MU Student Section of the American Nuclear Society
The MU Student Section of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) provides a means for MU's nuclear science and engineering students to develop professionally though affiliation with an international organization of nuclear practitioners. Student sections may be established in schools, such as MU, that confer academic degrees and offers a curriculum in nuclear science and technology. In the U.S. alone, there are currently 30 active student sections that include over 700 national ANS student members.
Due largely to the MU operation of the Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR, which is the largest powered university-operated research reactor in the country), MU's Student Section attracts graduate and undergraduate students in traditional nuclear engineering degree programs, as well as students studying in Chemistry and other physical sciences.
The MU ANS Student Section plays an important role in the professional development of our membership. In addition to other ongoing activities throughout the academic year, the ANS chapter develops a list of guest speakers external to the University who are of interest to the student members. Area speakers are invited to campus at little to no cost, and our members have an opportunity to gain insights about professional practice in targeted fields, network for possible post-graduation employment, and participate in collaborative research discussions with the speaker and MU faculty mentors.
In addition to campus chapter activities, members use membership as a means of national leadership opportunities as well. The governing body of ANS - the Board of Directors - has one seat designated for a student member. Since 1998, elections have been held to fill this 2-year position. Christina Plies, an MU NE PhD student, was the Student Director for the 2000-02 academic year. Through her participation on the Board of Directors, the Student Sections Committee, and elsewhere, Christina worked to create a stronger voice for students in the ANS, which served to also promote MU as a national leader in nuclear science and engineering education and professional development. In the 2001-02 year, MU Student Section PhD student, Dickerson Moreno, also worked with the national ANS organization advisory panel to help develop strategies for increasing undergraduate and graduate student enrollments (especially minorities and women) in nuclear sciences and engineering fields.
Some functions of the ANS Student Section:
- Leadership enhancement through interaction with campus faculty & staff and with national ANS organization
- Opportunities to improve communication and management skills for student members through annual chapter meetings and activities
- Assist with logistics and teaching of the workshop for high school science teachers in Missouri
- Lecture and demonstrations of basic nuclear science at mid-Missouri high school physical science classes
- Hosted national ANS Student Section conference at MU in Spring 2000, which brought 300 students from across the US to campus
- Campus visits by minority students in Columbia area high schools
- Lab exhibits for annual MU Engineers Week Open House
Average number of student members:
- 5 undergraduate students
- 20 graduate students
- 25 total members
For additional information, contact:
Dr. William H. Miller, Professor of Nuclear Engineering;
ANS Student Section Faculty Advisor
phone: (573) 882-9692
e-mail: MillerW@missouri.edu