Welcome to the American Nuclear Society - Washington D.C. Local Section

The ANS Washington D.C. Section (ANS-DC) is a hub for nuclear professionals, students, enthusiasts, and advocates in the DMV area. Situated at the heart of national policy, we foster professional development, public education, outreach, and networking among those dedicated to the applications of nuclear science and technology.

Upcoming Events

November 7th, 2026: Come join us alongside the Health Physics Society at the University of Maryland to support the members of Scouting America in earning their Nuclear Science Merit Badge. ANS-DC is looking for local section members to volunteer to assist with: nuclear reactor basics, accelerator, cloud chambers, radiation detectors/sources, a career panel, and a chain reactor simulator. Members will be invited to tour UMD's nuclear facilities as part of the day. A full agenda will be published in October.

June 24th, 2027: The 2027 ANS-DC annual meeting will be hosted at NEI Thursday June 24, 2027, 5-8 pm. Keep a look out for the save the date and RSVP in your email. If you have any questions, please connect with us using the Contact Us form linked on the site.

Newsletters and Noteworthy News

October 2026: Support the Historic N.S. Savannah and the Future of Maritime Nuclear Energy

Conceived under President Eisenhower’s "Atoms for Peace" program, the N.S. Savannah is the world’s first nuclear-powered commercial ship and a monumental icon of atomic optimism. Today, the First Atomic Ship Trust (FAST) serves as the ship's steward, working to preserve this floating national treasure as a museum, educational classroom, and an incubator for next-generation maritime nuclear propulsion. FAST invites individuals and organizations to become supporters in charting a clean energy future.

Learn more about giving levels and how you can get involved by viewing the FAST Brochure.pdf or visiting firstatomicshiptrust.org.

September 2026: Newsletter - September 2026

Announcements

The ANS DC Section now has at its disposal a unique fission chain reactor simulator called CHRS (CHain Reaction Simulator). A video of its operation is below. With sufficient advance notice it could be brought to an event with its operator. It does require 2 standard 110/120-volt AC outlets with standard 15-amp circuit. Also, it does use a small, quiet air compressor.

- Curtesy of Steve Mirsky

ANS-DC would like to engage with the community and encourage Students and Young Professionals to become involved. Please check out the opportunities posted on the Student Engagement page!

We encourage all individuals interested in Nuclear to subscribe to the Nuclear Newswire: Subscribe -- ANS / Account / Email Lists (Free!)