Public Outreach

The Section is always looking for opportunities to engage with members of the public on nuclear science and technology education. We have typically focused on K-12 education but are open to educating anyone about nuclear science!

If you are interested in helping out with outreach events in East TN, please fill out this form.

[2025/10/25] Scout Fest 2025

Approximately 2,500 Scouts and their families attended Scout Fest 2025. Among the many activities and vendors, the event featured a dedicated STEM Zone designed to inspire Scouts to explore opportunities in science and technology and to become the leaders of tomorrow. The American Nuclear Society (ANS) Oak Ridge/Knoxville Local Section volunteered to introduce participants to the exciting world of nuclear science. Over the course of eight hours, six volunteers engaged with Scouts and their families of all ages, sharing hands-on demonstrations and discussions about radiation and nuclear technology. Our event table featured four Geiger- Muller detectors, thorium sources, and shielding materials to help visitors learn what radiation is, how it can be detected, and ways to minimize exposure. We also had two mini cloud chambers, which provided a visual representation of radiation and were a crowd favorite among the kids. In addition, our half-life of candy activity offered a simple way to explain radioactive decay. We also distributed educational resources, informational materials, and themed stickers for attendees to take home. Overall, the event was a great success, providing a meaningful opportunity to promote nuclear science to the public while giving our volunteers a chance to share their expertise during Nuclear Science Week.

Volunteers: Clay Jablonski(UTK), Daniel Koch(UTK), Joshua Herrera(UTK), Kunal Mondal(ORNL), Julie Ezold (ORNL), Lauren Bailey (UTK)

[2025/10/08] ORNL/ANS Nuclear Teacher Workshop

Oak Ridge National Lab and the local Oak Ridge/Knoxville ANS chapter hosted a nuclear focused professional development day for 30 local high school teachers. With talks and related hands-on activities, teachers learned more about nuclear science and left with information and resources to be used in future classroom education. Topics included: Nuclear Basics, Half-Life Lessons, Detectors & Experiments, Time/Distance/Shielding Lesson, Cloud Chamber experiments, Nuclear Science in Society, Fusion, Isotopes, and Nuclear Batteries. After lunch, teachers got the chance to hear talks from X-Energy and Kairos Power then take tours of HFIR and REDC.

[2025/09/19] Career Fair at Emerald Academy

With ANS members from ORNL, private industry, and academia, outreach volunteers attended a K-8 career fair aimed at educating students on various career opportunities afforded to them in the local area. Volunteers gave live demonstrations of radioactive decay, advice on career pathways within the nuclear industry, and educational resources aimed at future educational growth.

2025 May: K-12 Outreach Event

Outreach at Emerald Academy in Knoxville, TN: