When mechanical engineering student Olivia Belian received official word in November 2024 that the American Nuclear Society (ANS) had approved a new student chapter at New Mexico State University, the moment was nothing short of euphoric.

"I was ecstatic," Belian said. "It felt like I had made a lasting impression on NMSU, and I was so excited to get started officially."

The idea to bring ANS to NMSU began in a deeply personal way. Belian was raised in a nuclear family, literally, as her father is a nuclear engineer, and dinner conversations often centered on nuclear science. Despite that early exposure, Belian initially resisted following in those footsteps, opting to study mechanical engineering instead.

But after a life-changing and personal event in 2023, Belian reevaluated her academic path. That summer, a growing interest in nuclear propulsion inspired her to write a paper on alternative propulsion systems for CubeSats, small satellites designed for education and space exploration. Encouraged by a mentor at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Belian began exploring deeper connections within the nuclear science community.

That's when the American Nuclear Society came into focus.

"I thought its mission and community were incredible," Belian explained. "When I realized that NMSU didn't have a chapter, I didn't waste a moment. Starting the chapter became a way for me to rebuild my own community while bringing nuclear knowledge and advocacy to our campus."

Belian and Benedek Szalai, a student in from the chemical and materials engineering department, then went to work getting a chapter organized.

Since launching, the NMSU ANS student chapter has hosted a lineup of guest speakers from across the nuclear field. These have included their advisor, Dr. Joseph Holles, chemical and materials engineering department head who spoke about nuclear submarines; Dr. Matthew Severt, a physics professor specializing in nuclear physics; Anthony Belian, senior program manager at SRNL; and Dr. Tammy Taylor, deputy director at SRNL, who addressed environmental nuclear awareness.

The chapter also recently made its mark beyond campus by attending the 2025 ANS Student Conference held at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque earlier this year.

"It was nerve-wracking at first and I'd never done something like that before," Belian said. "But with support from the team, it became manageable. The experience was amazing. We played Uno with Holly Trellue, an engineer at Los Alamos National laboratory, listened to Charles Oppenheimer, grandson of Robert Oppenheimer, speak, and connected with professionals across the industry. It helped solidify our chapter's future."

The chapter is open to all students interested in nuclear-related fields, including engineering, physics, and energy. Guest speakers often highlight internships and career opportunities, offering valuable networking for students eager to break into the field.

"Nuclear science isn't talked about much at NMSU," Belian noted. "It often has a negative public image, but that's mostly due to misunderstandings. We have a responsibility to communicate the realities of nuclear science, both the pros and the cons, so people can form informed opinions."

The chapter hopes to grow by inspiring students to consider NMSU's nuclear chemical engineering minor. Future plans include a "Research Night" to connect students with faculty-led projects and increase undergraduate research involvement.

"I am always happy to support student initiated activities" Holles said. "Chemical and Materials Engineering has an ongoing minor in nuclear chemical engineering designed to help engineers into nuclear careers in New Mexico and across the country. This group meshes well with the broad goals of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering and supports numerous employers across the state of New Mexico. In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) sees a continuing need for students in a wide variety of majors to support the country's needs."

As a result of this need and the nuclear minor, the DOE recently awarded NMSU a large grant related to work force development with a goal of broadening the inclusion of students to include such majors and geology, chemistry and business in addition to engineering.

"We're always looking for fresh ideas and energy," Belian added. "Anyone can get involved by attending meetings, listening to speakers or joining our design competition."

Looking ahead, Belian hopes the chapter not only endures but becomes a trusted source of nuclear education on campus.

"I want people to understand that nuclear science isn't as scary as it's often made out to be," Belian said. "If they're willing to keep an open mind, they'll see the incredible potential it has, from clean energy to space propulsion."

The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/engineering-students-launch-american-nuclear-society-chapter-at-nmsu/s/cccf543d-6a90-493b-9151-9091d498b00b