There is no denying it, fossil fuels are running low and we are transitioning into a new era. The demand for energy keeps rising, but the availability keeps dropping. The need for an alternative energy source is desperately increasing, as it becomes one of our priorities. We have been asked, “Why not change the world?” Well, how about we start by solving the problem of our energy crisis? Many methods have been thought about, but one very realistic solution is nuclear energy. We already have nuclear plants located around the world, and they have proven worthy enough of being able to produce much needed energy. While nuclear power is the most viable option, its future remains uncertain. We are looking to enhance its safety and security as well as have further advances in technology.

This year, Rensselaer has been chosen to host the 2006 American Nuclear Society National Student Conference where nuclear students from around the country gather together to share their work and connect with industry professionals. The aforementioned issues are of vital importance if nuclear power is to become a major supplier of energy in the future. Because of that, we have chosen our theme for the 2006 ANS student conference to be “Nuclear Power: A Look at the Future.” The conference will be touring Rensselaer and areas of the Capital District while giving students an idea of nuclear power’s evolving role in today’s world and the problems that it will face in the future. The facility tours would include the historic linear accelerator located at RPI, the RPI campus, and other site tours of notable interest. These experiences would provide students with insight into the nuclear education that Rensselaer provides. To register for the weekend, go to http://ans.union.rpi.edu/Conference/registration/index.htm/ to sign up before March 15. The cost for students is $35 for ANS members or $55 for non-ANS members. Additional prices are listed on the registration website.

The career fair for the conference will be held on March 30 and April 1. It will present an opportunity for the students of Rensselaer to interact with professionals of the nuclear industry such as Lockheed Martin, G.E., Dominion, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and others. Technical sessions will be held throughout the conference that provides students the opportunity to present to their peers the interesting and exciting research that they are conducting at the frontier of the nuclear field.

Other events of the conference include multiple speakers from the industry, a seminar session which would provide attendees with a chance to further explore and examine areas within nuclear engineering and give students a first hand look at the future of nuclear engineering, and a poster session which will provide students with the opportunity to express their individual discoveries and interests. There will also be panels entitled “Nuclear Non-proliferation” and “The Future of the Nuclear Industry in the United States,” and a closing awards banquet which provides the students the chance to recognize and honor other attendees as deemed worthy from within each technical field of interest. More information on the conference can be found at http://ans.union.rpi.edu/Conference/.