Friday, August 5, 2011

AMERICAN NUCLEAR SOCIETY ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF NONPROLIFERATION TECHNICAL GROUP



For Immediate Release                                                                                CONTACT:
August 4, 2011                                                                                 Fritz Schneider (301) 728-4811                                                                                                                                              Laura Scheele   (708) 579-8224

AMERICAN NUCLEAR SOCIETY ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF NONPROLIFERATION TECHNICAL GROUP
New Group to Promote Peaceful Use of Nuclear Technology, Prevent Misuse of Nuclear Materials

La Grange Park, IL August 4The American Nuclear Society (ANS) has formed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Technical Group (NN-TG), ANS President Eric P. Loewen, PhD, announced today.   “This technical group will transition from the former Special Committee on Nuclear Nonproliferation, which was very active and successful,” said Loewen.  “The Society’s action today recognizes the importance of the work that was done and will enable the Society to be even more effective in this important area.”

One of the main organizers of the Technical Group, Dr. John E. Gunning of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, when asked about the formation, noted, “The formal creation of this Nuclear Nonproliferation Technical Group will help to increase the visibility of this important subject to those within ANS as well as those in the community at large, and also provides a clear indication that ANS plans to be active in this area.     We’ve been very successful in the past as a Special Committee on Nuclear Nonproliferation in initiating ANS position papers, technical sessions at ANS National meetings, feature articles in Nuclear News, and providing timely responses to inquires to the Society on NN subjects.  We are excited about achieving our new status and are eager to get started.”

Dr. Michaele (Mikey) Brady Raap, chairperson of ANS Professional Divisions, observed, “This new technical group will certainly be useful in promoting the goals of the Society; I’m very happy to welcome the recognition of the work they have done as a Special Committee.”

Loewen concluded by saying, “This technical group’s charter is to promote policy that discourages the proliferation of nuclear technology and material to inappropriate entities; provide information to ANS members, the technical community at large, opinion leaders, and decision makers to improve their understanding of nuclear nonproliferation issues; become a recognized resource on nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, and security issues; serve as the integration and coordination body for nuclear nonproliferation activities for the ANS; and work cooperatively with other ANS Divisions to achieve these objectives.  Based on their achievements as a Special Committee, I know they will be very successful in their new role and will certainly add to the continued relevance of the Society.”

For more information about the American Nuclear Society, visit www.ans.org.  For information specific to the NN-TG, visit http://committees.ans.org/nn. 

Established in 1954, ANS is a professional organization of engineers and scientists devoted to the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology.  Its 11,500 members come from diverse technical backgrounds covering the full range of engineering disciplines as well as the physical and biological sciences.  They are advancing the application of these technologies to improve the lives of the world community through national and international enterprise within government, academia, research laboratories and private industry.
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