The American Nuclear Society (ANS) recently launched its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy to expand its nuclear science and education offerings for kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) enrichment.

First introduced in 2018, the Navigating Nuclear: Energizing Our World component of the ANS STEM Academy is designed to reach as many students and teachers in the U.S. as possible to educate the public about the benefits of nuclear science. The program has reached more than 1.6 million students since its launch.

The ANS STEM Academy also encompasses the Nuclear Ambassadors program structured to prepare ANS member volunteers to bring nuclear science and technology lessons to students in every grade. ANS worksSource: ANS with its network of local and student sections to reach as many classrooms as possible, and any ANS member can become a Nuclear Ambassador.

The Educator Training component offers in-person workshops at national meetings and now also includes a virtual series that kicked off in 2022 during Nuclear Science Week. The first webinar, presented by past president Eric Loewen on the basics of nuclear energy, was a very successful event and reached dozens of teachers across the country.

The STEM Academy also includes Pathways to Nuclear, a workforce development program that includes written career profiles and the “Spotlight on Nuclear Careers” webinars hosted by ANS’s Young Members Group. These events are conducted in a casual fireside chat format with an ANS member in a nuclear-related career. The programs have been popular with more than just the K-12 audience — ANS’s student and young members looking to take the next step in their careers see value in these events, too.