Alpha Nu Sigma (ΑΝΣ) is an American nuclear engineering honor society affiliated with the American Nuclear Society. Alpha Nu Sigma was established to "recognize high scholarship, integrity, and potential achievement among outstanding degree-seeking nuclear engineering students at institutions of higher learning".[1] As of fall 2021, there are 18 active chapters and approximately 2,000 members nationwide.[2][3]

Alpha Nu Sigma
ΑΝΣ
FoundedJune 5, 1979; 45 years ago (1979-06-05)
TypeHonor society
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisNuclear energy
ScopeNational
MottoEnergy Newly Born Through Wisdom
Member badge
Chapters25
Members4,100 lifetime
Headquartersc/o American Nuclear Society
555 N. Kensington Ave.

La Grange Park, Illinois 60526-5592
United States
Websitewww.ans.org/honors/ansnhs/

History

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Alpha Nu Sigma National Honor Society was established by the American Nuclear Society on June 5, 1979.[2] Alpha Nu Sigma quickly grew in size, obtaining 17 chapters and 320 members by its third anniversary in June 1982. By the end of 1985, Alpha Nu Sigma had grown to 23 chapters and 920 members. The Chernobyl disaster occurred in 1986, and growth of the society has struggled since that event.

Symbols

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The motto of Alpha Nu Sigma is "Energy Newly Born Through Wisdom".[2] The symbol of Alpha Nu Sigma contains "three ellipses representing electron orbits surrounding a nucleus of protons and neutrons" with the Greek letters of the society superimposed.[2]

Membership

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Membership selection criteria for Alpha Nu Sigma are outlined in the national honor society's constitution.[2] The criteria are summarized as follows:

  • Candidates for membership must be enrolled in a program to pursue an academic degree in an applied-nuclear-science, nuclear-engineering, or nuclear-engineering option curriculum.
  • Juniors shall be eligible if they rank in the top quarter of their peer group.
  • Seniors and graduate students shall be eligible if they rank in the top third of their peer group.
  • Faculty members shall also be eligible for membership.
  • Honorary membership may be awarded to individuals who have made "exemplary contributions in the field of nuclear science and engineering that have had seminal permanent impact nationally or internationally".

Chapters

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As of fall 2021, the following table lists the chapters of Alpha Nu Sigma.

Institution State Status References
Excelsior University New York Active [3][4]
Georgia Tech Georgia Inactive [3]
Idaho State University Idaho Inactive [3]
Kansas State University Kansas Active [3]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Active [3][5]
Missouri University of Science and Technology Missouri Active [3][6]
North Carolina State University North Carolina Active [3][7]
Ohio State University Ohio Active [3]
Oregon State University Oregon Active [3]
Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania Active [3][8]
Purdue University Indiana Active [3][9]
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute New York Active [3]
South Carolina State University South Carolina Active [3][10]
Texas A&M University Texas Active [3][11]
United States Military Academy New York Active [3][12]
United States Naval Academy Maryland Active [3]
University of California, Berkeley California Inactive [3][13]
University of Florida Florida Inactive [3][14]
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Illinois Active [3]
University of Maryland, College Park Maryland Inactive [3]
University of Massachusetts Lowell Massachusetts Inactive [3][15]
University of Michigan Michigan Active [3][16]
University of New Mexico New Mexico Active [3]
University of Tennessee Tennessee Active [3][17]
University of Texas at Austin Texas Inactive [3]
University of Utah Utah Inactive [3]
University of Wisconsin–Madison Wisconsin Inactive [3]
Virginia Tech Virginia Inactive [3]

Honorary members

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As of spring 2020, the following table lists notable honorary members of Alpha Nu Sigma.

Name Sponsor Year Notes Ref(s)
Manson Benedict Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1982 Chairman of the advisory committee to the United States Atomic Energy Commission (1958–1968); known for his work on the Manhattan Project [18]
Noel Corngold New Jersey Institute of Technology 1984 Professor of physics at California Institute of Technology (1966–2002); known for studying the behavior of neutrons in reactors [18]
Nils J. Diaz University of Florida 2000 Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (2003–2006) [18]
James J. Duderstadt University of Michigan 1986 President of the University of Michigan (1988–1996) [18]
Joseph M. Hendrie New Jersey Institute of Technology 1983 Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1977–1981); president of the American Nuclear Society (1984–1985) [18]
Norman Hilberry University of Arizona 1993 Director of the Argonne National Laboratory (1956–1961); known as the man who stood ready with an axe to cut the scram line during the start-up of Chicago Pile-1 [18]
Henry Hurwitz Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1983 Pioneered the theory and design of nuclear power plants [18]
Herbert J.C. Kouts New Jersey Institute of Technology 1983 Pioneer in nuclear power safety research; director of reactor safety research at the United States Atomic Energy Commission in the early 1970s [18]
W. Bennett Lewis Iowa State University 1983 Directed the development of the CANDU reactor [18]
Robert L. Long National Officers 1991 Vice Chief of Naval Operations (1977–1979); Commander of the United States Pacific Command (1979–1983) [18]
David J. Rose Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1985 Professor of nuclear engineering at MIT; known for his work in plasma physics and fusion power [18]
Frederick Seitz University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign 1991 Pioneer of solid state physics; president of the United States National Academy of Sciences (1962–1969) [18]
Chauncey Starr Iowa State University 1983 Founded the Electric Power Research Institute [18]
Edward Teller Kansas State University 1989 Known as "the father of the hydrogen bomb" through the application of the Teller-Ulam design [18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Alpha Nu Sigma National Honor Society". American Nuclear Society. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Alpha Nu Sigma National Honor Society Constitution" (PDF). American Nuclear Society. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "Alpha Nu Sigma National Honor Society". American Nuclear Society. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Kerwin, Jenna (August 8, 2017). "Business and Technology Students Inducted Into Honor Societies". Excelsior College. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  5. ^ "Alpha Nu Sigma Honor Society". Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "Alpha Nu Sigma". Missouri University of Science and Technology. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  7. ^ Department of Nuclear Engineering (May 17, 2019). "Celebrating NC State's 2018–19 Nuclear Engineering Graduating Class". North Carolina State University. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "Alpha Nu Sigma Society". Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  9. ^ "Alpha Nu Sigma". Purdue University. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  10. ^ "SCSU Alpha Nu Sigma Honor Society". South Carolina State University. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  11. ^ "Department of Nuclear Engineering – Student Organizations". Texas A&M University. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  12. ^ "Cadet Honor Societies". United States Military Academy. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  13. ^ "Teams and Organizations – Honorary Organizations". University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  14. ^ "Student Organizations – Honorary, Professional, and Technical Organizations". University of Florida. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  15. ^ "Current Students – Student Societies". University of Massachusetts Lowell. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  16. ^ "Alpha Nu Sigma Society at the University of Michigan". University of Michigan. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  17. ^ "Department of Nuclear Engineering – Student Societies". University of Tennessee. 25 August 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Honorary Members of Alpha Nu Sigma National Honor Society" (PDF). American Nuclear Society. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
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