Canadian Nuclear Society
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Nuclear Society (CNS) is a not-for-profit organization representing individuals contributing to, or otherwise supporting, nuclear science and engineering
in Canada
.
(CNA)". Although legally a division of the CNA, the CNS operated independently from the start, with its own volunteer Council (Board of Directors
), its own mandate, its own activities, and its own budget. In 1998 the CNS incorporated independently as a federal, not-for-profit corporation, following an overwhelming vote from members. Since then the legal name of the CNS is "Canadian Nuclear Society/Société Nucléaire Canadienne, Inc.".
The CNS is dedicated to the exchange of information, both within the nuclear professional and academic community, and with the public, in the field of applied nuclear science and technology. This encompasses all aspects of nuclear energy
, uranium
, fission
and other nuclear technologies such as occupational and environmental protection, medical diagnosis and treatment
, the use of radioisotopes, and food preservation
.
The primary category of CNS membership is that of an individual directly involved in the use or development of a nuclear technology in any of the above areas or an individual who is simply interested in nuclear technology.
Another category of CNS membership is that of an educational institution, such as school or university, or public library, that has an interest in providing timely information on nuclear science and technology to a student body or to the public at large. This type of membership has all the privileges of an individual membership with the exception of voting rights.
General administration and outreach (public, other societies, etc.) are typically carried out by a number of Committees within the CNS.
The CNS holds an Annual Conference each June, which includes technical sessions covering all fields, as well as plenary sessions that address topics of broad interest.
At the local level across the country, the CNS includes fourteen branches (nine in Ontario
, one in each of Alberta
, Saskatchewan
, Manitoba
, Quebec
, and New Brunswick
)
(EIC). The President of the CNS is an ex-officio voting member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Nuclear Association
.
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History and Mandate
The Canadian Nuclear Society was established in 1979 as "the technical society of the Canadian Nuclear AssociationCanadian Nuclear Association
The Canadian Nuclear Association was founded in 1960. Its mission is to represent the nuclear industry in Canada....
(CNA)". Although legally a division of the CNA, the CNS operated independently from the start, with its own volunteer Council (Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
), its own mandate, its own activities, and its own budget. In 1998 the CNS incorporated independently as a federal, not-for-profit corporation, following an overwhelming vote from members. Since then the legal name of the CNS is "Canadian Nuclear Society/Société Nucléaire Canadienne, Inc.".
The CNS is dedicated to the exchange of information, both within the nuclear professional and academic community, and with the public, in the field of applied nuclear science and technology. This encompasses all aspects of nuclear energy
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
, uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
, fission
Nuclear fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
and other nuclear technologies such as occupational and environmental protection, medical diagnosis and treatment
Nuclear medicine
In nuclear medicine procedures, elemental radionuclides are combined with other elements to form chemical compounds, or else combined with existing pharmaceutical compounds, to form radiopharmaceuticals. These radiopharmaceuticals, once administered to the patient, can localize to specific organs...
, the use of radioisotopes, and food preservation
Food irradiation
Food irradiation is the process of exposing food to ionizing radiation to destroy microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, or insects that might be present in the food. Further applications include sprout inhibition, delay of ripening, increase of juice yield, and improvement of re-hydration...
.
Governance
The CNS is governed by a Council, acting as its Board of Directors, consisting of an Executive Committee and nineteen Members at Large. The 2010-2011 Executive Committee consists of: Adriaan Buijs (President), Eleodor Nichita (Past President), Frank Doyle (1st Vice-President and President-Elect), John Roberts (2nd Vice-President), Mohamed Younis (Treasurer), Prabhu Kundurpi (Secretary), Ken Smith (Financial Administrator), and Ben Rouben (Executive Administrator).Membership
The CNS membership includes about 1200 individuals, mostly from within Canada.The primary category of CNS membership is that of an individual directly involved in the use or development of a nuclear technology in any of the above areas or an individual who is simply interested in nuclear technology.
Another category of CNS membership is that of an educational institution, such as school or university, or public library, that has an interest in providing timely information on nuclear science and technology to a student body or to the public at large. This type of membership has all the privileges of an individual membership with the exception of voting rights.
Operational Structure and Activities
The CNS is structured along five main technical Divisions (Design & Materials, Fuel Technologies, Nuclear Operations & Maintenance, Nuclear Science & Engineering, and Environment & Waste Management), whose main activities are to organize and conduct workshops, courses, symposia, or conferences within their respective technical areas.General administration and outreach (public, other societies, etc.) are typically carried out by a number of Committees within the CNS.
The CNS holds an Annual Conference each June, which includes technical sessions covering all fields, as well as plenary sessions that address topics of broad interest.
At the local level across the country, the CNS includes fourteen branches (nine in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, one in each of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, and New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
)
Affiliations
The CNS is affiliated with several "sister" nuclear societies around the world, and is also an organizational member of the Engineering Institute of CanadaEngineering Institute of Canada
The Engineering Institute of Canada is a federation of twelve engineering societies based in Canada, covering a broad range of engineering branches, and with a history going back to 1887...
(EIC). The President of the CNS is an ex-officio voting member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Nuclear Association
Canadian Nuclear Association
The Canadian Nuclear Association was founded in 1960. Its mission is to represent the nuclear industry in Canada....
.