Student Statements

Students who have been awarded funding in the past have gone on to become involved in the society. Read their statements on how the award has affected their interaction with ANS.

 

Emily Baxter (from Mizzou, Nov 09)
"The 2009 American Nuclear Society meeting was a great opportunity for me, and I appreciate the willingness of the PWANS to provide me with a travel scholarship.  With your help I was able to present my research and learn more about the other research being done in the nuclear field.  Thank you very much for your generous contribution, and I look forward to being able to participate in more PWANS events in the future. "

 

Shikha Prasad (June 08 and Nov 06)

As a student ANS member I have been actively involved in the student section and its activities at the local level. However, being involved only with the University section can sometimes insulate one from the practical aspects and the more current challenges that are evolving in the revitalized nuclear industry not only nationally but internationally. Professional Women in American Nuclear Society (PWANS) section grants female students travel grants to experience this for themselves so that these students are better prepared professionally to make a positive impact on the nuclear community.

 

For this summer ANS meeting in Anaheim PWANS committee granted me the travel award which enabled me to get a true picture of the challenges such as regulations, designs, licenses, construction, that the nuclear industry faces as it comes on the 'main street'. The experience gained both during the sessions and as I interacted with the engineers, policy-makers from the regulatory bodies, academia, national labs and industry was invaluable. During the course of my studies I have participated in internships in the U.S and abroad, however, an opportunity such as this has helped me take the practical knowledge gained from these experiences and transform it into a tool that I can use to better advance my career and serve the community. It has also made me realize that the challenges we face in the nuclear industry do not belong to a country but is global and the solutions to these problems can be only solved by a healthy global mutual interdependence. I am very thankful to PWANS for granting me this opportunity.

 

Xia Wang (June 08)

I gratefully acknowledge the funding from PWANS. Thanks to PWANS, I've been able to attend the ANS conference held in Anaheim (CA) this summer with much more convenience. These conferences provided me with great opportunities to learn the frontiers of nuclear engineering, and to discuss my work with researchers from all around the country as well. I believe this funding is beneficial not only to our own research work, but to the encouragement of women's participation in this field as well. I would highly appreciate the support from PWANS.

 

Janelle Penisten (Nov 07)

The PWANS travel funding allowed me to attend the 2007 ANS Winter Meeting, where I had the opportunity to attend technical sessions that focused on my field of research. Being new to my field, I gained an appreciation for the current research going on around the country. I also made some excellent connections with individuals in the nuclear industry whose work is closely aligned with my research. I was also able to present a session at the 2007 Young Professionals Congress, which preceded the ANS Winter Meeting.

 

Elaine Ann West (Nov 07)

The PWANS travel reimbursement made it possible for me to attend the ANS National conference last fall in Washington DC. This was the first ANS conference I had attended, and it was a wonderful experience. I took advantage of the mentorship program at the conference and through my mentor, I was able to meet representatives of various companies in the nuclear industry. By speaking to the representatives, I learned about various internship opportunities that were available to students. I participated in the poster session at the conference and discussed my research at the University of Michigan with many individuals, and received valuable feedback. I was able to attend the ANS conference this summer in Anaheim, CA, and I attended the PWANS meeting again. I look forward to meeting with this group of women again in the future. The group includes women of all ages, and there is much that can be learned from this diverse group. Overall it was an invaluable experience that would not have been possible without the generous support I received through PWANS. Thank you!

 

Rachel Slaybaugh (June 05)

The funding from PWANS made it much easier for me to come to the meeting in San Diego in 2005. I had been attending the ANS national meetings regularly, and wanted to continue my involvement. Having this valuable support was one of the things that enabled me to continue to be involved. As a result of all of my continued participation I have become active in the society on a national level, have had the chance to give technical presentations, got to present a poster, and have meet other researchers in my area. All of these experiences have been quite beneficial. Support of this kind is essential to giving students a chance to participate in the society on a national scale.