Alpha Nu Sigma () is an American
nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the engineering discipline concerned with designing and applying systems that utilize the energy released by nuclear processes.
The most prominent application of nuclear engineering is the generation of electricity. Worldwide ...
honor society
In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes individuals who rank above a set standard in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. ...
affiliated with the
American Nuclear Society
The American Nuclear Society (ANS) is an international, not-for-profit organization of scientists, engineers, and industry professionals that promote the field of nuclear engineering and related disciplines.
ANS is composed of three communities: ...
. It has chartered more than 25 chapters at universities in the United States.
History
Alpha Nu Sigma National Honor Society was established by the
American Nuclear Society
The American Nuclear Society (ANS) is an international, not-for-profit organization of scientists, engineers, and industry professionals that promote the field of nuclear engineering and related disciplines.
ANS is composed of three communities: ...
on June 5, 1979.
it was established to "recognize high scholarship, integrity, and potential achievement among outstanding degree-seeking nuclear engineering students at institutions of higher learning".
Alpha Nu Sigma quickly grew in size, obtaining seventeen chapters and 320 members by its third anniversary in June 1982.
By the end of 1985, Alpha Nu Sigma had established 23 chapters with 920 members. The
Chernobyl disaster
On 26 April 1986, the no. 4 reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located near Pripyat, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine), exploded. With dozens of direct casualties, it is one of only ...
occurred in 1986, and the growth of the society has struggled since that event. As of 2024, it has chartered more than 25 chapters and has initiated more than 4,300 total members.
Symbols
The motto of Alpha Nu Sigma is ''Αλκή νεογέγονεν δία Σοφία,'' meaning "Energy Newly Born Through Wisdom".
[ The symbol and badge 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.][ Its honor cord color is white.]
Membership
Membership selection criteria for Alpha Nu Sigma are outlined in the national honor society's constitution.[ 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 a seminal permanent impact nationally or internationally".
]
Chapters
As of fall 2021, the following table lists the chapters of Alpha Nu Sigma.
Honorary members
As of spring 2020, the following table lists notable honorary members of Alpha Nu Sigma.
See also
* American Nuclear Society
The American Nuclear Society (ANS) is an international, not-for-profit organization of scientists, engineers, and industry professionals that promote the field of nuclear engineering and related disciplines.
ANS is composed of three communities: ...
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Student organizations established in 1979
Nuclear organizations
Engineering honor societies