions of the nominees for the award to individuals or to small groups are left to the discretion of the Honors and Awards Committee.
The criteria for selection of an award topic for the ANS Special Award is left up to the judgment of the Honors and Awards Committee. The basic criteria for the selection of an awardee can generally be outlined as follows:
Nominations must include the completed nomination form accompanied by the following supporting documents:
View Award
