3/12/12
Richland Section American Chemical Society
Columbia Chapter of the Health Physics Society
Eastern Washington Section of the American Nuclear Society
Yakima Valley/Tri-Cities Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA)
Columbia River Exhibition on History, Science, and Technology (CREHST)
Areva
Dear Sirs and Madams,
Thank you for your support of the Nuclear Science merit badge training held on March 3 and 10, 2012 at the
WSU Tri-Cities campus (Consolidated Information Center) courtesy of MESA sponsorship. A total of 23 scouts
representing 14 local and regional(a) troops and 5 non-scouts attended the training session. Scouts/students are
required to demonstrate knowledge of 12 different requirements delineated in the Nuclear Science merit badge
booklet. During the course of this training session, the scouts/students were exposed to at least 10 instructors
fluent in some aspect of the nuclear science field, helping them to learn and complete these requirements.
After an introductory lecture by Richard Arthur (chemist, PNNL, retired) to explain a little about the nucleus and
radiation, the scouts divided into five groups (by grade and age) for rotation through five specific workstations.
 They learned about ALARA and safety with Angie Hall (Radiation Protection Technologist, PNNL), and
then they tried on personal protective equipment (gloves and coveralls).
 Steve Powers (Electrical Engineer, Areva) showed the students how to build cloud chambers, and then
they watched the ionization “contrails” of alpha and beta emissions from U-bearing rocks and Th lantern
mantles.
 The scouts investigated distance and shielding effects measured from a large variety of sources available
in the community(b) with Richard Arthur.
 Frank Roddy (Nuclear Engineer and Certified Health Physicist [CHP], DOE-RL) explained fundamentals
about nuclear power plants and helped the scouts map the locations of local, national, and international
nuclear power plants.
 Ron Kathren (CHP, WSU professor, retired) taught about radiation hazards to humans and the
environment.
Each scout/student was sent home with a nuclear science merit badge book, the Nuclear Science Chart,
Fundamental Particles and Interactions Chart, dose equivalence chart, an energy equivalence card, a pass to the
CREHST museum (courtesy of CREHST), homework, a variety of supporting handouts, and a Civilian Defense
vintage Geiger-Mueller counter (complements of the Eastern Washington Section ANS).
The second day the scouts broke out into their assigned groups for another morning packed with information.
 Mike Davis (CHP, Energy Northwest) proctored the scouts on examples of how energy from an atom can
be used. Nuclear medicine, environmental applications, industrial applications, space explorations,
radiation therapy, naval propulsion, and energy were examined.
 The scout’s shared their choice of a career opportunity in a field related to nuclear science (including
required education) in discussions led by Don Stewart (CHP, Dade Moeller & Associates, Inc.).
 The scouts honed their knowledge of isotopes, neutrons, protons and quarks by building 3-D models of
hydrogen isotopes with Chris Orton (Chemical and Nuclear Engineer, PNNL).
 Ron Pawlowski (Sr. Research Engineer, PNNL) led the scouts through the labyrinth of particle
accelerators and what they are used for.
(a) Scouts from Oregon troops in La Grand, Joseph, and Hermiston, and Washington troops from Ellensburg, Walla Walla and the
greater Tri-Cities area.
(b) Lantern mantles, camera lenses, Fiesta Ware, antique beads, thoriated welding rods, WWII airplane gauges, section of granite
countertop, and salt substitute (KCl).

The scouts demonstrated knowledge of an extensive list of definitions(a) via a Quiz Show lead by Frannie
Skomurski (Geologist, PNNL) and Stephanie Doll (Radiochemist, PNNL), complete with buzzers and
time pressures. Finally a fun way to demonstrate skill with definitions!
After the second morning of intensive study, the scouts carpooled to Areva where company volunteers hosted a
pizza lunch, then provided tours through their numerous facilities. How many scouts can tell you they have seen
actual fuel rod assemblies—way cool!
In the end, 21 scouts completed all requirements to earn the BSA Nuclear Science Merit Badge. Two scouts went
home with a “partial” meaning that they could complete the missing requirements at their own pace. Three of the
non-scouts completed all tasks with the reward of personal enrichment. One scout, who previously earned the
nuclear science merit badge in a different venue, joined this program because, as his scout leader advised, it is
awesome.
Thanks to your support, the scouts (and several parents(b)) have learned a tremendous amount about the
radioactive world around them. Several scouts have expressed interest in pursuing careers in the nuclear science
field. This training format has been well received by the scouts, their leaders, and parents. The Nuclear Science
merit badge training has now been offered in this format annually over the last nine years introducing about 270
scouts to Nuclear Science.
This class will continue to be offered annually for the foreseeable future. Contact Sandra Fiskum (Chemist,
PNNL) at 628-1424 or sandef@msn.com for more information and to add your scout/student to the waitlist for
next year.
Background Information
The Tri-Cities offers a unique nexus of Nuclear Science industries and professionals from nuclear power
production (Energy Northwest and Areva), nuclear medicine (Kadlec, Tri-Cities Cancer Center, and Kennewick
General Hospital), linear accelerator (Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation), and environmental remediation,
waste processing, and R&D (plurality of Hanford contractors and PNNL). Additionally, three major professional
societies are active in the Tri-Cities helping to support this program: the Columbia Chapter of the Health Physics
Society, the Richland Section American Chemical Society, and the Eastern Washington Section of the American
Nuclear Society. The Tri-Cities of course has a long history dating back to the Manhattan Project which our local
CREHST museum helps to bring alive.c Drawing from these resources, few places in the U.S. are as uniquely
qualified to put on a training session as comprehensive and rigorous as what we present.
The Nuclear Science merit badge is one of ~120 merit badges offered by the BSA. Earning merit badges gives
Scouts a glimpse of occupations in the subject area as well as some hands-on experience under the tutelage of
experts in the field. Each merit badge has a different set of specific requirements. Scouts must earn 21 merit
badges to obtain Eagle status.
Sincerely,
Sandra Fiskum
Event Coordinator
cc: BSA Blue Mountain Council Office
(a) ALARA, atom, nucleus, proton, neutron, electron, quark, isotope, alpha particle, beta particle, gamma ray, X-ray, ionization,
background radiation, radioactivity, radioisotope, contamination, radiation.
(b) Several parents “participated” by listening from the back of the room. This training session was also of great interest to them.
(c) As of this year, the historical context of Nuclear Science has new meaning for scouts/students with access to the B Reactor tours
(now offered for ages 13 and up).
Pictures of our 2012 Nuclear Science Class in Action